Mail Call

The Blair Legacy

Our Sept. 18 report on Tony Blair's legacy drew spirited responses. "Blairism would be a disastrous death wish," huffed one, "he's destroyed his country and changed its character." Griped another, "He's detested for his lack of moral fiber." A third said happily, "Goodbye, Mr. Blair!"

Farewell, Mr. Prime Minister

The cover story of your Sept. 18 Atlantic edition was much too generous to British Prime Minister Tony Blair ("And Now, Adieu"). Politically, Blair is dead. As for his legacy, let alone the longevity of New Labour, the slogan "Long live Blairism!" would be a disastrous death wish for Britain. A phony egomaniac who is all words and no action, with style over substance, Blair has used his three-term prime ministership to destroy his country and change its character beyond recognition. According to the latest IMF report, unemployment in Britain is rising faster than in any other developed country. Public spending has spun out of control with no progress to show for it; the budget deficit has ballooned; the list goes on. Add to this the problems of uncontrolled immigration, an increasingly failing education system, the pension scandal, the lack of law and order, the death of British agriculture and fishing industries and the introduction of "Big Brother" policies by stealth, and you have the destruction of most of the core values for which Britain was once both proud and renowned. Britain's only hope now is a return of the center-right Conservatives under David Cameron and an exit from the European Union.

Karl H. Pagac

Villeneuve-loubet, France