Black and White Thinking

[andrewducker]

Thus spake a member of the Labour Party's shadow cabinet:

"I am going to be put in the impossible position next May of campaigning to remove the Liberal Democrats on my local council three days of the week, and then join forces with the same Liberal Democrats to call for a change in the voting system for the Commons for the remaining days of the week. It is totally incoherent."

Frankly, if you can't cope with the idea that you can be opposed to people on some topics, and agree with them on others then you have no business in politics, and can fuck right off back to the 18th century.

Comments

[momentsmusicaux.livejournal.com]

Huh. You mean... surely not like those LibDems had to campaign against the Tories and then form a coalition with them? Horrors!

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

And to be honest I'm quite happy with how the Coalition is performing too. It's provided a much stronger government than the doomsayers predicted, the markets didn't crash, and the world seems to have as much (or as little) confidence in us as they did before.

[andrewducker]

I'm not happy about some of the social stuff, and I think the cuts may be harsher than is necessary (and possibly detrimental to growth). But I'm not convinced that it's as negative as many people were saying.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Mmm, yes, I fundementally disagree with a lot of Tory policies. (Their social ones, I'm much more onboard with their economic policies. Because I do think Labour have been far too generous with money the country didn't have.)

But yes, I agree, by the looks of it the cuts are going to be harsher than necessary. And I'm not sure of the thinking behind it. Perhaps its just so that they can have a little bit in the warchest for the next general election.

[andrewhickey.livejournal.com]

Yep... I wish they'd understand that that attitude is what led to 'New Labour' and their party's complete loss of principles. Things aren't good or bad depending on whether they're put forward by goodies or baddies, but depending on whether they're right or wrong. When Tories want to get rid of ID cards, they're right even though they're Tories, and when Labour want to block electoral reform, they're wrong even though they're Labour.

[matgb]

Things aren't good or bad depending on whether they're put forward by goodies or baddies, but depending on whether they're right or wrong

Unfortunately, that appears to be how some of the Labour party think. Not all, possibly not even the majority, but a significant chunk. The anger and betrayal bollocks appears linked to that, they thought the LDs were goodies, specifically goodies taht could be treated like a carpet, and now find out that they're baddies.

Except they're not either, they're a separate party with separate principles.

Having said that, Theresa May is calling for a rethink of ASBOs as they're a bureacratic PITA that unfairly criminalise far too many.

Theresa "I'm not a homophobe, honest, I used to be, but I changed" May.

Dear Labour. When I find myself agreeing with speeches made by Tory Home Secretaries on law and order issues, there's something wrong with the world. Sort it out.

[andrewhickey.livejournal.com]

Absolutely agreed. I can remember being horrified 20 years ago by how right-wing and authoritarian Ken Clarke was as Home Secretary. Now as Justice Minister he's sounding like a Lib Dem just because every Home Secretary since has been a raving lunatic...

[captainlucy.livejournal.com]

So, it's actually impossible for me to think that Thatcher was right in defending the Falklands while disagreeing vehemently with almost every other Thatcher-era policy? Hurrah, just five more impossible things and I can have breakfast at Milliways! :D