In a message dated 30/10/2002 08:44:52 GMT Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< Not to say that your Clinton style Democrats could hardly be labeled as Populist, or pro-middle/low class, but one would have to admit that the Republican party certainly champions the above values more strongly than the Democratic party does... >> I have long believed (and I know there are plenty of other people on this list who agree) that there is VERY little difference between the two main political parties in the USA, from what I understand about them. "Republican" or "Democrat", they are nearly all heading in the same direction, bending over backwards to allow big business to get on with their job of making their directors UNFEASIBLY rich, with the interests of the environment, the poor, in fact the majority of people, of merely peripheral interest. Anyone in any doubt that the last Democrat administrations were simply continuing a lot of the same policies as the Republicans who preceded them in office (and by extension that Dubya et al are merely continuing what Clinton and Gore did) could do worse than cast an eye over Michael Moore's "Stupid White Men", particularly the chapter entitled "Democrats DOA". Whether you are for or against the policies discussed, it seems hard to get away from the conclusion that either party will do more or less the same things, even if they complain about them when they're not in power. Those who complain about this are fobbed off with a pat on the back and a shrugged "That's Realpolitik, baby." There is certainly nothing going on in British politics at the moment to gainsay the notion that the tide is heading in one direction, with the two main political parties virtually indistinguishable. Membership of the single European currency is the only issue I can think of on which there is clear daylight between the parties. I challenge anyone to find one single thing that Jack Straw, for example (formerly Home Secretary, now Foreign Secretary), has said while in office that could not have been said by a Conservative. Ditto Tony Blair. The man is a Conservative, why is he leader of the Labour party?! On the big socio-economic issues, Labour and Conservative are struggling to find much to disagree about when it comes to issues like: - taxation (they're against it and seek to reduce taxes at every opportunity, a measure which usually benefits the better-off more than the very poor) - raising the minimum wage - although let it be acknowledged that the Tories wouldn't have introduced it in the first place - (it shouldn't be raised) - crime (lock 'em up, build more prisons, talk of introducing some kind of analogous system to the vile "3 strikes and you're out") - education (keep tinkering with the system, introduce ever more tests for children, demonise the teachers, make university students pay tuition fees, do everything to ensure that graduates start their working lives with huge debts) - privatisation (sell off anything that isn't nailed down, despite the appalling consequences of privatising British Rail - and Labour want to do the same with the London Underground!) - incidentally privatisation ALWAYS leads to a small number of people becoming wealthy beyond the dreams of avarice, often overnight. And you know I could go on... The really depressing thing is that in all of these issues, Labour are now doing things that they promised they would not do, and indeed were railing against when in opposition. Maybe this is stating the bleedin' obvious - expect politicians to carry through with their manifesto commitments?? Don't be daft!! One small ray of light in the UK is that there IS a viable third party, which has been making quiet gains over the last few years. It is not inconceivable that the Liberal Democrats could supplant the Conservatives as the main Opposition party, if the Tories continue to shoot themselves in the foot and choose leaders as charmless and charisma-free as Ian Duncan Smith (how many of our American and Canadian listers have heard of HIM??). Blimey, don't know what came over me there, must be the cancellation of Autumn this year. Azeem in London
