Conditional Reflex
By WOLF MANKOWITZ
T SHALL, without any enthusiasm or even very 'much interest, vote Labour. The basic reason why is simply explained by analogy. If Pavlov said to his dog, 'The experiment's over—you can get up and walk,' the dog would just lie there waiting for a bell to ring and an opportunity to salivate.
Anyone who has been a revolutionary Socialist of one kind or another--as I have been--since schoolboyhood, cannot rid himself of a reflex in the direction of the working class and the Labour movement. Even when he knows that the work- ing class is a petty bourgeoisie and the Labour movement is merely in labour to produce a government, the reflex is conditional.
I have no belief whatsoever in the superiority of Labour Government leadership as distinct from any other leadership the British electorate might give itself. Mr. Gaitskell is to me as unfunny a figure of fun as Mr. Macmillan. Mr. Bevan is as totally a lost cause as the Tribune group.
I am unmoved by the possibility of nationalised steel and I can't believe , that even the steel workers care very much. The fact that a Labour Government will not tax football pool winnings still leaves me with Joan as the only Littlevvood in my life.
The non-nuclear club idea is to me a logical and emotional compromise which deliberately conceals from its supporters the realities behind the need for nuclear disarmament.
As to housing and education—I'm quite sure that whatever government we have will fail to give us enough of either of them.
As to the capital gains tax and the destruction of the expense account society, these seem to me to be piddling alternatives to economic socialism —a revolutionary theory you can read about in
the history books. I have it on the authority of an eminent Labour pillar that 'the revolutionary elements have been left out in order not to lose the middle-class vote.'
Nevertheless, apart from my conditioned reflex in the direction of Labour every few years- -a sentimental and an unconscious gesture for which I have very little respect and barely any justifica- tion--there are sonic personal reasons left to me for voting Labour.
These reasons are the people in the Labour movement with whom I agree, as people, about a number of things. Their opinions are in no way reflected by the policy of the party, nor are they likely to be implemented by any government of any colour at any time. But they are ideas and feelings With which I remain associated.
In the last analysis I believe that every voter is really given a very poor chance indeed to run his own life. If asked who he was for he would have in honesty to answer, `I'm for me--but who cares?' Governments certainly don't.
The weariness the entire election question in- duces in me results from my belief that the only international issue on which this country could be effective is that of unilateral nuclear disarma- ment. And I know that no government is going to give the world that example to live by.
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