Blond in America

Friday, 19th March 2010

As David says, Philip Blond has charmed David Brooks (who, in turn, has not impressed Matt Welch). I wasn't terribly impressed with Blond last November and am not sure I've really changed my mind. Anyway, that post can be found here. Bottom line:

Sometimes, if I understand him correctly (not as simple a task as it ought to be), it seems as if Blond wants to take us back to the 1930s - at home and at work. I think he'd like everyone to live in small towns or, preferably, villages too. Now there was much that was good about the 1930s but time, and society, moves on and it's futile to suppose that the clock can be wound back. Equally, for all that progress or, if you prefer, time, causes some valuable things to be lost, it also brings valuable improvements. In the end, Blond comes across, perhaps unwittingly, as a nostalgist. And, I'd hazard, it's but one hop from nostalgia to full-blown reactionary status.

Whole thing here and I also highly recommend my chum Iain Martin's critique too.

UPDATE: Obviously this post should have been headlined For Non-Blonds. (Thanks AL)

Filed under: Libertarians (142 more articles) , Phillip Blond (8 more articles) , Red Toryism (5 more articles) , Tories (265 more articles)

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Rob

March 19th, 2010 6:45pm Report this comment

I think it's ultimately beyond our knowledge and control to know all the sociological factors that make up a society at its specific point in time. I think it was wittgenstein that said trying to mend society is like trying to fix a spider's web with your bare hands.

Edmund Jerk

March 19th, 2010 10:08pm Report this comment

I'm not impressed by Blond he seems very pre-fascist in his rhetoric: only lefties and conspiracy theorists use the term 'neo-liberal' to describe good old fashioned liberal economics.

Beefeater

March 20th, 2010 9:12pm Report this comment

You are far too kind to Blond.

Blondism is what you get when opinion polls and buzz words are used to cobble together a political philosophy designed to appeal universally.

Government, business and the market should be small, friendly, green and personal (no invisible hand). Hence the "nostalgia". We are to return to being a nation of shopkeepers, but diverse, local, chummy and caring.

Philosophy: Small collectivism. Brand name: Red Toryism. Slogan: The Right Change. Service with a smile. (Or whatever.)

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