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Originally Posted by Eric
Changing parties: mmm ... Churchill was good at that .... I don't think that "conservative" means maintaining the status quo ... I think it has more to do with how one views things like the economy, social services, commitment to the military etc. And "radical" ... seems to me that some parties that have termed themselves radical are, in fact, conservative ... I think that this confusion was common in the Third French Republic. (Maybe all kinds of confusion were common in the Third French Republic, particularly between the ears of Maurice Gamelin). "Revolutionary" would, I think, be a better term than "radical". But even revolutionary parties become conservative ... the Soviet Union comes immediately to mind.
I do believe though, that people who cross party lines, or cross the floor of the House (we have a House of Commons too  ) are often acting on principle, rather than swallowing their principles in order to toe a party line that they no longer agree with. And I do think that addiction to ideology sometimes takes a back seat problems of running a country in a complex world.
Oh, and have yourself a Merry Christmas, eh  and a happy and prosperous New Year ... Joyeux Noel et Bon Annee from the Great White North. |
Eric if you ever run for the leadership of what ever party sails your boat I
will vote for you.I reckon you could be up there with some of our past greats if given the chance. Enoch Powell and Churchill come stright to mind