The Most Delightful Fan Letter Ever
Directly on the heels of our discussion of Ashton Kutcher's fan base--which led to the inevitable lament that young people these days are foolish and trivial and cannot be persuaded to think seriously about politics--I received this e-mail, which I swear to you I did not write:
Dear Claire,
I am an American teenager, and I love British politics. I have just read There Is No Alternative: Why Margaret Thatcher Matters for the second time. In my opinion, it is the best book about Margaret Thatcher that exists. I also enjoyed Menace in Europe, and I am probably your biggest fan.
After reading There Is No Alternative for the second time, however, I am beginning to wonder if Margaret Thatcher was too polarizing. The Tories did not win an outright majority in the UK General Election this year, and I wonder if this is due to Thatcher’s legacy. Although I am convinced that Thatcher revitalized Britain, the Labour Party still managed to sweep parts of Yorkshire and the North East. Furthermore, the Tories only won one seat in Scotland. Looking at these results, I am reminded of your visit with retired Yorkshire coal miners Harry and Johnny, who seemed quite resentful of Thatcherism.
In your assessment, do you think that the Conservative Party will ever again win an outright majority of seats in a general election? If not, do you think that it is Thatcher’s fault? Also, what do you make of David Cameron’s proposal for the Alternative Vote?
Thanks so much, Claire!
Sincerely,
Patrick Higgins
P.S. Your articles are great, too!
I have, of course, invited Patrick to join Ricochet. Please join me in welcoming him.
Now to Patrick's questions.
Patrick, no doubt Thatcher was and remains a polarizing figure. Recent polls show that she is still by far both the most admired and the most loathed postwar prime minister. And you're quite right, there are regions of Britain that will never forgive the Tories--but they were hardly likely to vote Conservative before Thatcher, either.
Beyond saying that, it's impossible really to say anything precise about the effect the memory of Thatcher now has on the electorate. You're immediately lost in a world of vague counter-factuals. Had she been less polarizing, perhaps the Conservatives would now be more popular, yes; but this is assuming all else being equal--and that's impossible to assume. How do you have Thatcherism without political polarization? To some extent, she was polarizing because of her personality. But to a much larger extent, she was polarizing because of her policies. Had she not implemented those policies, the British political landscape would now be so different that it's impossible meaningfully to discuss how popular the Tories would be.
One thing is clear: The Thatcher era inaugurated a change in public attitudes so profound as to change the parameters in which all of Britain's political parties must now operate. All three major parties are in the most significant ways neo-Thatcherite. Polls suggest that on the issues themselves, the electorate is more Thatcherite than it was during her time in power. So I think the way to look at it is like this: Yes, in some constituencies, the memory of Thatcher's time in power may keep voters from pulling the lever for the Tory Party itself. But it does not keep them from voting for parties that have been deeply influenced by Thatcher. They would not vote for a Labour Party that had kept Clause IV. That party and those ideas are dead. And the electorate is unified on that: They don't want socialism.
Certainly, I think the Conservatives could win an outright majority--they almost did last time. It will be their own fault if they don't, not Thatcher's; voters tend to judge governments based on what they've done for them lately.
As for the Alternative Vote, I agree that it is no solution to anything. I doubt it will pass. Nick Cohen sums it up:
I have heard only two honest answers, which both reek of desperation. The first is that any change is better than no change, even if it is a change for the worse. The second is that AV referendum was all Cameron would offer the wretched Clegg, and they are stuck with it.
I hope that answers your questions, Patrick, and thank you for writing.
Your letter made my year.
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Comments :
May '10
Re: The Most Delightful Fan Letter Ever
No way! Get out! For real?
That is genuine fun. Reminds me of the time I was lounging in the quadrangle with a non-school-approved beverage at the elbow and a trumpet concerto on the boombox. Some urban yoots wheeled by on their bikes, and one swung over to ask:
"Is that Franz Josef Haydn?"
Nov '10
Re: The Most Delightful Fan Letter Ever
Tories aren’t losing votes for having too much Thatcherism. They’re losing votes for having too little.
Re: The Most Delightful Fan Letter Ever
Welcome to Ricochet,Patrick, and how old are you? (The Constitution requires a man to be at least 35 to become president. I'm just wondering how long we're going to have to wait.)
Dec '10
Re: The Most Delightful Fan Letter Ever
You'll have to consult with Ezra Klein on that age thing, Peter. The Constitution being so confusing and old and stuff.
Oct '10
Re: The Most Delightful Fan Letter Ever
Funeral Guy
You'll have to consult with Ezra Klein on that age thing, Peter. The Constitution being so confusing and old and stuff. · Dec 31 at 1:02pm
You'll also have to consult with activist federal judges, for it is only they who are smart enough to divine the intent of those who wrote that living, breathing document.
Dec '10
Re: The Most Delightful Fan Letter Ever
Thanks for the quick response and the invitation to Ricochet, Claire! That was an insightful answer, and it is much appreciated. I am totally convinced that Thatcher changed all of the political parties in Britain. Nevertheless, I think the Tories have the most to offer, which is why I was so dismayed that they didn't capture an overall majority in May. I am concerned that David Cameron may have sacrificed too much in order to form the coalition government. In fact, I feel sorry for the ten million people who voted Conservative in this election because I feel that the Tories tore up much of their manifesto, and they are now giving the electorate a social democratic/quasi-Conservative government. I think Britain deserves another Thatcher!
Speaking of hung parliaments, this is an interesting clip of Margaret Thatcher at the February 1974 election at her Finchley count. She gives an assessment of the Liberal Party: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALkJwinbYEc. I, of course, agree with her. I don't feel that the Lib Dems bring much to the table.
Thanks again, Claire!
Patrick Higgins
Oct '10
Re: The Most Delightful Fan Letter Ever
Patrick,
One can only judge Maggie by what she made possible. Britain was in horrendous shape before she set the stage for prosperity. That Tony Blair is acclaimed for building a papier mache palace upon Maggie's foundation is the effect of forces beyond her control. It is hardly Maggie's fault that the West is now populated by a majority incapable of imagining what can be achieved without government subsidy. Consider: Maggie's good friend Ronald Reagan was President of a nation that promoted a vacuous community organizer to the job. Consider also that Britain discarded Winston Churchill's Conservatives as soon as he stopped the bombs from falling.
The point is that principled leaders do their best as a matter of duty, not because accolades are sure to follow. They often don't.
May '10
Re: The Most Delightful Fan Letter Ever
Claire,
I tried posting this earlier, and failed, and sent it a few days ago to your FB inbox, which I'm sure you don't have time to read. It concerns how best to buy "There Is No Alternative" (TINA).
I would like to buy a copy of TINA, and I'd prefer to get it on Kindle. The thing is, Amazon have it at half the price in Paperback (through one of the stores). From your point of view, as the author, which format gives you the best return? After all, all other things being equal, one would like to ensure the author gets the best deal :).
Best wishes for the New Year.