Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 15:36:40 +1000
From: rws-AT-comserver.canberra.edu.au (Rob Schaap)
Subject: Re: M-I: New Labour Party?


G'day Gary,

You say: 

'I have also contemplated joining the New Labour Party but honestly it is a
very mild and vaguely left nationalist program - sorry Rob.'

And I say, you gotta choose from what's available - and if you choose
something brand new you might have a hand in the shape it ultimately takes.
 Furthermore, from a left-wing point of view, these are very ignorant
times.  You have to talk to people in their own categories and with their
own logic.  We're at that stage where we're chasing *anyone* who leans, or
*might* lean, to a leftish position - which, I think, requires as broad a
church as still makes some sense.  

The bit about the NLP that worries me politically is the nationalist
tendency (and Dave warned of this a month ago), but I have rationalised
this as a politically tactical move - keeping hurting people away from
Hanson's clutches is an urgent task, and one worth paying a few transient
ideological prices for.  I'm sure of none of this of course - but then I'm
too old to be sure of anything much.  I've concluded that if I'm right,
good will come of all this.  And if I am wrong, well, I am of the opinion
that I shall leave less destruction in my wake than a few Sparts and DSPers
I know.  Geez, I even sound old ...

Regards,
Rob.




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