NationStates Jolt Archive

Okay, I know people will accuse me of bias here, so here's my opinion on him. He's a good, caring person, and very likable. But he is too much of a rabid socialist for my tastes. Even worse, he tries to straddle the line between laissez-faire and capitalism. At least Baroness Thatcher and John Major, like them or hate them, were honest. So I won't weep to see Blair go, but that's just me.
Anyhow, Britons and non-Britons, what do you think? Sorry, btw, if my poll is inconclusive, but I just don't know the names of any other contenders for PM.

Tony Blair a rabid socialist???!!

Tony Blair a rabid socialist???!!

I know people will accuse me of bias

Utopio, thats where you supposed to accuse him of being biased as an ultra capitalist American :p

If I had the ability to vote in the British election I'd vote for Blair, but I don't, so I null voted.

Tony Blair a rabid socialist???!!
Yep. But I was just saying that to get any questions of bias on my part out of the way. It's your country, so I'd prefer you guys debate amongst yourselves. Anyhow, Blair basically undid fifteen years of the work done by the conservatives.

Blair basically undid fifteen years of the work done by the conservatives.

On the contrary, apart from devolving Scotland & Wales and reforming the Lords, Blair and his New Labour cronies continued the work of the Tories[list=*]
minimum wage set at poverty level
single-parent benifits cut "arguably the first real-term cut in the level of social assistance paid to any group of claimants since social assistance was introduced in 1948" (Child Poverty Action Group)
fees for uni students; breaking manifesto promise
foundation hospitals; breaking manifesto promise
privatisation of London underground
hospital waiting lists not cut as promised
[/list=*]

New Labour can in no way be described as Socialist.

On the contrary, apart from devolving Scotland & Wales and reforming the Lords, Blair and his New Labour cronies continued the work of the Tories[list=*]
minimum wage set at poverty level
single-parent benifits cut "arguably the first real-term cut in the level of social assistance paid to any group of claimants since social assistance was introduced in 1948" (Child Poverty Action Group)
fees for uni students; breaking manifesto promise
foundation hospitals; breaking manifesto promise
privatisation of London underground
hospital waiting lists not cut as promised
[/list=*]

New Labour can in no way be described as Socialist.
Sounds it to me. But it all depends on your frame of reference. You, for example, may think the US is laissez faire with capitalism, but I don't see that as being true.

... it all depends on your frame of reference.

American liberal = British Moderate, IMO.

For example, a large amount of Americans describe Kerry as being 'liberal', but I would class him as Moderate/Centre-right. As you say, frame of reference.

I'm voting lib dem. I'd like to see Charles Kennedy as PM, because he's probably the only politician in the world I actually like, but in the end I don't think the lib dems are ever likely to win enough seats.

...but in the end I don't think the lib dems are ever likely to win enough seats.
I like Charlie too - well, as far as I can 'like' a politician - I wouldn't be too cheesed off at a Lib Dem government, especially as they've rejected the idea of a Lib Dem/Labour coalition. Don't be too dismissive of the Libs, they've made some big advances, especially in by-elections and the Tories/Labour are treating them seriously now.

Ideally though, the Greens would be my choice.

bump