Thatcher’s worst legacy:
Thatcher’s worst legacy to me was to associate economic liberalism with Toryism.
Too often, sound economics and measures designed to increase liberty are rejected out of hand as ‘Thatcherite’ or ‘right wing’ despite being founded in liberal tradition and having been demonstrated to have worked.
I see this most explicitly in the pages of Liberator where Radical Bulletin often makes couched references to ‘Orange bookers’ or some perceived orange menace. This is ridiculous, if you disagree with policies, argue on their merits, not with ad-hominem attacks like that.
Thatcher was no liberal, her party was not (and is not) liberal, or libertarian for that matter, but she brought some aspects of liberalism to her party. Should we reject such ideas because they were adopted by the Tories? Of course not, we should celebrate that at least some liberal thinking has made it to other parties.
Thatcher’s legacy should not be one of rejection of all her ideas, we should accept what she did get right and condemn the authoritarianism of some of her actions and the intolerance which appears endemic in the Tory party.
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June 19th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Indeed, Conservatives are not really economically liberal - just occasionally when it suits them.
Whilst arguing with a Tory Councilor in SW London, I uttered something like “it’s simple market economics”, to which he replied: “I never went along with all that theoretical crap”.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
The politics of left and right can be summarised as protecting the special interests of one group in society or another, by fair means or foul, and “reforming” away the protections of the enemy group. The difference between the two is which side they are on.
Some such reforms used as weapons by either side in this class war may indeed be liberal, but this is probably incidental to the intention.
New Labour still think like this, although they are not so sure which side to be on. But if you listen to the rhetoric they are still looking for these enemies.
June 19th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
I think it’s fair to say that the Conservatives have not often been economic liberals, but as you imply, we should praise Mrs Thatcher to the heavens for her liberalising of the economy.
I’m racking my brains to think of any particularly liberal policies any party is putting forward at the moment. The Tories hint that they might do school vouchers - is there anything else?
June 19th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Bishop Hill - the LDs are suggesting lots of liberal policies, but not necessarily regarding economics. The Great Repeal Act for one.
There is some hopeful economic liberal rhetoric coming from the LD benches but admittedly I cannot think of a solid policy commitment as yet.
Btw, my soon-to-be-relaunched blog links to your blog under “Other Political” - is that the correct section?
June 19th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Julian
Damn! I actually meant to stipulate economically liberal when I wrote it, but got distracted and ended up posting without. Perils of having children I suppose.
Other political/no fixed abode or words to that effect is fine for me.
June 19th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
And I should say thank-you too.