"It's time for a grown up discussion. Big issues need real debate, a big conversation between politicians and the people. Let the conversation begin." Tony Blair PM 2003 More in the Guardian: Blair's neo-puritan appeal to voters to face up to the social irresponsibility which underpins poor parenting, unhealthy diet and anti-social behaviour towards neighbours. Mr Blair cited social ills from drunkenness in city centres to smoking in public places, poor diet and alcoholism as generating huge costs to the NHS and police as well as to society at large. Such problems must be addressed, he suggested. Think about it, it's a bald statement, but has truth. If the geezer down the street from me had a blog, would I go there, fairly regularly? Of course. If there were many locally wouldn't that be a community. Linked up together in their own mind share world, using the power of the network, as smart as the smartest people in there, as angry or visionary as the most maddened or utopian bloggers. [Blogs are all about reputation.] Answers you'd surely get, maybe too many, but it could also be the solution to many of the questions. We build a community, working locally this is how we face and discuss the challenge of the future. We talk and learn about healthy lives, safety, poverty, just as we talk about ourselves. And habituating more PC literate people from the wrong side of the IT gap, would be far easier when there's gossip and arguments to be had. [With the odd bit of wit, intellect, vision and building of knowledge as per your usual assortment of blogs.] Usual caveats: blogging could be via cable TV, mobile phone, library PCs and PDAs if you were a nob. You'd need a high profile local as well as national ad campaign, work within schools and higher ed, offer training courses free to low incomes perhaps even free PCs. But it would work. Connecting people will result in politics. We'd make the UK much stronger in Europe at a stroke. While building bridges across barriers of race, culture and creed. The missus awakes, back to the world. [Later: 01/12/03; 18:04:30] The Register runs a report saying the big conversation isn't well received. The Telegraph: a political fix with party officials "handpicking contributors and editing out their negative comments". Roy Hattersley: "a confidence trick in a good cause." and, a monologue designed to persuade voters that New Labour is taking the country in the correct direction.

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Other title(s) for this story: Tony Blair's Big conversation