We must not change its colour now.

'We must not change its colour now' is a line from The Red Flag. It makes no sense to hand over control of the country to some inexperienced poshboys from Eton who seem not to grasp the importance of a budget defecit in helping to secure recovery. Very confusing to see people assume that they will be more competent than New Labour. They are amateurs. They have the support of big business over Labour's proposed rise in National Insurance which the Tories claim is a sign that Labour have lost it, too stupid to consider the fact that business don't advocate for competent economics but for tax cuts, just as the unions protest against cuts in jobs.

Anyway, onto New Labour. The lack of delivery of social democratic policies by New Labour was a real disappointment and Brown has somewhat acted in a fairer way (except for the 10p tax cock up) and has been pretty good with the economy (except for courting business too much and allowing the banks to run riot but we all have the benefit of hindsight). I was trying to think of the fundamental reason for New Labour's mistakes; greater inequality, harsher border controls and policing, assault on human rights, ID cards, nuclear deterrents etc.

This, again from The Red Flag, is something they probably forgot:
'It well recalls the triumphs past,
It gives the hope of peace at last;
The banner bright, the symbol plain,
Of human right and human gain.'

Human gain. A Labour government should have presided over a collectivisation of material wealth through redistribution in the tax system and nationalisation of public services which would make the cost of the railways variant on income (through the tax system) rather than on use, inspired by the anarchist concept of 'property is theft'. Instead they presided over a collectivisation of individual thought and action, chipping away at autonomy and crippling democracy by curbing protest and repressing diversity. They encouraged individualism in the City and selfish attitudes in business, but made self-expression the business of the police.
Thank god Blair is gone, the arch-Neoliberal. Let's hope Ed Miliband, son of Ralph, writes a good manifesto.