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Three pillars, three fundamental values

The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a FAIR, free and open society, in which we seek to BALANCE the FUNDAMENTAL VALUES [N.B. plural] of liberty, EQUALITY and COMMUNITY. By joining the party we all sign up to these words, which commence the preamble to the party's federal constitution. Rather good aren't they? I like them. I like striving for balance between the three values. I have put in capitals the bits that don't get enough emphasis sometimes, yet I have not noticed anyone putting a constitutional amendment to the party conference to take them out. The preamble has lots more good stuff in it, such as that we believe each generation is responsible for the fate of our planet and, by safeguarding the balance of nature and the environment, for the long term continuity of life in all its forms. Hear hear. I'm all for that. I don't want to be a tadpole in a pond that's going stagnant. Also we champion the well being of individuals. Hear hear. Should we aim to be like Denmark? So the framers were rather avant garde. You can read the whole thing on the party website somewhere. But the fundamentals are a balance between freedom, equality and community. I feel enthusiastic about that. We should shout about it more.

Comments

Tristan said…
The thing is, fairness and equality flow from freedom.
In a free society the four monopolies of landlordism, control of money, patents and tariffs would not exist, taxes would not be spent upon enriching the powerful minority and we'd see a great levelling of power and wealth.

Only through freedom can we gain the equality of authority which is needed for a fair society.

Unfortunately too many view freedom as opposed to fairness and equality (seeing only the distorted freedom we have today) and those who support freedom see only the hamfisted attempts of authority to impose equality (of those not in power) and some distorted vision of fairness upon people (fairness which usually results in inequality and poverty).

Shout about freedom, fairness and equality, for they are all one and the same, not some trinity which need balancing.
30 July 2009 at 22:14
Linda Jack said…
Jo, totally agree with you, though I also like to emphasise the part of our constitution that declares that noone should be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity. Tristan, have you never read Lord of the Flies? Actually I would suggest that fairness and equality are what lead to freedom, not the other way round!
31 July 2009 at 21:33
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