As some of you might be aware about, I am currently reading for a MA in Political Theory at Swansea University. I am in the process writing my dissertation thesis on Personality Power Politics: Continuity & Contrasts between the Thatcher & Blair Paradigms. I had always wanted to study a postgraduate course in the field of Politics and I was naturally delighted to have been given the opportunity to do so by Swansea University. I would like to thank not only the University (in particular Mr. Andy Lyden for his constant support and efforts on my behalf), but also my mother for her drive and self-scarifies to provide my siblings and I with every advantage in life that she was denied by her circumstances.
I have used this past academic year to immerse myself in the world of politics to better broaden my knowledge and understanding of the issues at stake within society. Those individuals have had most profound influences over the development of my worldview are the American former prowrestler-turned-conservative philosopher (Ultimate) Warrior, the late great British Conservative monetarist Nicholas Ridley, the libertarians Trey Parker and Matt Stone (creators of both the superlative South Park and Team America: World Police) and of course, Baroness Thatcher. The moderate liberal-left author and commentator Oliver Kamm also impressed me with his anti-totalitarian foreign and defence policy arguments. I have learnt a lot from these individuals and owe them all a huge intellectual debt of gratitude.
I also read a number of political blogs on both sides of the political divide. My favourite blogs are those of Mr. Kamm, the Cameronite Tim Roll-Pickering, the Christian socialist Paul Burgin and the socialist couple of Antonia Bance and Jo Salmon. I would like to thank Ms. Salmon in particular for inspiring me to create this blog you are reading. Ms. Salmon and I are former colleagues on the Student Union Council at the corrupt University of Wales Lampeter (before it became an anti-Semitic Stalinist save haven) and although we do not see eye-to-eye on most issues (some of Ms. Salmon’s views are truly repugnant), I do have enormous respect for her formidable personality and dedication to social and political causes. I doubt Ms. Salmon holds me in the same high regard, but that of little-to-no concern for yours truly as my central political priority is to do what is right, rather than build friendships (although have no personal objections against having friends within the world of politics).
The purpose of this Myths From The Left series is to address certain claims made by the likes of Mr. Burgin, Ms. Salmon and others on the Left about the nature of conservative social, economic and political philosophy. Many of these assumptions have since been accepted by significant number of people as being true without much question. I do not expect that my analyses will win many, if any plaudits or converts from the Left due to the amount of conditioning they have undergone in their lives, but I hope the rest of you, whether you are apolitical, suffering a crisis of social and political conscience or an undecided individual hovering between Left and Right, will be more responsive in the affirmative to my arguments.
4 comments:
Many of these assumptions have since been accepted by significant number of people as being true without much question. I do not expect that my analyses will win many, if any plaudits or converts from the Left due to the amount of conditioning they have undergone in their lives
Very true, internet debate with those of a leftist or statist persuasion is often very jaded, because when I argue for measures that promote economic freedoms such as tax cuts and deregulation they immediately assume that I only do so because I only have upper middle-class or business interests at heart.
The same applies when I argue against social interventionist measures such as the ban on smoking in public places or fox-hunting.
The assumption is always that I am personally disadvantaged from such measures. When I do reply that I argue from the principle of maximising each and every individual's liberty their response usually implies that it's a impractical platitude or 'motherhood and apple pie'.
one of ur idols is the ultimate Warrior? that's brilliant beyond words
Guess what? Antonia Bance works with Oxfam, the big charity. She works with Oxfam's UK poverty programme (aka UKPP). She's the policy and communications manager in this department, so she's quite a senior figure in Oxfam. Antonia blabs on about gender and lone parents and the rumour is that she is using Oxfam for her own political ends. And what does this suggest? Just this: Oxfam is employing a Labour politician to manage and run its campaigning and lobbying work on poverty in the UK. I thought charities were meant to non-partisan. Oh, by the way, we might bump into Councillor Antonia Bance at the Conservative Party conference.
Guess what? Antonia Bance works with Oxfam, the big charity. She works with Oxfam's UK poverty programme (aka UKPP). She's the policy and communications manager in this department, so she's quite a senior figure in Oxfam. Antonia blabs on about gender and lone parents and the rumour is that she is using Oxfam for her own political ends. And what does this suggest? Just this: Oxfam is employing a Labour politician to manage and run its campaigning and lobbying work on poverty in the UK. I thought charities were meant to non-partisan. Oh, by the way, we might bump into Councillor Antonia Bance at the Conservative Party conference.
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