The danger in that view is that government soon begins to see itself as the keeper of a social order, defined by government and imposed from the top. If that sounds like socialism, it is. We used to love strong leaders, or at least appreciate their convictions and knowing what they stood for. It was like watching a heavyweight boxing match as Mrs. Thatcher frequently pounded into submission the Labor lackey of the moment by the force of her arguments and the power of her deeply held convictions. Thatcherism lives on in England, even as Reaganism lives on in America.
People are tired of paying ever-higher taxes and working harder to subsidize big government.
But both England and America now have managerial leaders when each could use a leader with real convictions and honest vision about where the country should go. Perhaps Tony Blair won't be the English version of Bill Clinton, though every sign indicates he will, including the employment of former White House aide George Stephanopolous as an adviser to his campaign. After four-plus years, we know that Mr. Clinton's vision extends no further than his polling arm and stonewalling the mounting number of investigations into his corrupt administration. The Tories still haven't found a suitable replacement for Mrs. Thatcher. The Republicans can't find an ideological heir to Mr. Reagan.