The public has changed, and so must Brown

jkitleft Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 09:58:42 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Every twenty-thirty years, the general tilt, politically, shifts on its axis. PM's have responded to this. Gladstone, Disraeli, Asquith/Lloyd George, Attlee and then Thatcher. The fourties had a country that was in ruins. Labour's socialism was their reward. In the seventies, unions were bringing the country to a halt. Thatcherism was their (punishment, in my opinion, although some of her reforms were necessary). Now, the public has gone to the left again, and Brown must heed the call.

Here is my reasoning for this. A couple of years ago, the furore of private equity, non-doms, and those in the 10p tax band, would not have been as potent. But the middle-classes are getting angry about the unfair taxation system in this country. This is a chance for progressivism, that can change a generation.

I would like to hear from any of you, as to any policies to suggest.






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The public has changed, and so must Brown | 9 comments (9 topical)

Re: The public has changed, and so must Brown (#1)

by otware on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 11:09:38 PM GMT

I think the inevitable shift to the left (and also sadly to the far right!) can be described with 2 words:

Economic Downturn.


Re: The public has changed, and so must Brown (#2)

by GrahamDay on Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 01:04:18 AM GMT

The shift to the far right might be inevitable, I'm not sure that any shift to the left is.... certainly, economic downturns tend to lead to rightward shifts in the general polity.

My view is that this is because of the greater confidence shown by the right.  They are wholly committed to the capitalist economy: what are we committed to?

 


[ Parent ]

Re: The public has changed, and so must Brown (#3)

by otware on Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 01:31:45 AM GMT

Labour needs to position itself to the left again. It needs to realise that out-Torying the Tories won't win elections anymore. Why would people vote for the same old sleazy New Labour centrist party when they can vote for the new and dynamic Conservative Party?

A serious change in direction is needed: shift away from Atlanticism, away from interfering in other countries and away from big business. Industry needs to be stimulated, our manufacturing has gone leaving us very vulnerable when people find they don't have money to spend on the service industry. Instead of chucking money at lousy banks to appease the shareholders they should be investing that money in building council houses. How many houses could they build for £50bn?! And imagine all the other benefits in the form of jobs in the building trade and in manufacturing (brick works, cement, roads, plumbing, electrics etc.)

Those are all policies that the Labour Party should be championing, in my opinion.


[ Parent ]

Re: The public has changed, and so must Brown (#4)

by NorthernMonkey on Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 01:55:59 AM GMT

I certainly don't think there's been any shift to the left lately - if anything it's a shift to the right - whether it's on taxation, greater independence for schools, Europe, even social issues (alcohol, cannabis). The country moved to the left in the mid-1990's. Now the pendulum is shifting back right again (albeit not greatly).


Re: The public has changed, and so must Brown (#5)

by otware on Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 01:59:25 AM GMT

But are right wing policies pursued by New Labour and the Tories as representative of the general public as you think?


[ Parent ]

Re: The public has changed, and so must Brown (#8)

by jkitleft on Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 11:34:28 AM GMT

Again, I repeat, the emphasis on taxation is more progressive, in terms of the public's opinions


[ Parent ]

Re: The public has changed, and so must Brown (#6)

by madasafish on Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 06:51:26 AM GMT

Do you think Labour should go back to its roots and become unelectable again?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/apr/21/gordonbrown.economy


Re: The public has changed, and so must Brown (#7)

by jkitleft on Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 11:25:53 AM GMT

the Tories are centrist now, Labour can move to the moderate left, and still appeal to the public. The Tories will then either stay where they are, and people will doubt their sincerity, or they will move to the right, further increasing their trouble.

Again like I say, the publics attitude is changing.


[ Parent ]

Re: The public has changed, and so must Brown (#9)

by treborc on Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 11:39:41 AM GMT

People have not changed people still want justice for hard working people, if you live in an area which was hit after Thatcher , then unless those areas get help people will struggle.

I've just seen Brown ON TV at the TUC conference in Scotland , he has copied Cameron and Clegg from taking no script, reading from nothing, while Cameron walked around the stage slowly talking to people, Brown looks like a demented idiot, he is walking faster then I can run, thumping his hand into his other hand demanding people listen.

We are listening and we are hearing the same stuff nothings changed since 1997 education NHS, but what has changed is education and not for the best, NHS is becoming more privatized and it not looking better. especially for people like myself.

Then he goes on a rant about 80% of people are now working, well no they are not actually, more people have better jobs again define better, low wages does not mean better jobs, now he warns us India and China will affects us, well yes because they make everything we need, we make hardly anything anymore. He refused to speak about the tax fiasco.

Come on Labour the Labour party has to be about the people at the bottom, yes help the rich, but not over the poor, and stop spinning we are not blind well not yet anyway, we can see with our own eyes the problems


The public has changed, and so must Brown | 9 comments (9 topical)