International, Politics, Society

Let Civil Liberties & Freedom Ring!

Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger

In his speech Restoring British Liberties (dated January 7, 2011), Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg talked about the freedom and the “hard-won liberties” that people in Britain have held dear. He talked about the standards of a nation that have been the hallmarks of a civilized society to which people who are victims of oppression in other places around the world have looked to as a beacon of hope…as an example of a better way of life.

Clegg claimed that in recent times under Labour many of Britain’s best traditions have suffered—and that many of its civil liberties “have been undermined, eroded, lost.”

Clegg said:

They[Labour] turned Britain into a place where schools can fingerprint your children without their parents’ consent. Where councils use surveillance powers designed to tackle crime to check if you’re cleaning up after your dog. Where thousands of new criminal offences have amassed on to the statute book. Where you are 7 times more likely to be stopped and searched by the police if you are black or Asian. Where, in one year, we saw over 100,000 terror-related stop-and-searches, none of which yielded a single terror arrest.

They made Britain a place where you could be put under virtual house arrest when there was not enough evidence to charge you with a crime. And with barely an explanation of the allegations against you. A place where young, innocent children caught up in the immigration system were placed behind bars. A Britain whose international reputation has been brought into question because of our alleged complicity in torture.

That record is an affront to everything we stand for.

It has created a fundamental imbalance between British citizens and the British state; disempowering individuals, criminalising innocent people, fuelling mistrust between communities, and diminishing this nation’s moral authority too.

Clegg went on to enumerate the ways in which the Coalition Government would address the problems in 2011, which included the following:
Three: by ending the practices of closed and secretive government; giving people the information and freedom they need to hold us and other institutions to account.

Does any of what Clegg said ring familiar to you? Do you believe that some of our civil liberties have been undermined and eroded in this country—especially over the past decade? Do you think that we Americans need to be ever vigilant about the loss of our “hard-won” freedoms? Do you think that “we the people” should have the freedom and information that we need to hold our political leaders and government institutions to account?

Source: Liberal Democrats

162 thoughts on “Let Civil Liberties & Freedom Ring!”

  2. Using the spelling “Jared Loughner” I just found this video posted on Dec. 15th 2010.

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHoaZaLbqB4&fs=1&hl=en_US]

  5. Hey, look!

    A burning building . . .

    I’ve said all along it was only a matter of time until some fringer does something stupid.

    Mitch McConnell issued this statement:

    “This senseless attack today in Tucson is a national tragedy, and all America mourns those who lost their lives in the very act of public service. I join the entire Congress in condemning this horrifying act of violence, and on behalf of the entire Senate family, Elaine and I extend our deepest expressions of sympathy and heartfelt prayers to Rep. Giffords and the families of those who have been killed or injured. The U.S. Capitol Police are joining local, state and federal officials in this investigation. We appreciate their quick response and stand ready to assist in their efforts.”

    Pardon me, Mitch, if I don’t believe a single word of that.

    This is what you GOP Neocon clowns have wrought by playing to the lunatic fringe to please your corporate bosses.

    I blame YOU, Mitch McConnell, and your proto-fascist brethren in the GOP as much as the guy(s) who pulled the trigger.

    When you dance with the Devil of Division, people get burned, ya prick.

    I hope you and the Koch Brothers are happy with what you’ve done.

    Anyone want to take bets on whether the bad guys will use this as an excuse to further lower the jackboot?

    Because that’s been my prediction all along too.

  6. AP has confirmed that Judge John Roll was killed in the shooting.
    Roll was appointed by Bush I.

  7. Doctor just said Giffords is alive, through and through head wound.

  9. Thank you Blouise for the link that is better than the other news talk I posted.

  11. eniobob
    1, January 8, 2011 at 3:23 pm
    Blouise:

    They say that they captured the gunman.I know everyone wants to know his background,motive etc.

    =====================================================

    Yes … we have learned to wait and not to speculate

    This link was posted by FFLEO … it’s local and pretty good

    http://www.ustream.tv/cbsnews#utm_campaigne=synclickback&source=http://www.examiner.com/us-headlines-in-national/live-streaming-breaking-news-and-events&medium=522594

  16. Former Federal LEO,

    I followed the link above. Much to my surprise, I was hit by an ad for the Crossroads of the West Gun Show at the Pima County Fairground. A reload brings up the same ad.

  18. Mrs M.

    Due to what is going on now in Arizona how much truer does something have to be:

    “Let Civil Liberties & Freedom Ring!”

  20. BBB,

    “Who? Who, could decide to use such an inappropriately morbid image?”

    I have no answer for that question–except to say it must have been someone with very poor judgment.

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