Non-Schiavo thread: The Brits get it (forum post in Guardian)

[Horse with no Name]

I think the rules apply only to articles...not forum posts. If not, I apologize but I am posting entire forum post.

vestis - 05:02pm Feb 26, 2005 GMT (#8 of 263)
It has been clear from the beginning that Blair and his cohorts have deliberately overthrown democracy as we have come to know it. What he has done inside the Labour Party is a matter for its members, but what he has done and is doing to the constitutional settlement is another box of frogs.

My prime minister got up and lied to my House of Commons in order to wage war on behalf of George Bush and his agenda. Nothing else is significant. My prime minister lied to my House of Commons and therefore to me.

The recent revelations about the AG's views on the legality of the invasion of Iraq and the way it was manipulated by Blair and his (unelected) team does not come as a surprise to me. I wish that were not the case.

I stand on the shoulders of giants (to nick a phrase) who fought long and hard to get me the right to vote, to infuse the body politic with the values of democracy and respect enshrined in an approach to human rights and the rule of law.

These count for naught for Blair and his people, what matters is that he said to Bush that he would back him with blood and treasure. In doing that he not only shamed himself and his office (and me) but also corrupted the body politic.

I will vote next May, not to vote would be to spit on the people who fought for my right to do so, but with a gun at my head I still will not vote Labour.

I applaud the work that Brown has done on social issues around poverty and I know that the Tories wouldn't have delivered anything like as much. But then the Tories wouldn't be trying to introduce house arrest on the say-so of a politician.

Like many people on the left I cut my teeth in part in the international struggle against apartheid. I have no wish to see apartheid-type controls introduced here.

When my PM publicly says that human lives are more important then civil liberties he shows his contempt for history. People died for democracy and the rule of law. These are things bigger then individuals.

Strip away my civil liberties, the separation of powers, an imperative to human rights and you make me less then I am - do that and the bad guys have won and there is nothing left for me to fight for. I've lost and all the history and struggles that got me to where I am amount to naught.

I think it was Ben Franklin who said (I paraphrase) 'he who trades liberty for security deserves neither'.
http://politicstalk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?13@@.7747b678/7

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Wow!

That's awesome!

Almost like our founding fathers would have written it.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Breathtaking.. Nominating.