Weather Chickens

I'm listening to Tony Benn's memoirs, "Letters to my grandchildren."

Despite his characteristic lisp, Benn speaks with clarity and optimism. His delivery is that of the convicted persuader, and is easier to take when united in agreement. Despite this he says the older he grows, the less he knows. He says he learnt more from his children and grandchildren than his parents. I wonder? He does not come across as someone open for persuasion himself. I think of him as my inteligent 12 year old who defines a solution to the worlds problems in about 30 minutes.

His rational is compelling, but to me it is shiningly naive, as if saying the words were enough. Benn says he prefers signposts to weathercocks (or weather chickens to quote his grandson.) I think he is taking a dig at the other Tony. But the other Tony is most famous for coming into power and staying there for three terms. This requires skill and enginuity. As Obama said, quoting previous presidents, "you can have the most brilliant ship with the smartest sails, but without the wind you're going nowhere."

Benn speaks of the failures of the EU.  He is cynical about the capitalistic and political instincts of the project. He does not seem to see that as a whole, Europe is more on the left wing than the UK. Without it we loose the checks and balances we need. Will we ever see a labour government again, with the Scotts opting out of union politics?

Benn, how about combining your sign post and weather chicken?