The Last Ditch by Tom Paine

THE LAST DITCH

The Convention for Modern Liberty

Published by Tom

on

Why? :: Modern Liberty.

Across Britain, on 28th February 2009, a convention organised by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, openDemocracy, No2ID, Liberty and (implausibly, I know) the Guardian, will bring as many people together to see what common ground can be reached in defence of our freedoms. Finding common ground on liberty with Guardianistas will be interesting. It will ask three broad questions:

  • Are our freedoms and rights threatened by an over-powerful state and if so how do we defend ourselves from this?
  • Are dangers to our security from terrorism and other threats, from
    climate change to pandemics being used to attack our rights, and how
    can we best defend ourselves?
  • How can we arouse sustained public interest?

This is an excellent initiative, and well-timed. The government has had the field to itself for far too long. I plan to try to attend the event in London. I urge as many of you as possible to do likewise and hope to see you there.

6 responses to “The Convention for Modern Liberty”

  1. Andrew Duffin Avatar
    Andrew Duffin

    The first two are rhetorical questions, surely?

    Like

    Reply
  2. Guy Avatar
    Guy

    Thanks for the link Tom – you sum it up well. It’s time for people from across the political spectrum to put differences aside and take a stand in defence of hard-won freedoms. I hope you can make the event in London. Cheers!
    Guy Aitchison

    Like

    Reply
  3. Toque Avatar
    Toque

    It’s not only Guardianistas Tom, I’m speaking.
    While I’m here I’ll draw your attention to this celebration in my home town http://www.thomaspaineandlewes.com/

    Like

    Reply
  4. Roger Thornhill Avatar
    Roger Thornhill

    Just be careful not to get sucked into sitting down and talking with Statists. They will make you compromise while they give away nothing of value (for your compromises mean theirs are but trifles).
    This is good, though.

    Like

    Reply
  5. Tom Paine Avatar
    Tom Paine

    Thanks for that. I look forward to hearing you speak. I am aware of the Tom Paine celebrations and I am hoping to go along.

    Like

    Reply
  6. Tom Paine Avatar
    Tom Paine

    I think so, certainly. I guess they are the price of the Guardian’s participation. B^)

    Like

    Reply

Leave a reply to Guy Cancel reply

Your blogger

Tom is a retired international lawyer. He was a partner in a City of London law firm and spent almost twenty years abroad serving clients from all over the world.

Returning to London on retirement in 2011, he was dismayed to discover how much liberty had been lost in the UK while he was away.

He’s a classical liberal (libertarian, if you must) who, like his illustrious namesake, considers that

“…government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.”

Socials
    Subscribe

    Receive content by email

    Latest comments
    1. Lord T's avatar

      They are servants. Just not of the public. He gets a full pension because he did his job for his…

    2. alec5384's avatar
    3. Lord T's avatar
    4. tom.paine's avatar
    5. Lord T's avatar
    Recent posts