Saturday 24 April 2010

A ‘British Obama’ and little truths that won’t change anything [Un ‘Obama britanic’ şi mici adevăruri care nu vor schimba nimic]

Watching Germany rise from its knees after the war and become a vastly more prosperous nation has not been easy on the febrile British psyche.

All nations have a cross to bear, and none more so than Germany with its memories of Nazism. But the British cross is more insidious still.

A misplaced sense of superiority, sustained by delusions of grandeur and a tenacious obsession with the last war, is much harder to shake off. We need to be put back in our place.

Wow, is this another attack on Britan from me, the ever ungrateful and shameless Chevening Fellow, as some ‘friends’ would say?!

Not that I wouldn’t agree with this diagnosis of the British psyche, but I must admit someone else put it better than I could have described it.

That someone is Nick Clegg (leader of the Liberal Democrats), a man who could – theoretically – become the UK’s next Prime Minister (or ruler of Britain’s Elected Dictatorship).

If he weren’t close enough to a historic electoral result – which doesn’t necessarily have to be an outright victory but could rather mean throwing the British political establishment into agonizing deadlockthese words would have remained unnoticed.

After all, the pro-EU, and anti-Iraq war Clegg first spit these little truths some eight years ago. Now, his enemies foolishly imagine that recalling his “attack on British pride” could supposedly tarnish his image of Britain’s Obama.

Well, I’d say it’s just an exaggeration, as I could hardly imagine that there is enough time left before the elections for any ‘Cleggmania’ to gather momentum.

He may talk about ‘hope’ and ‘change’ – just like Barack Obama had been doing for almost two years before the November 2008 Elections – yet Clegg is no more than an irreligious guy, and former playboy (if anyone can be cured of that :-)

Even if he won the elections, his party would not change anything for the better. Although he proves brave enough to tell some truths he’s from the same stock like Obama: very ambitious but rather shallow.

A charismatic character can help one win elections in the USA, and the entire world is curious if this could be done in the UK as well. As millions of Brit youngsters are brainwashed by the celebrity culture this is not altogether impossible anymore.

Neverheless, Clegg has a long way to gain the trust of the nation. Could the inherently euroreserved Britons trust a euroenthusiast (see here, here, here or here)?

Oh, old Monty – seen here (3rd pic) in a statue close to the UK’s Ministry of Defense (2nd pic) – , would you trust him if he were to tell you how to fight a war or rather not fight it? Could soldiers serving under the Union Jack (1st pic) in Afghanistan trust him?

Would anyone from Whitehall believe his promises of tax cuts when Britain is almost bankrupt? Won’t voters fear that a hung parliament could severely affect their lives?

[For all the posts on this blog go to/Pentru toate postările de pe acest blog mergi la: Contents/Cuprins]

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I heard that there are election in uk, but all citizen and those without citizenship must vote. but those without c. vote only for local council.
I wonder: this is politically correct?
C.L.

MunteanUK said...

@ C.L.

"must vote" (?!)- you say... No, in the UK voting is a right, not a duty; no one is forced to vote.

There are countries were citizens are more or less 'compelled' to vote (Belgium, Australia), facing fines or some limitations of their rights, but that's not the case with the UK.

At least as far as I know...

***

According to EU laws, non-citizens residing legally in another EU country are allowed to vote in local elections, plus European Parliament elections, and no state can restrict this right.

I personally find it correct to allow only citizens of one country to elect their government.

What does seem 'incorrect' to you?!

Mihai said...

How about David Cameron and the Conservative Party ?

MunteanUK said...

@ Mihai

If I were a British citizen, I'd probably vote for the Conservative Party. I am really fed up with 'New Labour', although I'm not a Brit; if I were one, I'd clearly be pissed off :-(

It would likely be a 'negative vote' - "let's get rid of G. Clown & his clique!" Not that I'd find the conservative leader as a particularly trustworthy character.

For instance, he's been very ambigous about his views converning the EU, an attitude which drives mad many euroskeptical conservatives.

He wants (and actually needs!) these peoples' votes, but he can't promise anything to them.

What I like is his 'pro-family' agenda, as long as New Labour has ruined the traditional family in the UK. Their welfare state made it more 'convenient' to be divorced (due to social assistance) than married.

***

Generally, the Conservative Party has not been a typical conservative party (like the American Republicans have a staunch conservative wing); it has rather been a 'pragmatic' party.

They did what it was necessary in order to win elections, and then to solve at least some of Britain's problems under Margaret Thatcher.

However, I don't think they have a clear ideology, unlike the Labour Party which, with all their particularities, actually remain a socialist party.

Are socialism, multiculturalism, political correctness, the Nanny State etc solutions for Britain?

No, I don't think that these are good for any country! And nor is liberalism, the way Clegg sees it; I don't find 'europhoric' politicians trustworthy :-(

MunteanUK said...

@ Mihai

It seems that no matter which party wins the election, Britons should be ready for some nasty times.

None of the contenders is aware (or willing to disclose) how bad Britain's situation is.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/election/article-1269204/General-Election-2010-IFS-attacks-Labour-Lib-Dem-Tory-failure-outline-cuts.html

Mihai said...

Wow, it seems that everyone is indebted. But who are they indebted to ?

Everyone except for Poland :) At least for now.
I heard there are new proofs that what happened to Lech Kaczynski's airplane was not exactly an accident.
I'm very curios about how Poland's situation will evolve from now on.

MunteanUK said...

@ Mihai

Maybe the following article could give you more clarifications about the UK's debt:

http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/uk-economy/uk-national-debt/

***

Indeed, after the 'shock therapy' of the early 1990s, Poland's economy grew steadily.

They've got 16 consecutive years of economic growth up to and including 2009, but only God knows what will happen next.

Slawomir Skrzyepk, Poland's former (he was killed in the plane crach of April 10!) central bank governor was strongly opposed to a IMF loan; he vigorously expressed his opposition a few days before his death.

However, people in Donald Tusk's government are in favour of an IMF agreement.

Some would say that, from a certain point of view, Skrzyepk was even more 'indesirable' than Kaczynski :-(

Mihai said...

Thank you for the article, it was very interesting. So I guess things are only going to go worse. The causes: irresponsible governments (which will most likely not go away) and an aging population.

And it is no wonder that things will go worse. The abortionist way of life has not only spiritual consequences but also social and economic ones.

Also, it seems the nanny state and the big brother come at a price. And it is quite a big one.
Some historians say about the Roman Empire that it collapsed because it was no longer able to financially maintain itself and its structures: the system fell under its own weight. Will it be the same with modern empires ?

I don't know how UK is going to deal with these problems but I do know that here in Romania we have essentially the same problems. Only that we are by far less capable of dealing with them (at least at government level).

***

I've read that Donalt Tusk gets along very well with Vladimir Putin, they want to sign a contract which will make Poland dependent on russian gas supplies. And that president Kaczynski clearly opposed such a contract to be signed, since he wanted an economically independent Poland.

So there's no wonder Tusk and his government are friends with the IMF too.

This shows us a frightening picture: if you're a responsible leader of your country, seeking for its independence and for the common good of its citizens, you will end up badly.

MunteanUK said...

@ Mihai

In spite of Nick Clegg's euphoric optimism:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/a-chance-for-change-that-comes-only-once-in-a-generation-1960369.html

...it seems things are not so good for him:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7665336/General-Election-2010-Poll-blow-for-Nick-Clegg-as-voters-think-twice.html

...and, of course, Gordon Clown can expect no better:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1270337/Gordon-wont-getting-vote-Gillian-Duffy-reveals-REALLY-upset-devastating-exchange-PM.html

***

Obviously, there are not only spiritual consequences of mass abortions (that we'll face after death), but social ones.

Here's just one example:

http://www.gandul.info/international/legea-copilului-unic-lasa-china-fara-pensii-5188008

***

Of a truth, Tusk & Putin appear to be 'friends', because we shouldn't forget that Soviet Russia had puppets everywhere, when they subdued Eastern Europe after WWII.

Times have changed, there are other ideologies in the spotlinght, but mankind's history follows the same pattern: pride, greed, injustice, betrayal... :-(

I don't know what kind of 'friends' Tusk & Putin are, yet they may be 'accomplices'.