Tim Blair

COMMIES ON THE COUCH

Neil Brown replies to Phillip Jones’ claim that conservatives are neurotic, aggressive, dogmatic, intolerant of ambiguity and sick:

It is on the left that these characteristics are most evident. Or have I got it wrong? In a spirit of compromise and reconciliation, let us see.

Yes, I must admit, there were all those referendums in Eastern Europe on joining the Soviet Union and the free and fair elections that followed.

There was also the subtlety of Stalin's policies and the way he encouraged dissent.

There was the robust free press of East Germany; the open clash of rival opinions under Mao Zedong, the refinements of the Gang of Four and the defence of China against the cruel aggression of Tibet.

There was the boyish good humour of Pol Pot on his nature walks through the Cambodian countryside.

And who can forget the 50 years of cut and thrust of open debate and dissent in Cuba?

Then in more recent times we have had: the vigorous clash of rival candidates and parties in North Korea under its balanced and well-adjusted Dear Leader; question time in the Vietnamese Parliament; the complete absence of any abnormality or neurosis in any left-wing dictator in Africa; and the broadmindedness and flexibility of every Marxist revolutionary movement in Latin America and Asia ...

But hey ... free health care.