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Comments on: O Libdems, Where art thou? http://sharpener.johnband.org/2006/05/o-libdems-where-art-thou/ Trying to make a point Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:21:35 +0000 hourly 1 By: Cicero http://sharpener.johnband.org/2006/05/o-libdems-where-art-thou/#comment-14794 Wed, 07 Jun 2006 14:58:28 +0000 http://www.thesharpener.net/2006/05/14/o-libdems-where-art-thou/#comment-14794 I think that the question is one of ideology- Lib Dems have now become probably the most ideological of the major political parties. The probelm is that we still have many activists who will not accept the impications of our polices. For example, if we can abolish entire ministries (the DTi) and create a bonfire of the vanities of Quangos, then the money saved can be used for one of two things: either targeted expenditure and reduction of the general budget, or tax cuts. Since we have an ideological belief in limiting the state, perhaps we should also at least cap the amount of GDP that we think should be taxed- THAT would be radical and would kill Cameron too.

]]> By: Peter http://sharpener.johnband.org/2006/05/o-libdems-where-art-thou/#comment-14729 Tue, 06 Jun 2006 17:05:14 +0000 http://www.thesharpener.net/2006/05/14/o-libdems-where-art-thou/#comment-14729 Sunny

(belatedly)

Blogs can help becuase they are a forum for re-examining our policies. Of course there are limitations to the internet as a medium for discussion.

]]> By: Malcolm http://sharpener.johnband.org/2006/05/o-libdems-where-art-thou/#comment-13206 Sun, 21 May 2006 21:28:56 +0000 http://www.thesharpener.net/2006/05/14/o-libdems-where-art-thou/#comment-13206 I still don’t understand what was wrong with Simon Hughes…

They don’t need a nice person, nor someone with integrity. They need a fighter.

]]> By: Sunny http://sharpener.johnband.org/2006/05/o-libdems-where-art-thou/#comment-11803 Mon, 15 May 2006 14:12:57 +0000 http://www.thesharpener.net/2006/05/14/o-libdems-where-art-thou/#comment-11803 Peter – how do you think blogs can help?

]]> By: Peter http://sharpener.johnband.org/2006/05/o-libdems-where-art-thou/#comment-11790 Mon, 15 May 2006 08:12:17 +0000 http://www.thesharpener.net/2006/05/14/o-libdems-where-art-thou/#comment-11790 Sunny

Interesting post and thanks for the kind words on Liberal Review.

Leaders: there are very few leaders really capable of reaching out and making people think anew about politics (at least withn a democratic tradition). Trudeau comes to mind – Blair to some extent – very few others.

Ming does a good job at being sensible and credible. That is fine by me.

What we need to do is show that we have a team to back him up. Some progress is being made.

Policy: I think we have a lot of work to do here. Ashdown said year’s ago that we were living of the ideas of Grimond. This is still true (there are worse ideas to use of course). We need to be tougher on policy, challenge our own assumptions. And we need to establish some policy themes.

Blogs can help, of course.

]]> By: Sunny http://sharpener.johnband.org/2006/05/o-libdems-where-art-thou/#comment-11778 Sun, 14 May 2006 23:04:18 +0000 http://www.thesharpener.net/2006/05/14/o-libdems-where-art-thou/#comment-11778 Don’t get me wrong, I’m not denying that some policy debate is not going on. And I regularly read LibDem blogs much more often than Labour or Tory blogs even though I love reading all sorts of politics.
What I’m saying is that not much of this policy debate is organised or seems to feed into anything bigger. Jonathan Calder writes articles regularly for the Guardian by the looks of it, but that really isn’t using the net for a grass-roots discussion that is possible and much needed. All in my humble opinion of course.

]]> By: MatGB http://sharpener.johnband.org/2006/05/o-libdems-where-art-thou/#comment-11777 Sun, 14 May 2006 22:52:29 +0000 http://www.thesharpener.net/2006/05/14/o-libdems-where-art-thou/#comment-11777 Not sure I agree that there isn’t much policy debate going on. I certainly found, when I started exploring the LD blogs, a lot that interested me. I’ve not done much ‘policy’ stuff recently, which is a shame, but there’s a good bit out there. Joe Otten is very good, and I always check out James and Forceful&Moderate when I can.

A lot of the aggregated LD blogs are personal/activist blogs rather than policy wonk blogs; that’s a good thing in many ways, but it can make them seem a little partizan.

I’m definately liking what I’ve seen so far from Liberal Review post revamp, the addition of Apollo makes it very good indeed. Must get around to breaking my ‘block’ and writing up the thing Rob asked me for. Ah well.

You’re right though, the party isn’t getting a “what we’re for” message across as well as it could, although it was doing well enough to prompt me to rejoin, which given my huge cynicism when it came to partizanship was somewhat surprising…

]]> By: Fluffy Economist http://sharpener.johnband.org/2006/05/o-libdems-where-art-thou/#comment-11773 Sun, 14 May 2006 21:47:29 +0000 http://www.thesharpener.net/2006/05/14/o-libdems-where-art-thou/#comment-11773 I think the Liberal tradition is far less tribal than the Tories and certainly Labour. Gaining power means a lot less than getting the ideas right. That said, the Lib Dems miss huge chances to make solid policy proposals. How about designing a curriculum to encourage the creative thinking needed in the new economy? Why not support a Basic Income Gurantee? Why not offer to make things easier for small businesses through greater tax breaks and less regulation?

The Lib Dems seem scared to alienate swathes of the population by not being something. Well why not try to be something and see if it works a little better.

Taht is all for now. Good post.

]]> By: James Graham http://sharpener.johnband.org/2006/05/o-libdems-where-art-thou/#comment-11767 Sun, 14 May 2006 17:25:22 +0000 http://www.thesharpener.net/2006/05/14/o-libdems-where-art-thou/#comment-11767 You make a good point. Personally, I think that exactly such a movement was developing a few months ago, but the leadership crisis knocked it off-kilter.

It would also be helpful if there was some leadership from the centre of the party on this. Instead, such discussions are invariably done in secret and behind closed doors, if at all.

I’m a little disenchanted with the whole shebang; my perception is that the party at the top is dominated by people who have no interest in debating strategy and the assurances I’ve had that changes are afoot haven’t amounted to much thus far. As a party activist for 11 years, coming a good 3rd is no longer attractive to me, but for many in the party it is all they have ever aspired to. We need a fundamental culture shift.

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