I’ve written another op-ed for Gerry Nicholls’ libertarian blog. A snippet is included below, with a link to the full article. But I did want to clarify something about the content matter. While it’s true that I bemoan the loss of civil liberties in the attempt to infiltrate terrorist networks, I understand the need for balance in security matters and some leeway in pursuing persons of interest by our intelligence agencies. But that needs to be tempered by the rule of law, and if not interpreted to the very letter, then it should at least be guided by the spirit of it.
Libertarians feel strongly about protecting the inherent rights of a society because we’ve seen how easily they can be suspended when it is deemed necessary for the “public good”.
Take the fight against terrorism.
Most, if not all, of the laws curtailing civil liberties were passed in the years after September 11, 2001, an event I like to call “time zero” since many of our foreign and domestic security policies stem from the repercussions of that horrible day.
November 8, 2009 at 12:28 am
You’ve whined Raph. But what are you gonna do about it?
You have access to a national platform via the Post. Our government is busy selling us out to the Olympics, the big recording companies and all manner of global giants but you and your conservative water carriers are still making excuses for a government that seeks to reduce our freedoms.
The internet, our playlists, where and how we watch films that we have bought and also our freedom to protest. These are all threatened by a government that has been bought and paid for.
Please don’t think that I’m being partisan here, every one of our representatives in our elected and non-elected chambers are as guilty as each other.
Your dabble with libertarian politics is somewhat countered by the way you excuse the centralised nature of our ruling party and your almost complete excusing of it.
November 8, 2009 at 6:25 am
Where do I excuse the centralizing nature of the government?
November 8, 2009 at 1:51 pm
mea culpa
you’re right that last sentence makes no sense.
ignore it please.
I guess I was on a roll after reading too many different blogs and mixed up the content.
apologies.
But the call to use your platform to shine the light on just how cheaply we are being crated up by the government for the abuse of the multi nationals still stands.