Just a quick follow up post from yesterday’s rant about Thatcher and her dementia.
It occurred to me how powerful my dislike for the woman and her politics must be for my hate to be still burning brightly after all these years. I was three years old when she came to power and fourteen when she left it, hardly the prime age for political activism.
But she evoked real passion in the nation. People loved her or loathed her with equal fervor. And the same can be said of her opponent, the Labour party leader Michael Foot. Both individuals had an integrity which is never seen these days.
Foot vs Thatcher was left wing vs right wing. Socialism vs capitalism. Even good vs evil if you like; or that is certainly how it seemed to my youthful and naive eyes.
But what have we got now? Slightly left of center vs slightly right of center. It really does come to something when the Liberal Democrats are the most radical party.
These days I find it difficult to even summon up the energy to vote. It’s only the thought of the mess that the conservatives will make when they regain power that gets me tromping down to the ballet box. It’s not that I think my vote will make any difference, I just want to reserve the right to smugly say “I told you so” when it all goes wrong.
So while I wouldn’t want another Thatcher, I do miss the sense of passion of the politics of the 80’s. But as George Carlin said, you get the politicians you deserve. Maybe bland times calls for bland leaders. Who knows.
Back to the usual rubbish next post I promise.
Related posts:
Arjan (5)
Ian (4)
Heather (3)
john Gray (3)
Kristin (3)
Linda (3)
Steve (3)
Brit In Bosnia (2)
DJ Kirkby (2)
Erin @ Fierce Beagle (2)
on Aug 27th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
In my youff and introduction to voting I lived in the speaker’s constituency, so didn’t get the opportunity. I think I got used to it, but at the last general election I decided to pay a bit of attention and even wasted a few hours of my life evaluating who to plump for. I watched the three leaders interviews with Paxman as a general basis for my X.
And afterwards I decided it wasn’t worth my time or the petrol to the voting station for any of the liars.
SingleParentDads last blog post..What To Do With Oneself
Reply
on Aug 28th, 2008 at 1:10 am
Nats last blog post..Butt butt butt
Reply
on Aug 28th, 2008 at 7:25 am
But I’ll keep doing it, if only to keep complete idiots out of the government. We’ve got some pretty right-wing people that I wouldn’t want to rule my country..
Arjans last blog post..Study avoiding behavior (SAB)
Reply
on Aug 28th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Nat – I think she has had that legacy for a lot of people. Yet she was constantly voted in so someone must have liked her
Arjan – The rise of the far right in Europe (including the UK) has been pretty alarming. It’s scary how many votes they get, even without the mainstream media even acknowledging their existence.
Reply
on Aug 28th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Writer Dads last blog post..No, No, No! I said, “I Didn’t Want to be a Chooch.”
Reply
on Aug 29th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Reply
on Aug 29th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
When newspaper editors get to pick our PM’s, as The Sun/Star claim they did with Thatcher, then we are swimming with sharks.
Garys last blog post..Architects may come and Architects may go…
Reply
on Aug 29th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Bastards, the lot of them.
Reply
on Sep 9th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Mr Articles last blog post..What do snails eat?
Reply