tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172766774137902766.post3213356686679853577..comments2023-12-23T09:28:20.869+00:00Comments on The View from Cullingworth: Free speech, fussbucketry and other things I won't shut up about in 2016 (sorry but a happy new year)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172766774137902766.post-65366183716244458752016-01-02T20:23:00.430+00:002016-01-02T20:23:00.430+00:00Thanks for the comment Dermot. I am (if it's t...Thanks for the comment Dermot. I am (if it's the right word) a fundamentalist on free speech and believe that our laws now go too far. It's true that the rape threats on Twitter don't help but it's pretty bonkers when two folk get six month prison sentences for painting a poppy on a mosque wall on the basis that this is 'hate crime'. As to Dave, I'm sure he can defend his position, but on two occasions he's said publicly that absolute free speech isn't allowed (or similar). And they are setting about trying to ban the EDL.Simon Cookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12586896340482296341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172766774137902766.post-45017003981655454832016-01-02T20:02:48.401+00:002016-01-02T20:02:48.401+00:00What with 'je suits Charlie' last year the...What with 'je suits Charlie' last year there was some discussion on free speech in 2015, but not enough in my opinion. I certainly don't think we got to a point where there was enough public awareness of the importance of free speech (rights and responsibilities) as a core part of democracy. With calls for restrictions on criticism of religion (blasphemy) around the world and increased state surveillance in the name of anti-terrorism, free speech has seldom been under such threat as it is today. Of course idiot trolls on Twitter with their rape threats and misogyny don't help. I'd like a politics in the pub debate on this. It's not a left vs right thing, rather it's liberalism vs authoritarianism. Where do you sit on this Simon, and why do you think Dave Green wants to restrict free speech? (Pls no mention of bloody toasters! :-). )Dermothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06005442382218688078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172766774137902766.post-87506728096583934762015-12-31T18:24:48.180+00:002015-12-31T18:24:48.180+00:00Good luck in the new year. Agree with most of this...Good luck in the new year. Agree with most of this other than the NHS. While there are many problems with the NHS I can't see any working examples of a fair capitalism driven health system - health care tends to be packaged in insurance / employment so real choice of provider doesn't exist with those conditions.<br /><br />It always confuses me to see well reasoned people look at the shortfalls of our national health, the shortfalls of overseas health care implementations and say they'd prefer the latter. From what I can see, I'd rather fix the inefficiency, bureaucracy and self-righteous attitude of some (and it really is just some) of the NHS staff than throw the whole thing away and adopt a free market approach <br /><br />Also, if I hear any other NHS workers refer to the NHS as free health care again I might not be so polite in correcting them next time. Will Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09573257294041286815noreply@blogger.com