Who would you rather won the US Presidential elections? As a Conservative, I naturally felt I ought to want McCain to win. And yet, I can't really find much reason why.
Conservatives like me who favour small government, the free market and decentralised power have often found ourselves willing on the likes of a Bush snr or a John Major. We do so hoping that they'll be radical and break with the Big Government-knows-best consensus of the political establishment. In the end, they only seem to gain office by accomodating themselves to the same old State centralism.
No. Until the US Republicans re-discover States Rights, the spirit of 1776 and much else besides, this UK Conservative is going to be cheering on Obama.
Does Obama believe in small government? As with McCain, I really don't know. But I do know that last week he became the first Presidential candidate since Nixon to refuse public money to fund his campaign.
Instead of relying on State handouts, Obama's campaign will be funded by millions of people each giving small on-line donations. In the primaries alone, the $133 million spent came via 1.5 million web donors. That's less than $100 each.
Sounds pretty Edmund Burke.com to me.
But, perhaps you disagree? Maybe its heresy to not support a Big Government, high tax and spend, Establishment Republican, just because he's... um... a Republican?
