A question of freedom
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 Yesterday, following the publication of Ronald Harwood's article about smoking on The Free Society blog, we received an email from a (very) senior journalist at the Guardian.
It reads:
What a shame, he always seems such a nice, clever man, but he doesn't get it, does he? Of course there are bossy people around, there always are, it's very irritating, but at least they can't murder you. And more people have more freedom in 2008 than in history, recorded and unrecorded, have ever had ... in total, that is.
Before anyone jumps in with a knee jerk, anti-Guardian response, I think this is worth discussing because such comments are one of the major hurdles that genuine liberals (or libertarians) face each and every day.
It depends on your definition of freedom, but it would be foolish to deny that many people do not, in general, consider their "freedom" to be under serious threat. This is certainly true on a macro level where the threats posed by the Nazis (before and during the Second World War), the Soviet Union (post war), poverty or disease have either disappeared or been significantly reduced.
There may be a terrorist threat to our freedom but, at the moment, it remains relatively small. Few people, even in London, get up in the morning worrying that they may become a victim of a terrorist atrocity. Likewise, the chances of most of us being murdered are so small it's not something you would lose sleep over. (That, I think, is what he means when he writes "at least they can't murder you".)
So what we're left with is all those micro freedoms that many of us DO believe are being taken away from us, bit by bit. And even then it's not that simple, because alongside some new restriction people can always point to some form of de-regulation (licensing hours, for example).
Our job is to convince people that "small" freedoms - the freedom to smoke in some public places, the freedom to make informed choices about what we eat and drink, the freedom to be offensive (see below) - DO matter and are not bargaining tools to be given away in return for some other "freedom".
Sure, they're not on a par with being invaded by a foreign power, but - in a democracy - if they matter to a substantial number of people (even a minority) they still matter. So I appreciate what our Guardian correspondent is saying, but real freedom has to start with little things. If we forget that we are in danger of losing some of the more important freedoms that we currently take for granted.
Reader Comments (11)
Whether a person thinks we're free or not really depends on whether they agree with what the government is doing and planning.
This is the tragedy of where we are and where things are going. Something that creates enormous problems for others is deemed irrelevant so long as the person concerned isn't affected directly.
A total failure to see the bigger picture.
A bit more than bossy or irritating if you invested your life savings in a pub round the time of the last election.
It appears that this chap is on a different planet to most of us! So many people feel that their life and privacy is being invaded by endless CCTv cameras, speed cameras, dictatorial politicians being led by 'do gooders' who would rather free murderers and lock up motorists for a slight deviation to the speed limit, dictate to us what we can and can't do and where we can and can't do it, what we are supposed to eat and drink, and so on.
So far it is only smoking that has been banned in all substantially covered and indoor spaces, which includes bus stations, apparently, despite the amount of toxins being spewed out by the buses which are far more harmful and would not doubt cover the up any small puffs of cigarette smoke!
The battle plans are in the process of being drawn with regards to drink and food, so many people who currently don't feel their liberty is being infringed, will soon change their tune. At the moment many of them seem to be under the illusion, as we smokers were, that it will never happen!
Revolution is the answer and will happen eventually, it is just a question of when. It can't some soon enough for me!
Yes Jane I could not agree more about a revolution. The question is how and when especially when the general populace is apathetic and dont HMG know this!
I don't know if you saw Vivienne Westwood on TV last week, talking about her Manifesto, but she made an excellent point (I thought) when referring to the fact that keeping people distracted was the best way to dominate them (she referenced Aldous Huxley on this). As long as they're distracted, they're not paying attention to what's really happening. I can't think of any point in history when people were as distracted as they are today.
Hi Peter
I know the question is how and when - but I am convinced that at some point the final straw will fall and despite apathy now, I believe people will suddenly wake up to what has been going on and to what they have allowed to go on, and rebel. It needs a very large number of the population to make enough impact and to, if necessary, overturn the government. As the government stands at the moment, it does not appear to be fit for the job, as leading by fear, lies and propoganda, is not the way to lead a country, certainly not a country as great as this one used to be. With regard to the other main political parties, they are just as bad or have no backbone at all, so would be likely to sit in power in name only with goodness knows who pulling the strings!
The Great went out of Britain a long time ago and until a majority of people realise this and then stand together to do something about it, things will continue to get worse. This has already gone much further than the smoking ban, evil and unjust though that law is.
Time, who really knows, something needs to trigger a mass revolt - it could be tightening up on what we eat because of obesity, or what we drink because of binge drinking and what goes with that, but they will make a mistake one day, we just have to be ready for it.
The people of this country cannot allow this, or any other government, to ride roughshod over us until we are quivering wrecks willing to sell our souls for whatever the government wants!
'the biggest threat to freedom is the assumption that it has already been obtained' rough quote (Chomsky?)
Jane -
I agree with your sentiments totally.
My only worry is that people (in the main) have become so lobotomised by intrusive government, a largely uncritical 'media' (including, sadly, the BBC), and the coarsening of popular culture and education that they are as incapable of FEELING any emotion over such vital issues as their 'representatives' are of EXPRESSING it.
Just imagine two alternative headlines in the popular press:
One says: 'Ancient liberties must be curtailed, says Government Minister'.
The other says: 'Arsenic found in tomatoes, admits top Government Scientist'
Which one do you think would worry The People
more (albeit quite needlessly) ?
Oh, and I hope everyone remembered to send a Valentine card to Patricia Hewitt.......
How about,'Ancient arsenic found to curtail liberties in tomatoes', admits top Goverment epidemiologist.
That would make more sense than what is unfolding in our country.
Martin
I see what you are saying, but I also hear around me the rumblings of dissent and the total dissatisfaction of what is happening in this country. It is also a fact that many people who moan and groan, will not actively do anything about it and I believe that this is because some people just don't behave that way. However, like the police and the Fire Service, something has to snap eventually. I accept it may take longer than we might hope, but I am sure it will happen one day. For me, the sooner the better, but in the meantime we have to be patient whilst doing all we can to show people all the different ways their liberties and freedoms are being eroded, their private lives being invaded and the lies and propoganda that is being used by the government and those so called charities, amongst others, that pull the government strings.
I suppose it can be likened to the Resistance Movement during the war - they ate away slowly at the opposition and won in the end. We just have to keep and build on the current discontent and add to our numbers.
Some people will be more adept at convincing others of the truth, whereas other people will have skills in other areas, some of which may become more apparent as time goes on. We just have to remain standing together, fight the battles as they come and ultimately hope to win the war. If the likes of us give up now, then we are totally lost.
Just writing here will hopefully inspire people, especially people new to these sites and give them ideas or the courage to speak out.
Basically I am a very pessimistic person, but I have to hang on to this hope in order to retain a modicom of sanity!
What a load of selfish garbage this organisation is. Please feel free to smoke, to kill yourself slowly, to poison your kids' lungs and to ruin the air of anyone around you. Just don't do it anywhere near me or other strong people.
Nothing makes me smile more to see you addicts huddled around your gas heater (far too kind and a waste of gas) shivering away. I've got an idea - why not stop then you can enjoy your lives (whatever years the carbon monoxide leaves you with) - no you can't - you are weak and pathetic individuals.
You go on about rights - what about the rights of artistes, staff and other unfortunate people who have the strength not to be addicted??
I wish you were denied treatment along with other drug addicts, then you would naturally die off and the world could be a happier place without you lot stinking of fags and whining.