have a conversation

The celebrated conservative political philosopher, Michael Oakeshott, once said that "politics should be a conversation, not an argument" he also went on to add that all political actions should be carried out with regard to the intimations and traditions of the people.

The coalition government should have taken heed of Oakeshott when developing the policy of selling of the national forest. There was no conversation and they forgot about the British love for its trees. The government should beware in case the same befalls its NHS reform, on which there was little or no consultation; and you meddle with the NHS at your peril. Nick Clegg and many Lib Dems also ignored the advice even when it was clear that the huge hike in tuition fees were almost universally umpopular.

And you can stop smirking at the back of the class, Labour politicians. Gordon's Brown's assault on pensions, private and state, has not been readily forgotten. A fundamental rule for politicians has to be, do not offend the middle aged and elederly. They are the people who go out to vote ! And certainly defend pensions; they are precious to everyone. The young, understandably, may not care so much about pensions, but most of them don't vote.

Margaret Thatcher was as guilty as any (though I doubt she ever read Oakeshott - Hayek and Friedman were her bedtime companions). She will go to her grave believing the poll tax was good policy, but it doesn't matter. She flew in the face of the British people's love of fairness- in taxation and all things.

I suppose we can defend Blair and Iraq. He admitted it was not popular, but merely said he believed it was right. Well, OK, but he had to expect what he got - the destruction of his political reputation.

So, time, I think, to re-discover Oakeshott. The problem is, are current politicians sufficiently in touch with reality to have a meaningful conversation with the public ?