Freedom of speech

During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. – George Orwell

“The free flow of information can be used for good but it can also be used for ill. We are looking at whether it would be right to stop people using these services [facebook, twitter, blackberry] when we know they are plotting violence, disorder and criminality.” – David Cameron

Cameron is a complete hypocrite – when MPs themselved have indulged in fiddling expenses, voted through massive cuts to youth services and Britain is the second most unequal country in the world, behind only the US.

We need freedom of speech. We need democracy. We need the ability to criticise, to protest, to hold those in authority to account.

Rioting is not the answer, however. We need to give young people and workers a political voice, so they can constructively channel their anger. We need to defend people’s right to protest and to challenge authority.

We can only do this through the “free flow of information”, whether we disagree with what people are saying or not, it is important that everyone has the right to be able to speak their mind.

If the government are allowed to get away with blocking media, this is the beginning of a very slippery slope, the ending of which is the horrors of fascism and dictatorship, which Orwell warned of in the hugely prophetic 1984.

Instead of the telescreen, we have CCTV. Instead of the thought police, we have police arresting people “on suspicion” that they could commit a crime. Instead of a one-party totalitarian state, we have three identical parties, all intent on making savage cuts, which will only make the situation worse and encourage more crime.

We need to fight back. Support TUSC (Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts) – it could be the start of a new mass workers’ party to challenge this rotten and corrupt economic system.

Tags: free speech