andrewducker: (Default)
andrewducker ([personal profile] andrewducker) wrote2012-05-02 12:00 pm

Interesting Links for 02-05-2012

[identity profile] steer.livejournal.com 2012-05-02 02:51 pm (UTC)(link)
I agree with you completely on those policies... however, someone supporting those policies would cite "freedom from the threat of violence".

Here's how I see it. If you ask an old-school socialist "are you in favour of personal freedom?" they might say "Sure, that's why I support a free-at-source health care and education system so that people are completely free to better themselves by having the training and medical help they need to maximise their potentials in life. If you asked the same question to a hardcore Libertarian-large-L they might say "Sure, that's why I'm against all forms of government and taxation so that people are free to spend their money in any way they like."

"Personal freedom" can support more or less any policy: "Ban smoking?" "I support your personal freedom to smoke" "Well, I support your personal freedom to breathe smoke free air."

So "personal freedom" isn't a great rallying cry from a politician for my money.