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An interesting article in the Independent by Dominic Lawson today that is worth a read because like a previous article by John Rentoul, it is pointing towards the public being fundamentally dishonest with themselves over “politicians telling the truth” – the public just don’t want to hear it, the truth.

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/dominic-lawson/dominic-lawson-the-public-want-honesty-but-not-when-it-comes-to-their-taxes-1942927.html

Lawson’s Article

An excellent article and sadly, all too true but in a key sense, the sub heading: “It is a myth that Churchill’s ‘blood, toil and tears’ speech was welcome to the British”he has captured the reality of both then and today. And that reality was at that time, most people knew that we were isolated and with our ‘backs to the wall’. Sadly, if ever we were, we are no longer a courageous country and our politics are more like the French attitude to the EU – use the resources of the other 26 for French benefits and interests.

However and it may well be more relevant, in the dark days of 1940, President Roosevelt really wanted to help the British but was ‘constrained’ by American sentiments that this was a “European War” so British assets were sold off cheaply to provide us with the means to survive. With their ‘backs well and truly against the wall’, the British people finally knew they had no choice but, that didn’t mean they ‘liked it’ or and in due course wouldn’t fight back and ‘spitefully expel’ Churchill from Office when it was all over.

In most ways, the Second World War is built on myths and the reality is very different. Perhaps one of the most foolish military mistakes ever made was by the Japanese was in bombing Pearl Harbour. The USA was ‘bombed into war’ and with that came their ‘genius’ for mass production, in those days. In addition and whilst the “Pacific War” was brilliant, the European War for good or ill, was really won by the sacrifice of the Russians on the ‘Eastern Front’.

It is likely true that none of the ‘Western Democracies” have a large body of ‘courageous people’, they will all ‘dodge the column’ if they can.

The UK Today…

Although the following may cause a storm of protest from their supporters, what sums up the current state of British Politics are the Liberal Democrats, a party which during two years of the most unpopular Labour Government, have totally failed in taking away support from Labour and adding it to themselves, these people just don’t know their trade might be one view but, it is more fundamental than that.

The Liberal Party grew out of the Whigs (anti-establishment) and the Chartist Movement who campaigned for broadening the franchise among other things, it was the Radical Wing of British politics in Victorian Britain until Labour stole its crown a 100 years ago. Today the LibDems are “Tory Lite” and have been so since WWII. Highly successful in local politics, they have become the natural home for middle class NIMBYs. Everybody wants to get to Heaven but nobody wants to die: “Oh yes, take their benefits away but you must leave me alone of course” being their average response.

The current attitude of the public is the same, fear of losing “Credits” of one sort or another. The legacy of Labour has been to grow the “dependency culture” even in the Muddle Classes who consider “their tax breaks” of more importance than the needs of single parents, the Old and long term ill. The very idea and stereotype of single mums being young slags is wrong, as many will be Divorcees bringing up children and wholly dependent on this ‘Tax Credit’ or that in order to survive.

Conclusion

Although not quite in the way he intended it I’m sure, I agree with Cameron, we do have a broken society but it will not be fixed by persuasion, only external force can change this and perhaps if there is a dithering Hung Parliament, that will happen, e.g. petrol doubles in price per litre as Sterling slides. Perhaps that will be the only wake up call that will be listened to by the average punter.