Fraser Nelson Fraser Nelson

The pessimism of the left

Like David, I’m a fan of Polly Toynbee. Every compass needle needs a butt end, after all. She is 180 degrees wrong on most things: but splendidly, eloquently, passionately wrong. I’d like to pick up on one aspect of her column.

“Social democrats are the world’s optimists, knowing human destiny is in our own hands if we have the will to change. Leave pessimism to the world’s conservatives, ever fearful of the future and yearning for a better yesterday.”

Now, I have also seen this as a fundamental difference between left and right but (needless to say) the other way around. And it all comes down to your views of human nature. Do you think people are inherently kind, wise and compassionate? I do, which is why I describe myself as a conservative. I think society will be better, stronger and more socially cohesive if money is left in the hands of people who earn it, to distribute as best they see fit. The likes of Polly see ordinary people as rather dim, and selfish: this is why they must have a chunk of their earnings confiscated by the state so an elightened elite can put it on priorities which – left to themselves – these stupid, selfish people would not address.

Polly’s column today illustrates this pessimism rather well, laying into the lumpen masses. “Most leaders in Copenhagen were out ahead of their people. Most understand the crisis better than those they represent, promising more sacrifice than their citizens are yet ready to accept.” What ignorant, heartless citizens. She goes on: “If voters cared about people drowning in Bangladesh, more aid would have been sent decades ago.” Oh, the cold hearts of the working class! Bruce Anderson once said of someone (I forget whom) “he would do anything for the working class except like them”.

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