The Liberal Tory: January 2012

What is there left to say?

So, the Tories are in coalition with the Lib Dems, the arguments in favour of Gay and Women's rights have achieved axiomatic status and the central political issue of the time remains the economy, stupid. The long term ambitions of most politicians seem remarkably cohesive; sustainable economic development, a society with progressively increasing levels of equality and a set of liberal social values. Surely, then, the UK's political discourse must be dominated by rational discussion of how best to reach these shared goals? There will be areas of disagreement but also areas of great unity of purpose.

In this environment, there must be no space for the voice of a center-right liberal blogger, someone who quite likes low taxes but hates discrimination, who likes public services but doesn't want the state to dominate the economy, who likes the rule of law but is aware that hanging and flogging doesn't really work. In other words, there should be no room for a Liberal Tory.

And yet, this is not the case. Modern politics is dominated by accusations that each side is evil or mad or both. Indeed, I am constantly struck by the feeling that most politicians (of all political stripes) have been corrupted by the process of opposing each other. Too many have lost their ability to examine and develop a rational argument. Instead they appear pathetically petulant children screaming for the attention of a rather bored public.

This blog is my small contribution to exposing this depressing state of affairs.

Thursday 5 January 2012

Why everyone should ditch the outrage and listen to Diane Abbott

A leader in the Black community makes a comment on Twitter in which she generalises about white people. Cue gleeful outrage from an assortment of right wing commentators gleeful that one of the left's most articulate advocates has opened herself to the accusation of racism.

Wow. Isn't it time we all grew up?

Abbott's comments were rather clumsy and unhelpful additions to any debate about race. Nevertheless, I cannot be outraged by them. Indeed, the only response I really have can be summed up with the phrase: "Am I bovvered?"

Here's why:

1) I don't have a right not to be offended and would prefer to err on the side of Abbott being able to say whatever the hell she likes.

2) Even if you take her words at their most pernicious meaning, I'm pretty sure they're not true and similarly sure Abbott doesn't believe them herself.

3) 142 characters isn't exactly a recipe for subtle and nuanced debate.

4) If that is a concern some people hold in private, it's probably useful for it to be aired in order to be refuted.

5) Many Black people still get a raw deal in this country and certainly have in the past. Some hyperbole producing anger is probably reasonable/ understandable/ forgivable. Take yer pick.

6) Sometimes people fuck up. Deal with it.

7) I have all the time in the world for Diane Abbott.

Racism is a serious thing. Daft generalisations should be challenged as unwise and unhelpful but to jump on them with quite so much alacrity is pathetic. To describe Abbott's comments as racist associates her with the purveyors of hatred, vitriol and violence. It validates racist views by creating the appearance that everyone is at least a little bit racist and therefore it is ok. It isn't ok and most people aren't racist (thanks, in part to leaders like Diane Abott).

Perhaps it's time we spent a little less time condemning people to score political points and a little more time confronting the issues.