Blair on security

The Financial Times is apparently reporting that Tony Blair will be emphasising national security in his speech to the Labour Party spring conference this weekend.

The prime minister will say: “There cannot be opportunity without security. There cannot be strong communities without security. Providing security is our duty. To try to fight the new security threats of the 21st century without the laws and resources that are needed would be an abrogation of duty. Labour is strongest when it is on the side of the people.”

And, while few would seriously argue that security is a bad thing, I would question his apparent assumption that it is the most important thing. I would not want to live in a society that was too secure – for it would not be free. As Benjamin Franklin said, “They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security.“ I don’t always agree with Americans, but the man had a point, I think. The need for security must always be balanced by the need for liberty, and when a government wants to take away rights that were hard won for British subjects hundreds of years ago, we must demand extremely good reasons why. Especially if they want to take away those rights permanently.

(_Thanks to No2ID for the tip._)

pax et bonum

Article posted at 11:06am on 10 February 2006
Category: Politics, Struggling, General