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Leamington Letters #91: The real debate

10/3/2015

7 Comments

 
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Photo Credit: Mitchell Haddad/NBC
Over the course of the last few months, whenever I had an idle hour to spare, and sometimes when I didn’t, I have been working my way through the seven seasons of The West Wing, envying the quality of the Sorkin’s writing, and drawing the inevitable parallels with our current political situation.

By chance, I reached Season 7, Episode 7 – The Debate – at the same time as Cameron was attempting to weasel his way out of a debate with Ed Miliband in the lead-up to May 7.

You will recall that in this episode Senator Arnold Vinick, played by Alan Alda, challenged Congressman Matt Santos, Jimmy Smits, to throw out the format which had been carefully negotiated by their representatives and engage in a “real” debate. They did so, with Smits and Alda improvising the debate and in so doing bringing to prime time television what one could allow oneself to believe was a genuine debate about real differences on real issues: the role of the state, illegal immigration, gun control, Africa, the ideologies of liberalism and conservatism.

Of course, it was a fiction. In real life, one doesn’t get a real debate.

And now, Cameron is ensuring that we don’t even get the pretence of it.
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It is symptomatic of this government that they are refusing to engage beyond the pathetic sound-bite culture of PMQs. It is symptomatic of this government that they do not feel it necessary to justify their record. It is symptomatic of this government that they are not interested in an opportunity to express a vision and argue it to the country.

Is it because they have no such vision? Or is it, as I suspect, that they do have a vision but believe it would not be politically expedient to share it with those of us who put them in a position to privatise the NHS, tax the poor, give tax breaks to the rich, and continue to create a society which defies the meaning of the word?

"I think we've been through a period where too many people have been given to understand that if they have a problem, it's the government's job to cope with it. 'I have a problem, I'll get a grant.' 'I'm homeless, the government must house me.' They're casting their problem on society. And, you know, there is no such thing as society.”

That famous quote from Thatcher is the essence of this government’s ideology. And the examples she gave are damning.

She didn’t say, ‘I have a problem, I’ll get a bail-out.’ She didn’t say, ‘I have a problem, I’ll get a bonus.’  She didn’t say, ‘I have a problem, I’ll get a tax cut’.

She turned her scorn on the homeless.

Cameron and Osborne have learned the words that express empathy, but do not feel it and do not show it by their actions.

In a real debate, that might be exposed. Personally, I doubt it. But it’s worth a try.

Today from the everysmith vaults: Leo Kottke. Sensational 12 string playing. Do not pass Go. Go directly to Concert Vault and listen.

7 Comments
Robin
10/3/2015 04:01:49

I remember that episode. Santos won it hands down and went on to win the Presidency. Wouldn't it be great if life imitated art this time?

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Dave
10/3/2015 07:17:03

Really a coincidence? Or a 'liberal' dream? Check the viewing figures for West Wing. Massively down at the end. As will be Miliband. As will be all of you.

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Allan
10/3/2015 07:48:26

Iffy about this. It may be the case that West Wing coincided, even though it sounds as if it is a rhetorical device. But the fact is, both could say what they wanted. Cameron can't. He is in thrall to the bankers and psychopaths. Can Miliband say what he wants. I hope so. I think he has the makings of a good prime minister. And I think that the Tory press think that too, which is why they are slagging him off. Maybe a debate will show us that.

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Will
10/3/2015 08:37:39

Our so-called leaders owe it to us to debate the issues in front of us. It'so as simple as that.

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Sean
10/3/2015 10:13:29

Nicely put as usual Max. But it comes down to the same old thing – Tories couldn't give a toss about anyone outside their class or social or business circle. Never going to change. Sadly we have Ed Moribund in the other corner. He'll never get voted in in a million years. And even if he does he's only a slight move to the left. Politics that has any real sway over the people of this country died out in '97 when Labour became Tory-lite. Policy is decided by big business and the banks.

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Stephen
11/3/2015 00:31:22

Charlie Brooker thinks Cameron should watch it at home and be filmed - like Gogglebox! Brilliant.

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Ellie
11/3/2015 09:33:51

What he is worried about is showing the country that miliband is not the man presented by his friends in the Tory press. I am not sure he is the man we want but he is not what the Mail and the Torygraph say he is. PS love Kottke!

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    Max Smith

    European writer, radical, restaurateur and Red Sox fan. 70-something husband, father, step-father, grandfather and son. Resident in Warwick, England.

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