Disraeli Room

"... Still, it’s hard to figure out what Fini is up to. Few expected such a socially liberal turn from him – Fini now supports both research on embryo stem cells and same-sex civil unions, a strange choice for a conservative coming from a neo-fascist background. While it is true that the coalition launching FLI, with Fini as their candidate, indicates a young generation tired of Berlusconi’s unkept promises, once the novelty is gone voters will find themselves dealing with actual options ..."

"... The principle of the equality of condition has resulted in making individuals feel independent, and has thus produced massive social atomisation. Every individual is primarily concerned with his or her own material interests. As a result, the complete loss of social solidarity renders it impossible for democratic culture to flourish. At the same time, increased societal disunion makes it extremely easy for governments to deceitfully manipulate public opinion, mainly for their own gains ..."

"... In the years to come, a huge amount of this wealth will suddenly cease to be public and there is a real risk that such assets will not only be privatised (as during the 1980s) but privatised in such a way as to reinforce existing inequalities of wealth. There is a danger that the net result will be a rent seekers’ paradise, where vested interests triumph over communal need and wealth flows backwards to the already established and upwards to the already wealthy. We believe that the opposite is possible ..."

"... So what happens when America votes like it usually votes? What usually happens. In midterms this means the President’s party loses seats. In this case, quite a few. But midterms 2010 were same old, same old. In only three elections post 1934 has the Presidential party not lost seats. As Secretary of State Clinton noted, “this is not at all out of the ordinary.” She should, of course, know ..."

"... So what is the Big Society? I would argue that it is as much an analysis as a programme. What underpins it is a deep and genuine concern that - over many years - the strength of the links between us as individuals, within communities, within our neighbourhoods, have been weakened by a political and economic system that has sought to monopolise power and responsibility and crowded out the space previously occupied by what is currently called civil society ..."