The Labour Party of semi-fond memory was a broadish church but it had some consistent currents within it. It was left of centre, socially liberal, anti-authoritarian, anti-American, pacifistic, anti-big-business, keen on benefits for the poor, and in favour of nationalisation. In government, New Labour has been right of centre, moralistic, authoritarian; it has been involved in three wars, is slavishly submissive to big business, is keener to promote the distinction between the deserving and undeserving poor than any government in the last hundred years, and is bent on extending into health and education and transport an experimental programme of private-public partnerships which allocates risk to the public sector and profits to the private. As for its attitude to America, that is comparable only to the ‘coital lock’ which makes it impossible to separate dogs during sex.Unlike Geoffrey R. Stone, however, I wouldn't call on government to suppress Lanchester's views even though Manchester, as a best-selling author commands a prominent niche in "the marketplace of ideas," whence he is able to "warp the public debate." In fact, I love it when lefty celebrities spew their stupidity. It's a reminder that the market rewards performance, no matter how "undeserving" are those who reap the rewards.
And I still love to listen to old Joan Baez LPs. But as Laura Ingraham says, Shut Up and Sing.
