Comments on: The abstract economy: "You've never had it so good!" http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/ Life, Culture and Politics from BrisVegas Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:11:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Mark http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82645 Mark Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:50:36 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82645 I think that nice Mr Rudd is a very clever politician, Katz. I think that nice Mr Rudd is a very clever politician, Katz.

]]> By: Katz http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82644 Katz Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:33:22 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82644 The difference is that when Macmillan said those famous words the people of Britain were inclined to believe him. Mr Macmillan was a believable sort of chap. When Mr Howard plagiariased Mr Macmillan, on the other hand, Mr Howard had long ceased to be a believable sort of chap. Perhaps Mr Howard has not yet accepted the fact that many people think of him as a liar. If Mr Howard had accepted the fact that many people think of him as a liar, perhaps he would not have expressed the rather unoriginal sentiment that "You've never had it so good." Political careers are killed by this kind of miscalculation. Perhaps Mr Howard isn't a clever politician any more, either. The difference is that when Macmillan said those famous words the people of Britain were inclined to believe him.

Mr Macmillan was a believable sort of chap.

When Mr Howard plagiariased Mr Macmillan, on the other hand, Mr Howard had long ceased to be a believable sort of chap.

Perhaps Mr Howard has not yet accepted the fact that many people think of him as a liar.

If Mr Howard had accepted the fact that many people think of him as a liar, perhaps he would not have expressed the rather unoriginal sentiment that “You’ve never had it so good.”

Political careers are killed by this kind of miscalculation.

Perhaps Mr Howard isn’t a clever politician any more, either.

]]> By: steve http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82643 steve Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:55:21 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82643 Was just having a Captain Cook at Blogocracy and he had this <a href="http://www.liberal.org.au/campaign_news/campaign_2004/Sept26_Speech_-_Coalition_Campaign_Launch_-_Brisbane.pdf" rel="nofollow">gem </a>with a lovely quote from Howard: <blockquote>My friends, we all prize the financial security of our families. Let me say this, and it’s not just my view, but it’s a view frequently expressed to me as I move around this country talking to Australian families. Nothing threatens that security more directly than the prospect of rising interest rates. Rising interest rates dominates everything else when it comes to family security. Just a tiny upward movement in interest rates more than devours a few dollars of taxation relief or additional family benefits. There is no economic credential for office more crucial than a capacity to keep interest rates low.</blockquote> Was just having a Captain Cook at Blogocracy and he had this gem with a lovely quote from Howard:

My friends, we all prize the financial security of our families. Let me say this, and it’s not just my view, but it’s a view frequently expressed to me as I move around this country talking to Australian families. Nothing threatens that security more directly than the prospect of rising interest rates. Rising interest rates dominates everything else when it comes to family security. Just a tiny upward movement in interest rates more than devours a few dollars of taxation relief or additional family benefits. There is no economic credential for office more crucial than a capacity to keep interest rates low.

]]> By: Mark http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82642 Mark Wed, 08 Aug 2007 11:34:36 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82642 Bartlett's doesn't dignify Macmillan with an entry, Bismarck, but I'll concede on the basis of the Beeb as a reliable source. You're right, I'm wrong! http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/20/newsid_3728000/3728225.stm 20 July 1957, apparently. Bartlett’s doesn’t dignify Macmillan with an entry, Bismarck, but I’ll concede on the basis of the Beeb as a reliable source. You’re right, I’m wrong!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/20/newsid_3728000/3728225.stm

20 July 1957, apparently.

]]> By: Bismarck http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82641 Bismarck Wed, 08 Aug 2007 06:41:00 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82641 No, Andrew E, I'm not drawing any conclusions from it and certainly not ascribing any election-redemptive powers to the statement. In terms of your original question, though, the Conservatives were pretty battered by the time Macmillan took the helm (Suez, etc) and he did deliver a thumping win. By the same token, the Democrats used a similar line in the US in 1952 and it didn't seem to do them much good. No, Andrew E, I’m not drawing any conclusions from it and certainly not ascribing any election-redemptive powers to the statement. In terms of your original question, though, the Conservatives were pretty battered by the time Macmillan took the helm (Suez, etc) and he did deliver a thumping win. By the same token, the Democrats used a similar line in the US in 1952 and it didn’t seem to do them much good.

]]> By: Andrew E http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82640 Andrew E Wed, 08 Aug 2007 06:33:38 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82640 Assuming you're right Bismarck, are you making the case that Macmillan was set to lose before uttering this cry, whereupon a sullen population turned around and voted Conservative instead? Assuming you’re right Bismarck, are you making the case that Macmillan was set to lose before uttering this cry, whereupon a sullen population turned around and voted Conservative instead?

]]> By: Bismarck http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82639 Bismarck Wed, 08 Aug 2007 06:30:37 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82639 Fine by me. I love a good quibble. Is <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/20/newsid_3728000/3728225.stm" rel="nofollow">this</a> better? Fine by me. I love a good quibble. Is this better?

]]> By: Mark http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82638 Mark Wed, 08 Aug 2007 06:26:29 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82638 Bismarck, I can be wrong, but then so can writers for the UK Tele! I might check my Bartlett's when I get home from work - I suspect it's a better reference for quotes than the internets. Bismarck, I can be wrong, but then so can writers for the UK Tele! I might check my Bartlett’s when I get home from work – I suspect it’s a better reference for quotes than the internets.

]]> By: Bismarck http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82637 Bismarck Wed, 08 Aug 2007 06:18:25 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82637 Mark - I have to <a href="http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/ukcorrespondents/christopherhowse/july07/youveneverhaditsogood.htm" rel="nofollow">disagree</a> with you. Mark – I have to disagree with you.

]]> By: Mark http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82636 Mark Wed, 08 Aug 2007 06:13:07 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2007/08/07/the-abstract-economy-youve-never-had-it-so-good/#comment-82636 I think you'll find he said it after the 59 election - and went on to lose to Wilson in 64. I think you’ll find he said it after the 59 election – and went on to lose to Wilson in 64.

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