Somebody Somebody wrote:
>
> Somebody: [clip]
> I'm not saying you should support the center-left, because I daresay we could use a proper left in most of these countries. But the fact that so many people are being drawn to conservative ideologies as a reaction the recession is pretty bloody depressing.
I'm as puzzled by this is Eric. Why is there anything special at all about this. Perhaps you don't understand how economics affects _voting_, and how that is relevant to actual politics.
Wheen the economy slumps, voters turn against the party in power. Liberalksm vs Conservatism has nothing whatever to do with it. It's simply vote the incumbents out. Hence Carter in '76; Reagan in '80.
As to actual politics, there is a strong element of contingemcu: it is simply not predictable what issues under what conditions will energize people and bring them onto the streets.
Carrol