Delusions of the Left

Over the years I have met and debated with many representatives of a Left Wing point of view. As human beings, as people, as friends they are often not just good representatives of the Left but of human kindness itself. But with regards to understanding world history or politics I think they are deluded. Here are my reasons:

1. From the 1930’s onwards left leaning members of the Labour Party were keen on promoting good relations with the Soviet Union. In fact many British Trade Union leaders have walked down this path for decades after believing that Communism was the promised land. As history unfolded the Left's naivety beckoned.

2. In the 1970’s it was clear to me that The Left considered that the environment was the main way to understand the nature of Man. I had decided at that time that depending on each individual a person is usually governed by both environment and genetics. The latest thinking on nature nurture debate has shifted the ground from what the Left generally thought to be the case. Genetics and DNA have broken new ground in understanding the nature of Man.

3. Economically, The Left lost the argument in the 1980’s when Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan took charge of economies which at that time needed regeneration and good governance. Both leaders influenced the history of the world by contributing to the downfall of the Soviet Union. At this time the Left were still in thrall to Socialism and under Michael Foot wanted to disarm unilaterally British nuclear defence. Had this Labour policy been implemented the implications for the world do not bear thinking about.

4. The latest economic crisis has arisen largely because of politically correct left liberal ideology in America leading to a sub prime mortgage collapse and, as far as Britain is concerned, Gordon Brown’s de-regulation of the banking sector. The Left argue that “it was the banks fault” without any regard for the aforementioned reasons. Sure the banks played their part by exacerbating human greed but the real reasons the reasons that matter are for all to see.

5. Multiculturalism. I have met intelligent Left thinking people who seriously argue that Britain has always been a multicultural nation. Honestly. Their reasoning is that the Vikings followed a different religion to the native British and so on. When people are as deluded as this questions must be asked. Multiculturalism is about the preservation (by the state) of different cultural identities. I hardly think that the Vikings had this in mind. A better argument might be the Romans but this would lead to discussions about the benefits of Imperialism and I do not think the Left would support that. Incidentally, the word Multiculturalism originated in about 1960.

6. Having argued that the context of Multiculturalism is usually understood to be a modern phenomenon – the process of Europeanization around the world is one main reason – it is significant that the leaders of Britain, Germany and France have recently admitted that this social engineering project has been an abject failure. I wrote about this probability on MyT nearly four years ago and asked for a referendum on the subject when writing my first ever blog. You can imagine the Left Wing response. But yet again the Left are shown to be not only deluded but wrong.

7. Similarly, with the European Union. Until Jacque Delors gave a speech to the British Trade Unions in the late 1980’s The Left were mainly against the EU. But that all changed and the New Labour leader, Tony Blair, wanted to adopt the Euro as British currency. If it wasn’t for the ongoing clash of personality between Gordon Brown and Tony Blair the Euro may well have replaced Sterling. Then attempts to deal with the debt problem would be similar to those in the Republic of Ireland where current options are severely limited. The Left largely supported more and more European Union and those who objected who were mainly so called Tory sceptics were often portrayed as ‘little Englanders’. The Left got it wrong yet again. They are deluded.

On a more personal level, I was called a coward by someone I work with for using a pseudonym. I had thought this good practice since the likes of George Orwell or George Elliot and others before them have done likewise. So I wondered does anyone else consider themselves “a coward” for preferring blogging anonymity?

Given that the police in the UK has been politicized by the Left I would have thought this made common sense. But what do you think?

Tibetan Impressions

Left the UK a few days ago. Am now back in China. The land of milk and honey. Or, rather, the land of media interest. At least this seems to be the case recently. And, so it should be. Trouble is my fellow Lao Wai does not agree with me. Many remain silent and argue up any perceived slight of their adopted home, China. This is fair enough, I can understand why many people hold alternative views to my own. But I detect self interest. What do I stand to gain from defending Tibet? Nothing. What do they stand to gain? Well, they can gain the whole world for all I care.

In London I found the air as fresh as it could possibly be. Who do I thank for this? The clean air act of 1955 or Ken Livingstone? I think the former might have more to do with it. But no doubt Ken claims the glory. As well he might. Hope his days as Mayor of London are numbered. Talking of politics. Did anyone read about New Labour and One trillion pounds wasted on Education, Welfare and the NHS. As far as I can tell none of these services offer what has been invested in them. Apparently, for those that are interested it works out at 50,000 pounds a household. Do the politicians know what they are doing? Hell, they do.

As I was saying, England was a breath of fresh air. I walked to many a pub often taking a route beside a river or some woods. Then it was time to catch up on what English ale tastes like. Good. Though, I often found the ambience as inviting as anything else. So many pubs contain centuries of English history within their four walls. Now it appears that government legislation; a smoking ban, further taxes on alcohol, Local councils approving the building of more and more Supermarkets are having an affect on the Pub Trade. I am informed that in Barnet a local British Legion Club and several Pubs will be demolished to make way for two more Supermarkets. There is already a 20 aisle check out at Sainsburys yards away from the proposed new buildings. I wonder whether local councils are taking back handers on this? If so, greed could well be a factor in the changing face of Britain.

In London, I went to the National Art Gallery and stumbled upon a demonstration supporting the people of Tibet. I walked with them but said nothing. If ever a people looked beautiful and proud yet helpless it is the Tibetans. I don’t know why but I feel sad for them. Well, I do know why but people do not want to hear it.

The air is fresh in England. But the politics is stale.

I also had time to celebrate Easter. It was a reason for coming home. I am glad I did so. An old story but fresh enough for the thousands who attended Mass at Westminster Cathedral.

Problems with authority?

I am not saying that most people with father issues vote Labour but most people I meet who vote Labour have father issues. Why is this?

The NHS

Inspired to write something after reading a number of outspoken comments on MyT about the origins of the NHS I decided to turn a comment made only a few days ago into a blog. This is the view of some:

‘Do not forget that socialists CREATED the NHS. Do not forget either that right-wing extremists would rather there were no NHS at all’.

Is this true? I do not think it tells even half of the story. This is my view:

More polarization from those who appear to be more concerned with public victory than truth. Without the Beveridge report there would have been nothing for Bevan to work with. Without a loan of about $3,000,000,000 from the American government; no finance either. In other words, Socialists had to go cap in hand before any new hospitals could be built.

The NHS came at an incredible price. Many might argue it a price worth paying but Britain did not finally pay off the loan until three years ago. Today, the NHS costs an extra £13 billion which is the amount spent on health tourism. Women from all over the world arrive to have their babies on the NHS. The concept of the NHS was for those who had fought for freedom. It was never meant to subsidise and support the world; fine though that concept undoubtedly is.

A BBC article concludes:

‘The Dawson Report of 1920 was the first big step towards a national health service, recommending a comprehensive system under the auspices of a single authority. It was followed by the Royal Commission on National Health Insurance in 1926 which pioneered the idea of a publicly funded health service. The creation of the Emergency Medical Service in Second World War further hastened the pace of change. It was the first time healthcare funding had been taken over by central government. In 1941, a government-commissioned independent inquiry found healthcare varied vastly across the country. With the voluntary hospitals permanently on the verge of financial collapse and the municipal hospitals almost universally loathed, there was no shortage of pressure for change.

Final catalyst

The final catalyst for the NHS came with the Beveridge report into social care in 1942. Sir William Beveridge, an eminent economist, identified a national health service as one of three essential elements of a viable social security system.’




http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/nhs_at_50/special_report/123511.stm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-American_loan

The shame of the Left

Why do British/English Left Wingers hate their country? Why are they ashamed of British history? I do not understand it. The British have so much to be proud of in terms of their charity and force for good in this world. They were the first developed nation to put an end to slavery by trading in goods rather than people. This ended the Muslim Swahili slave trade in Africa. Both Blacks and Whites were slaves of the Ottoman Empire. Scandinavians who ventured too far into the Mediterranean had little defence against an attack at sea since their Navy was in no position to defend them. But any slave who managed to free himself and climb on board British Royal Navy ship whether he be Black or White or Yellow would be a free man in the early 19th century. No other Navy offered a comparable freedom or were willing to fight to see freedom enforced on the high seas. The Left refuse to acknowledge not only this but great advances made in medicine, social reform, democracy, wealth creation and so on. Britain is a country which now attracts millions of immigrants who seek a better way of life. Immigrants come to Great Britain for every reason; economic advantage, security, work, respect, love, hope, peace, adventure. Although some come for an easy life and others for crime too. Nevertheless, Britain remains a country which has produced more than its fair share of famous people who are well known not for the bad they have done but for the good. Everyone knows this. Everyone knows that Britain fought WW2 against tyranny on the continent of Europe. Most might know that Britain had to borrow $3,000,000,000 from the Americans to finance a welfare state enjoyed today by health tourists the world over at a cost to the tax payer of £13,000,000,000 a year. Such generosity continues. The Left often see Great Britain as a ruthless exploiter of all and sundry. The Left are often ashamed of their country; although I see the Left as people who are simply ashamed of themselves. This is not the shame of most Brits but it is the shame of the British as represented by a significant number of British people who never tire of making their bleedin' heart heard. I think I will now go and read some Keats or Shakespeare. Much more preferable to neo-Marxist ideology.

Did political correctness cause the latest economic crisis?

The recent economic collapse has produced several theories as to its cause. I have listened to several BBC debates on Newsnight where speculation abounds on this issue and sometimes more besides. Some say the cause of the current economic crisis was caused by greed; the less attractive side of our human nature.

By this I assume that the inference is that greedy capitalists have bitten off rather more than they can chew by lending to those who did not have the ability to repay on debts incurred. This is the landscape of mortgage lending in America or, Sub Prime, as they say over there in the States.

As we all know the Sub Prime market collapsed last year. Those responsible were a collection of culprits; individuals, lenders and/or financial institutions. Or were they?

What I did not know is that in America lenders had a quota of Sub Prime that had to be sold to ethnic minorities. And, if lenders failed to lend an appropriate quota of funds then the financier or Sub Prime lender would be fined. In other words financiers were forced to lend money to those who might not have the funds available to repay on a loan.

So, or so it would appear, money was lent according to politically correct doctrine; not according to sound financial common sense which ought to be more concerned with the ability and likelihood to repay on loans received.

Can it be true? Is my information correct? Did political correctness cause the latest economic crisis?

If this synopsis is without foundation in fact or truth please convince me otherwise and I will join you in condemning the greedy capitalists.

HMS Politics

Since Britain caved into the demands of the suffragettes and granted universal suffrage I have seen my country gradually go down the tubes. No two ways about it. Bleedin' heart ideas about politics have now crystallized into New Labour dogma. The women who once burned their bra's are now freezing our pants. This is the feminization of society.

It is now more and more likely to find someone who is vegetarian and demands equal rights for animals. The ancient Greeks and even the Victorians never had to put up with this crap. Neither should we. But we do. All the time.

I'm surprised that Britain still has an effective Army. Certainly it no longer has a democracy worth fighting for. Almost every idiot under the sun can now vote. And they do. In their dreams New Labour would like the vote to be given to children and, if they had their way, criminals too. Change, is the mantra; the dogma appears as change for changes sake. For some, change is progress. Most would prefer progress for a change.



The ancient Greeks would have thought us bonkers. And, of course, we are. No longer does a classic template exist in trendy, right on, minds. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle; they had it about right. What a time it must have been when the most educated voted for the wisest and most able. Unlike today that was a democracy worth fighting for. It inspired what we have now. But what do we have today?

What appears to concern many today is racism and homophobia as if every other sin was somehow less important. Well, it probably is to those who have nothing better to think about. The feminization of society has led to New Labour being voted into government three times in succession. It used to be a Man's world.

In her classic book, 'Black Lamb, Grey Falcon', Rebecca West said that women are idiots. She also said that men are lunatics. Her point was that generally speaking women knew very little about the world of politics but they knew much about their private and domestic world. By contrast, men tended to be far more interested the public and political world outside. But they often knew far less about the concerns and interests of their own family. These are genetic differences. Celebrate them.

Sometimes nature will provide an exception to the rule. Margaret Thatcher - God bless her - was an exception. Please, no more social engineering from unthinking conformists who follow slavishly prevailing fashions. No more vogue. No more New Labour. No more idiots running the country.

I have known a woman for many years who bought a newspaper so that it gave the appearance of knowing what she was talking about. Problem is she never read the damn thing. She is bright, able and much better than myself at most things. But in conversation about politics or history it is obvious to me that she has not a clue except on matters related to character and personality. Discussion about policies or past national or international events would be pointless. My guess is that she is not unusual in this respect.

What we need today is someone who is capable of navigating and commanding HMS Britain. A person with exceptional talent. Not someone who is paraded as a victory for left liberal social engineering. In the ebb and flow of political change perhaps a beautiful, mid twenties, Margaret Thatcher could improve things. But she would have to be tough and to know the ropes. The ship must sail, the wind must blow and Britain expects every woman to do her duty.

Views on Western Civilization: A letter to Left Liberals

I am posting this blog for the sake of posterity. It was written a few years ago and I would like to keep it on file here.

I feel there is a need to say more about the value of Western Civilization. It is my contention that many overlook the importance of Christianity as a model for society. I too have done this. But I am taking more time to understand our origins which now shape the society and culture we have inherited and live in today.

I have been critical of Multiculturalism. I still am. I cannot see how a British New Labour Government can expect a society to run smoothly if it has had a policy of uncontrolled immigration. England is an already overcrowded small island. It is not America. I believe this debate is about common sense. But some are intent on crying "racism" as soon as a discussion takes place. Shame on them.

My intent is to open up a debate that has been crying out for attention. To expect a society to tolerate every religion, creed and language is a noble idea based upon the evolvement of Human Rights law in secular society. Although, this law is not so well received in countries which do not share a Western Christian tradition.

And this is yet another essential point. British society is changing. Not all change though is for the better. In this view I remain conservative.

Whether it is realistic to expect societies to transform themselves for the sake of Human Rights law is open to discussion. What I suspect has happened is that the Government, New Labour, have abused their power and the democratic process by creating a client state. And, that uncontrolled immigration was not simply a matter of negligence but Government policy to assist it in holding onto power.

But these are mainly political contentions. My aim here is to highlight the importance of the tradition and culture that is now the world's great inheritance. A Europeanization which many now refer to as Globalization.

So how did Western Civilization evolve into the society we have today?

To my mind it is to a self critical, liberal, tolerant Christian culture and tradition which has forged and shaped the secular society that liberals enjoy today.

In many ways Christianity has argued itself out of power and influence to accomadate a Christocentric view. The classic example of this is perhaps the fight against slavery by William Wilberforce. Christian ideas about equality encouraged others. Eventually, women and womens suffrage.

All this happened in a Christian society which became more Secular by the minute. All this began two thousand years or so ago because one Man, Jesus Christ said, "the Sabbath was made for Man; not Man for the Sabbath." This was revolutionary thinking and freed Man from excessive religious legalism. In other words, a law of love; not a love of law.

What we have today, and that includes womens equality, has evolved from Christian consciousness and ideas about equality. Without which we would be the same as any other Civilization.

What do you mean by that? I hear you ask.

Well, if we examine women's rights - in almost every country in the world which does not have a Christian religious tradition -you will find that women are often held in some disregard. Certainly, there is little chance of equality unless there are exceptional circumstances.
One only has to travel to any of the following countries to test the validity of this observation; China, Japan, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Iran, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, North Korea, Qatar etc etc. I have visited or lived in seven of these countries but I do not think I need to travel to every country in the world to make this case. As it is I have travelled to nearly thirty different countries and this experience has shaped my opinion.

The view expressed here embraces Christianity and not just Catholicism because any attempt to provide an overview on Christian thinking and its affects on society necessarily demand it. To talk only about Catholicism, is, in this context, like painting a picture of a tree without its branches.

Lastly, I wish to quote Joseph Ratzinger from his book on Jesus of Nazareth. He writes about the solid ground of a Christian belief that guarantees the dignity of man by rooting it in the dignity of God:

"In the antithesis of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus stands before us neither as a rebel nor as a liberal, but as the prophetic interpreter of the Torah. He does not abolish it, but he fulfills it, and he does so precisely by assigning reason its sphere of responsibility for acting within history."

On a wing & a prayer

So. Unite have finally gained their right to strike. The best paid cabin crew in the airline industry have won their fight for industrial action. Some say that Unite is using BA for its own Left Wing political aims which has more to do with confrontation than looking after the interests of BA union members.

This is an old story and one I witnessed... See More whilst in the CPSA in the early 1980's when communists gained control of my immediate local union. What they wanted was confrontation with the government of the day. I put this question to a Left Wing friend I have known for many years. He looked at me for a while and asked me a question.

"Do you know why the BA Cabin Crew want to strike?"

I said I had no idea since they are the best paid in the business. So he kindly explained that BA management want to drastically reduce pay & conditions.

Ah...I said. I didn't know that. End of story.

So now I support the strike by BA?

No.

Why not?

Yesterday, it was revealed that BA have lost about five hundred million pounds sterling in the last financial year. And, a similar amount of money the year before. To stay competitive they must cut costs. This seems to me to be sound financial management. But I know that some are not interested in this discussion. What they want is industrial action for the sake of political confrontation.

Will the class war ever end?