I think we should be ambitious expanding our country - services, industry, infrastructure. Cautious with our finances in terms of spending on things that don’t generate income, and kind to people who need our help.
You had me scared there, Bear, for a nano second or three...but you reeled me in to the profound depths of your thinking in your inimitable way! Great food for thought as always 👍 👌
Very interesting. I had the same “moment” when I listened to the interview between Amol Rajan and John Major. The Conservatism described by Major bore very little witness to the present day characters who are only in it for themselves. No chance of me defecting either but I’ll defend what’s right till I take my last breath
I've often been struck that, traditionally, I should be a Tory by now. I'm rising up the echelons in my career, earning great money, own my own home, but no. I remember being skint, I remember the chaos of Brexit, the PPE scandal - the truly loathesome way some seemed to see an approaching pandemic not with horror, but with hand rubbing glee at the great opportunity to make money.
In some regards, I'm cautious but I still believe that the measure of any society is, and should be, how it looks after its weakest, its most frail, its most needy.
Maybe that should make me Labour, but no. Austerity lite is still Austerity. My political home is the LibDems, always has been, tbh, and probably always will be.
Interesting, and food for thought. It's got me thinking about the whole concept of change.
Likewise, after half a lifetime of post Catholic atheism, I've been considering Christianity. Not the appalling institutions that have grown up to be cruel and twisted agents of oppression, but the simple, radical manifesto of the person or persons possibly called Jesus, who started the whole thing.
Because who can argue with getting on with neighbours, not coveting their oxen and hating them for having what we have not.
Or prioritising the powerless, forgiving each others weaknesses and acting with kindness.
I'm not talking in any way about belief in a higher being, but rather wondering if I threw the baby out with the bathwater when I turned my back on the whole thing.
So yes, I'm also at a stage of re-evaluation.
I think maybe the thoughtlessness and moral vacuuity of the times we are living in, prompt us to consider the very bases of the functions of society.
Interesting to me, is that in U.S. history the Republican and the Democrat parties have switched role from conservative to liberal and vice versa. During the mid 1800's the Republican party was the Liberal Party and the Democrat Party was the Conservative Party. I believe that swapped during or, just after WW2. It is weird to me how so many people become more Party loyal than Ideal loyal. Just a theory, but that is kind of what we are going through now, I believe we are going through a shift. The Republicans are no longer conservative, but they are trending to the radical, the Democrats are becoming the conservatives in that the country has been more progressive (liberal) for long enough that it is becoming the norm which must be conserved (conservative). Mainly, it is a flippin mess. I say, F' the parties push the progressive ideals regardless of whether you are blue or red. Most especially F'! the orange!
Sounds like the Overton Window needs a glazier?
I think we should be ambitious expanding our country - services, industry, infrastructure. Cautious with our finances in terms of spending on things that don’t generate income, and kind to people who need our help.
You had me scared there, Bear, for a nano second or three...but you reeled me in to the profound depths of your thinking in your inimitable way! Great food for thought as always 👍 👌
Very interesting. I had the same “moment” when I listened to the interview between Amol Rajan and John Major. The Conservatism described by Major bore very little witness to the present day characters who are only in it for themselves. No chance of me defecting either but I’ll defend what’s right till I take my last breath
I've often been struck that, traditionally, I should be a Tory by now. I'm rising up the echelons in my career, earning great money, own my own home, but no. I remember being skint, I remember the chaos of Brexit, the PPE scandal - the truly loathesome way some seemed to see an approaching pandemic not with horror, but with hand rubbing glee at the great opportunity to make money.
In some regards, I'm cautious but I still believe that the measure of any society is, and should be, how it looks after its weakest, its most frail, its most needy.
Maybe that should make me Labour, but no. Austerity lite is still Austerity. My political home is the LibDems, always has been, tbh, and probably always will be.
Great analysis Bear. I can always rely on you to condense the chaos to some tangible truths.
Hyper allergic to the 'C' word, but thanks Bear for your thought process on this 👍
An excellent analysis, as ever, Bear.
Thanks for the letter. Feeling similar
I shall vote labour because
God votes labour
I shall vote labour to protect
the sacred institution of the family
I shall vote labour because
I am a dog
I shall vote labour because Labour tolerates
the traitor Ian Smith
I shall vote labour because
I am on a diet
I shall vote labour because Ringo votes labour
I shall vote labour because
upper class hoorays annoy me in expensive restaurants
I shall vote labour because if I don't
somebody else will
AndI shall vote labour because if one person does it everybody else will be wanting to do it.
I shall vote labour because
my husband looks like Antony Wedgewood Benn
I shall vote labour because I am obedient
I shall vote labour because if I do not vote labour
my balls will drop off.
I shall vote labour because there are too few
cars on the road
I shall vote labour because
Mrs Wilson promised me five pounds if I did
I shall vote labour because I love
Look at Life films
I shall vote labour because
I am a hopeless drug addict
I shall vote labour because
I am a Wincarnis shareholder
I shall vote labour because
I failed to be a dollar millionaire aged three
I shall vote labour because labour will build
More maximum security prisons
I shall vote labour because I want to see
Nureyev and Fonteyne dance in Swansea Civic Centre
I shall vote labour because I want to shop
In a covered precinct stretching from Yeovil to Glasgow
I shall vote labour because I want to rape an air hostess
I shall vote labour because I am a hairdresser
I shall vote labour because
The Queen's Stamp collection is the best in the world
I shall vote labour because
Deep in my heart
I am a conservative
Christopher Logue
Interesting, and food for thought. It's got me thinking about the whole concept of change.
Likewise, after half a lifetime of post Catholic atheism, I've been considering Christianity. Not the appalling institutions that have grown up to be cruel and twisted agents of oppression, but the simple, radical manifesto of the person or persons possibly called Jesus, who started the whole thing.
Because who can argue with getting on with neighbours, not coveting their oxen and hating them for having what we have not.
Or prioritising the powerless, forgiving each others weaknesses and acting with kindness.
I'm not talking in any way about belief in a higher being, but rather wondering if I threw the baby out with the bathwater when I turned my back on the whole thing.
So yes, I'm also at a stage of re-evaluation.
I think maybe the thoughtlessness and moral vacuuity of the times we are living in, prompt us to consider the very bases of the functions of society.
Interesting to me, is that in U.S. history the Republican and the Democrat parties have switched role from conservative to liberal and vice versa. During the mid 1800's the Republican party was the Liberal Party and the Democrat Party was the Conservative Party. I believe that swapped during or, just after WW2. It is weird to me how so many people become more Party loyal than Ideal loyal. Just a theory, but that is kind of what we are going through now, I believe we are going through a shift. The Republicans are no longer conservative, but they are trending to the radical, the Democrats are becoming the conservatives in that the country has been more progressive (liberal) for long enough that it is becoming the norm which must be conserved (conservative). Mainly, it is a flippin mess. I say, F' the parties push the progressive ideals regardless of whether you are blue or red. Most especially F'! the orange!
Thoughtful and on the button as always Bear.