February 10, 2004
YA' GOTTA BELIEVE:
Britons should learn to be like Americans (Janet Daley, 11/02/2004, Daily Telegraph)
The Tories have decided to say something cheering. They want voters to associate them with optimism and hope - which is nice. The more positive thoughts there are in political circulation, the more the electorate is likely to believe that the democratic process isn't a futile exercise in cynicism.From the Conservatives' own point of view, this is a matter of urgency. For opposition parties, there is a precise moment when they must desist from what strategists call "painting the sky black" - trying to induce as much disenchantment and depression about the national condition as possible - to presenting an uplifting message for the future. We are pretty much smack in the middle of that moment now.
What the Conservative message is building up to – in agonisingly slow stages – is something that takes its inspiration from the American recipe: what people want is the freedom to run their own lives, to seek the best for themselves and their children, to be able to take responsibility for their own moral and economic choices.
The state can act as a facilitator and guarantor of that freedom but it should not usurp the duties of care and obligation that belong to the individual, or the natural bonds of family and community. This was the essence of Michael Howard's "British dream" speech (widely flagged as a "keynote" address) this week and we can expect the theme to be elaborated by shadow spokesmen over the coming weeks.
This philosophy might be associated by British observers with the Republican Party but, in truth, what would be thought here to be a "Right-wing" position is almost universally accepted in America: no mainstream Democrat would challenge the basic premises of American individualism, self-help and personal self-determination. What arguments there are in the US about big v small government are marginal nit-picking by our standards.
Early innings yet for Mr. Howard, but at least there's a glimmer of hope that the Tories may finally be getting it. Posted by Orrin Judd at February 10, 2004 9:56 PM
I suggest they play the Tony Martin card, and pledge to change the law to make self-defense and home-defense legal.
Posted by: PapayaSF at February 10, 2004 10:53 PMThey still have to stop attacking Blair over his Iraq WMD problems. But if the Torries' criticism and perceived opposition is some way is helping Blair win those narrow victories on votes within his own party from Labour members who wouldn't want to be seen on the same side of the issue as the conservatives, then there may be some small positive role coming out of their negativity on that issue for the time being.
Posted by: John at February 11, 2004 12:03 AMI don't think Howard is the way to go. I read some Brit bloggers.
Samizdata especially.
Posted by: Sandy P. at February 11, 2004 12:18 AMThey could start by cancelling the "Eastenders" show. That has got to be the most dreary, depressing shows on TV. I get a sense of claustrophobia watching it.
Posted by: Robert D at February 11, 2004 1:45 PMeastenders gets staggering ratings here.
we like watching people with flaws, nasty sides and dead-end jobs.
americans like 'friends'.
as someone pointed out, americans are polite to people they like and rude to people they don't.
the british are the exact opposite. we're unfailingly polite to our enemies and unremittingly rude to people we really like.
strange, innit. in many ways, we're a cultural world away from each other.
Posted by: Brit at February 12, 2004 6:33 AM"we're unfailingly polite to our enemies and unremittingly rude to people we really like."
Don't feel badly, Brit. We Canadians can't tell the difference.
Brit,
I enjoy shows about nasty, down & out people, but only if there is a laugh track. "Married with Children" is one of my all-time favorites.
You Brits must love "ER". Another depressing show I can't stand. My wife loves it for some reason I can't fathom.
Posted by: Robert Duquette at February 13, 2004 11:10 PMER has a following, but much more popular is our own version, 'Casualty', which has been running for what seems like 60 or 70 years.
Its like ER, but without any of the excitement.
Posted by: Brit at February 16, 2004 4:18 AM