Freedom and responsibility

The problem with the UK is that everyone wants freedom - I don't know whether or not it is the generation (mine) that grew up using the argument of "it's a free country" to get away with anything on the playground that has led to this uncomfortableness about a lack of "freedom". We do not live in a free country. Ok, granted, we have a lot more freedoms that other places in the world - for example, we are not restricted on who can go to school and who cannot, we are not restricted on healthcare or have our movements restricted by war. We are, therefore, by comparison, a free-er country than other places on the globe. but that does not give us the feedom to do anything - and with freedom, comes responsibility.

The Media, for example, have been granted free speech and freedom of information - they can publish any piece of true information (unless you are the daily star or the daily sport), and nobody is allowed to challenge whether or not they are allowed to say it. Which is good. Or is it? Let me explain. Only a little while ago, a top official in the police was photographed with top secret details of raids that would be taking place across the country with regards to terrorist suspects. What did the media do? Publish the photograph and explain that there would be raids across the country. This is one of a series of examples that show that you need responsibility when you are given freedom - as a result of this abuse of freedom, the police were forced to draw forwards the raids, leaving them unprepared and rushed - which could explain why none of the people who were caught during the raids are still detained - all of them were released.

When you bring up a child, you give him freedoms, but you als need o teach him responsibilites with that freedom - for example, if you let your child go down to the shops to buy some milk fr you, he has also the responsibiity to do as you asked him, to not lose the money or the milk, or to not spend it on sweets instead. The same with the Media - we have given you the freedom to publish what you want, but also the responsibility to pulish only what should be published, in the best interests of the nation. If, like the child, you cannot be responsible with this freedom, we must surely take away your sweets, and limit your freedoms again.

As for the expenses row - I think both the Media and the government have taken their freedoms too far - Yes, government ministers should not claim on their expenses what was not incurred as part of their job - and the media were good for pointing this out and getting this sorted - however now it is gtting petty and ministers are losing their jobs, some for having done nothing wrong - I think we need to nip this in the bud soon, and just have an overhaul of the expenses system and be done with it.

But of course this "freedoms and responsibilites" does not just cover the government and the media - we all need to make sure that with our freedoms of speech, lfe, etc, that we also take responsibility - otherwise, we should remove the freedom altogether.