Taking liberties: the bigger picture
Friday, June 8, 2007 
I've written about it before (HERE and HERE) but - in case you've forgotten - Taking Liberties (the movie) is released today. It may not be "the most important film of the decade" as it claims, but if you have any interest in civil liberties you must go and see it, and encourage others to do so too.
Director Chris Atkins - whose lively filmmaker's blog can be found HERE - has produced a funny yet disturbing film that highlights the control freakery of the present government.
Taking Liberties is a polemic but it doesn't preach. It highlights the facts and generally allows viewers to draw their own conclusions. It's selective, but if the sight of an 80-year-old man being dragged, unceremoniously, from a Labour party conference because he shouted a single word of protest doesn't alarm you, nothing will. Likewise, scenes of over zealous policemen trying to silence peaceful protestors need no further comment.
The war on smokers, the issue that most interests current readers of this blog, isn't featured, nor are the government's attempts to control the way we eat, drink and drive. In truth, there is so much going on in Blair's Britain that a line had to be drawn somewhere and these issues best suit a separate, lifestyle documentary (though who will be brave enough to make it remains to be seen).
Don't let that deter you from seeing the film. When I saw a preview a couple of weeks ago a number of universal truths emerged, especially during the Q&A that followed. For example, Atkins made the important point that government justifies its actions (new anti-terror laws, for example) by first creating a climate of fear. (The chances of being killed by a terrorist bomb, even if you live in London, are miniscule.) This is exactly what has happened with public smoking. Create a climate of fear about passive smoking and then (over) legislate.
Unusually, Taking Liberties manages to unite people on left and right of the political spectrum. Perhaps, over the next few years, we shall see a breakdown of the old left-right tribal loyalties. Instead of socialism versus capitalism, the battle will be authoritianism/nanny statism versus libertarianism.
To win this battle we need to convince politicians that there are votes in supporting a more liberal, less legislative outlook. But first, we have to persuade a largely apathetic public that these are issues it must take seriously.
Reader Comments (3)
I really hope this film will help people 'wake up'. I note from reading the forums on that site that mentions are made of items that have not been addressed in the film. Further, that an invitation is extended for other matters to be written up and submitted for inclusion on the 'downloads' area of the site.
I am very suprised they have not tried to ban it!! looking at the trailer it show hmg in their true colours!!
1. Yes the Labour government has enacted many bad things against liberty. But yet again this reads like an attack on the Labour Party which is the wrong target. Personally I detest the Labour Party and have done for more than 30 years. But they have not done anything that couldn't have been done by any other party. The Conservative and Libdems also have lots of programs that will further curtail the liberties of the people. The problem is not who has the power but the power they hold. We need to restrict the powers of anyone in government.
2. You point out the classic tactic of creating a problem (real or imagined), having groups other than the government point out the dangers and get the media pundits saying the government should do something about it, then the government "reluctantly" doing something. But you say the government "over legislates". This suggests you don't understand the tactics. ANY legislation on that basis is "over legislating".
3. I believe you are right about the left/right spectrum being thrown out. But it hasn't been socialism v capitalism for more than 100 years and I include Thatcher in that. She was a mercantilist. All parties have been socialist in one form or another and to one degree or another. None believe in private property. None allow the people to be fully responsible for their own lives and none allow completely voluntary transactions between people.
So yes the Labour government has been an abomination but so would any of the others be until we the people somehow manage to restrict the amount of mischief they are at liberty to create.