Remembrance Sunday
A discussion on Free Talk Live (see links) has made me think.
It's often stated that soldiers who have died in wars died for "our freedom". How true is this exactly?
The only British war of the past 100 years I agree with was the Falklands War. In this instance, internationally recognised British territory had been invaded by the Argentinians. As a paleo-libertarian, I would view that war as a "good war". But all other conflicts in that period I disagree with, yes even WWI and WWII.
In WWI, how was our freedom under threat? Germany couldn't have invaded us since it's naval strength wasn't as great (the Royal Navy was the world's largest at that point). I'm no historian, but I doubt the Second Reich was much of a threat to us.
In WWII, the same scenario applied to Hitler. This is why the Battle of Britain occured. Hitler respected the British Empire and initially didn't want to go to war with us.
As always, it's the government who is the destroyer of freedom. After WWII, the Labour Attlee government initiated the post-war consensus and implemented Keynesian economics, the NHS and the mass nationalisation of industry. After defeating Hitler in order to safeguard liberty, did the British people gain liberty after 1945?!
The current Blair government has curbed civil liberties in the name of "counter terrorism". Without ANY government, we wouldn't suffer these violations of our self-ownership. Everybody would be free to life their lives as THEY see fit, whilst respecting the person and property of another.
A discussion on Free Talk Live (see links) has made me think.
It's often stated that soldiers who have died in wars died for "our freedom". How true is this exactly?
The only British war of the past 100 years I agree with was the Falklands War. In this instance, internationally recognised British territory had been invaded by the Argentinians. As a paleo-libertarian, I would view that war as a "good war". But all other conflicts in that period I disagree with, yes even WWI and WWII.
In WWI, how was our freedom under threat? Germany couldn't have invaded us since it's naval strength wasn't as great (the Royal Navy was the world's largest at that point). I'm no historian, but I doubt the Second Reich was much of a threat to us.
In WWII, the same scenario applied to Hitler. This is why the Battle of Britain occured. Hitler respected the British Empire and initially didn't want to go to war with us.
As always, it's the government who is the destroyer of freedom. After WWII, the Labour Attlee government initiated the post-war consensus and implemented Keynesian economics, the NHS and the mass nationalisation of industry. After defeating Hitler in order to safeguard liberty, did the British people gain liberty after 1945?!
The current Blair government has curbed civil liberties in the name of "counter terrorism". Without ANY government, we wouldn't suffer these violations of our self-ownership. Everybody would be free to life their lives as THEY see fit, whilst respecting the person and property of another.
posted by Christopher at 12.11.06
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