Hail Bevan

Most English people feel the same about the NHS. It was a tremendous
achievement. I don't think a Nye Bevan could even exist today. What a
giant he was!

"The collective principle asserts that... no society can legitimately
call itself civilised if a sick person is denied medical aid because
of lack of means."

I believe that wholeheartedly, as do most English people. We rightly
consider ourselves superior to Americans in this area, as in many
others.

He was also greatly opposed to our war on Egypt (the Suez crisis) and
it goes without saying that he would have staunchly opposed the Iraq
War. He also opposed the Second World War. He would have preferred to
be defeated than to destroy ourselves "winning". He didn't know about
the concentration camps.

He also said: "That is why no amount of cajolery, and no attempts at
ethical or social seduction, can eradicate from my heart a deep
burning hatred for the Tory Party that inflicted those bitter
experiences on me. So far as I am concerned they are lower than
vermin."

Amen.

He said in 1952, prophetically: "Soon, if we are not prudent, millions
of people will be watching each other starve to death through
expensive television sets."

and in the same year: "If freedom is to be saved and enlarged, poverty
must be ended. There is no other solution."

Compare that with the blather from "centre-left" politicians today,
who are all about "fighting inflation" (which hurts the working
people) and "fairness" (it doesn't matter how "fair" opportunities are
if you have no opportunities.

We can choose the world we live in. We can choose a world in which we
pursue material wealth above all other things, where there are winners
who take nearly all, and losers who receive almost nothing. But can we
say we are pleased with our choice? Can we be content that for the
sake of our comfortable lives, so many must suffer?

posted by Dr Zen @ 1:14 pm