A Most Uncomfortable Parallel: What Clement Attlee Can Teach The Right About Barack Obama.

National Review | Jan 12, 2010 | Andrew Stuttaford

[RichInOC]

“Andrew, I remember Clem Attlee. Clem Attlee served in my war cabinet for five years. Clem Attlee was a good and capable man. Believe me, Andrew...Barack Obama is no Clem Attlee.”

[Carl from Marietta]

One of the things that is very interesting regarding Atlee and his nationalization is that even with Churchill serving approximately 4 years after him (in his second tenure), they only suceeded in de-nationalizing the steel industry, and that only partially.

I’ve never gotten the brits and their penchant for socialism.

[A.A. Cunningham]

I posted this because National Review doesn't put its articles on line, so a lot of people don't see them.

Incorrect.

http://nrd.nationalreview.com/article/?q=YjE3NThjMTg3NzhmNGU0ZDA4MGJlMjYxZjkyNmIxYWU=

parallel

[Bigg Red]

Excellent piece. (Scary, too) Thanks for posting it.

[Winniesboy]

Those who believe current or recent British governments to be ‘socialist’ would do well to consider the Attlee years. In the strict sense of the term, Attlee’s was the only truly socialist government Britain has ever had, since it was the only government both to be ideologically committed to, and actively to implement, the state ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange.

Incidentally, the only aspect of the article’s description of Attlee with which I disagree is the passing reference to his attitude to the Cold War. I’m unaware of any evidence that he failed to share Ernie Bevin’s hardline stance, including the commitment to a British nuclear deterrent.