Shock! Horror! Cameron is a Tory!
There has been some incredulity about the revelation that David Cameron is not a Libertarian. As Jackart points out, this really shouldn't be a surprise as Cameron is, y'know, a Conservative.
So to anyone who thinks that the news that Cameron is not a Libertarian, I have some more shocking news for you. He isn't a Communist. Oh no. And also, he isn't a Liberal Democrat. Also, he isn't a card-carrying Trade Unionist or a member of the Labour Party. Shocking, isn't it? Actually, no, of course it fucking isn't. Cameron is a Conservative through and through. And even in this era of political mendacity and duplicity, it must be pretty clear to everyone that Cameron is a Tory. Look at all of the little of signals he has sent out that would indicate that he is a Conservative. Like joining the Tory Party. And working for a former Tory Minister. And then becoming a Tory MP. Before becoming the Conservative Party leader. Let's be honest, he is a Conservative through and through.
And as a result, if you are a Libertarian, you are wasting your time if you support Cameron. In fact, and at the risk of repeating myself, if you are a Libertarian who supports the Conservative, you are part of the problem, not the solution. Seriously, the Conservatives are not that different from the Labour party. As soon as the shit hits the fan after they become the government, the Tories will show their socially conservative ways. Deep down they are no more Libertarian that the Labour party - it is just that their disregard for freedom takes on a different tone to that of the Labour party.
So, Libertarians across the land, don't set yourself up for disappointment. Don't support Cameron and the Tories. It will only lead to bitterness and resentment. Cameron has point blank said that he is not a Libertarian - if he isn't to be trusted to implement policies he has promised to follow, why the fuck would anyone expect him to follow an ideology he has expressed disdain for?
There is an alternative. Yes, LPUK is a tiny party with a long way to go before they get anywhere near being a real political force in this country. Yes, it make take years - if not decades - before they are in a position to form a government. And yeah, there is no chance of them being the opposition (let alone the government) after Brown finally concedes to go to the electorate in 2010. But you know what, if you a Libertarian and support the Libertarian party you have just as much chance of their being a Libertarian government after the next election as you do if you support the Tories - precisely zero. However, if you support LPUK you have the chance for a real Libertarian party in the future. Whereas if you support the Tories, you can guarantee two things - the crushing disappointment of the social conservatism of the Tories combined with the maintenance of the statues quo.
A Libertarian future could be really bright, but a Libertarian future definitely happen under Cameron or the Conservatives.
Labels: Cameron, Libertarians, LPUK, Tories
posted by The Nameless Libertarian @ 8:41 pm
4 Comments
4 Comments:
The problem you've got, & this is the basic reason why people like Jackart support Camoron, is that so few of the general public are libertarian, & this isn't set to change, so a purely libertarian party is never likely to get anywhere.
Why is the general public not libertarian? And why do you think that is unlikely to change?
Sure, the vast majority of the public are probably unaware of what it means to be Libertarian at the moment, but the only way for them to understand is to spread the message and explain the ideology. And that will be done in a far more effective way if their is a bespoke party arguing for the ideology, rather than a watered down version tied in with the deeply socially conservative Tory party.
As I've said many times before, the Conservative Party is a broad coalition of libertarians, free market thinkers, modernisers etc and I think that is a good thing. Cameron may not be a social liberal but that doesn't mean he rejects everything liberal.
As I've said many times before, the Conservative Party is a broad coalition of libertarians, free market thinkers, modernisers etc and I think that is a good thing.
I don't think it is a good thing; it waters down the Libertarian elements of the party with the tepid, luddite and archaic social conservatism of the blue rinse brigade. Cameron may be liberal on some things, but he is illiberal enough on others not to warrant my support.
But then, that is you are a Tory and I am a member of LPUK.
TNO
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