Categories: uncategorized
Date: 04 January 2006 08:26:25
Reading through the news this morning I found myself becoming ever more confuddled.
There is a part of me that likes to think that Cameron is really the modern version of the paternalistic Tory and then the more cynical part of me thinks he is actually just trying to win back the votes of those in the Home Counties who have deserted to the Lib Dems. What ever, it becomes confusing when he is coming over as v. slightly left of the current prime minister. I guess that the truth is probably that generally we have moved to a state in this country where we have to some extent returned to consensus politics.
Is this a good thing? I don't know, (I'm too young to remember the post-war years before Thatcher), but it does worry me that it is seems to be in these situations when extremism, (in any direction) seems to breed as people, on the edges, push for difference, and those nearer the middle get either apathetic or complacent. At the same time I recognise the need for opposition and debate, in order to develop ideas and critically evaluate the majority position. I just can't see where that is coming from at the moment, (particularly as the hierarchy of my own preferred party seems to have got itself diverted into the media game of leader bashing) and that worries me.
Whilst I am not a fan of 80's politics, in general, atleast you really knew who was who and what the political spectrum was.