Michael Foot, RIP... and some words to live by...

[Demoiselle]

The man who led England's Labor Party in the early '80's and was seen as his party's conscience, died this past week.
Here's a quote from his 1983 campaign speech:

“We are not here in this world to find elegant solutions, pregnant with initiative, or to serve the ways and modes of profitable progress. No, we are here to provide for all those who are weaker and hungrier, more battered and crippled than ourselves. That is our only certain good and great purpose on earth, and if you ask me about those insoluble economic problems that may arise if the top is deprived of their initiative, I would answer, ‘To hell with them.’ The top is greedy and mean and will always find a way to take care of themselves. They always do.”

www.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/world/europe/04foot.html

I was moved by it. I apologize if it's already been posted here.

[mikita]

1. beautiful quote... thanks n/t

[Captain Hilts]

2. He had a tough go of it. nt

[Morning Dew]

3. R.I.P.

Days Like These (u.k. Version) Lyrics by Billy Bragg

The party that became so powerful by sinking
Foreign boats
Is dreaming up new promises because promises
Win votes
And being resolute in conference with the
Ad man's expertise
The majority by their silence shall pay for days like these

The right to build communities is back behind
Closed doors
'tween government and people stands the right arm
Of the law
And shame upon the patriot when the mark of the
Bulldog breed
Is a family without a home and a pensioner in need

Those whose lives are ruled by dogma are waiting
For a sign
The better dead than red brigade are listening on the line
And the liberal, with a small l cries in front of the tv
And another demonstration passes on to history
Peace, bread, work, and freedom is the best we
Can achieve
And wearing badges is not enough in days like these

[Demoiselle]

4. Wow! Thank YOU!

I'm clearly going to need to research some Billy Bragg.

[LeftishBrit]

7. Yes, his songs are great!

My signature line comes from his 'Between the Wars' (and represents the difference between such as Foot, and such as Thatcher - or, as it turned out, Blair):

'....I kept the faith and I kept voting
Not for the iron fist but for the helping hand
For theirs is a land with a wall around it
And mine is a faith in my fellow man
Theirs is a land of hope and glory
Mine is the green field and the factory floor
Theirs are the skies all dark with bombers
And mine is the peace we know
Between the wars

Call up the craftsmen
Bring me the draftsmen
Build me a path from cradle to grave
And I'll give my consent
To any government
That does not deny a man a living wage...'

[mr blur]

5. A great Socialist - one of our best.

And one of the founders of CND:

[LeftishBrit]

6. Wonderful quote from one of my favourite politicians!

My first vote was for Labour under his leadership - and I still think that things would have been so different if he had defeated Thatcher.

[Blue-Jay]

8. Sadly, Foot has come to the end of an impressive, progressive leg.

:(