Written by Geoffrey Bastin
I expect like me you have met the three little maids, Miss Information, Miss Calculation and Miss Management as they are all freely available to give their opinions in the hope they can control our daily lives.
Of course, what we mustn’t do is question their authority otherwise we will be classified as conspiracy theorists and that would never do.
I was so relieved to see that in his desperate bid to be re-elected next April President Macron has appointed a team of experts to look into the damaging effects of these conspiracy types who can do so much harm to our way of life. After all, why should anyone, who in their own eyes are experts, be allowed to have their opinion opposed or contradicted by some pleb or layman? It is outrageous to imagine that his official line cannot be challenged in a country that claims to be a democracy and bastion of free expression. The man is confirming he has become frightened and deranged, using public money to appoint some irrational think tank to counter those that think differently.
Gérald Bronner, 52, the sociologist appointed to chair the commission, rejected claims that he was in effect in charge of a “thought police”, saying: “There is no question of censorship but of strengthening the space for common debates that are increasingly threatened by a succession of opinions.” Now come on Gérald, never let an opinion get in the way of a good debate. After all, why allow a debate at all if only it’s yours or Macron’s opinions that count.
Of course, this is not limited to French control freaks as we have learned to our own cost over the last twenty months. Even now to try and limit the number of diverse opinions, attempts at a democratic exercise is being conducted by a parliamentary petition to ask the opinions of everyone over 18 what they think of the government’s proposals for passports should the NHS become overwhelmed this winter? Make no mistake, whatever we may think we will be ignored as officialdom is always right and will have its wicked way. When you think about it, I’m surprised no one has yet proposed doing away with political parties as they can be so diverse as to be almost treasonous.
Even more interesting is the Russian reaction to YouTube’s moves to censor German information sites that allow conspiracy theories to abound emanating from Russian opposition parties. The Kremlin is incensed that anyone, be they YouTube or any foreign organisation, should do such a thing despite censorship being a staple diet in Putin’s Russia for years. Ok, so, I‘m trying to understand that censorship of your own citizens is acceptable but if anyone else attempts it it’s an outrage. Well, at least we’ve cleared that up.
Freedom of speech has long been a treasured pursuit of the Western nations but seems to have lost its way. Perhaps it now marks a low water point as our society becomes less tolerant due mainly to a political system and politicians that continually breed frustration. Dear old Ann Widdecombe speaking at the Oxford Union in 2019 on this very subject, which is still available on YouTube, gave us in her indomitable and indefatigable way what freedom of speech is and what it stands for and without it we are lost. No one has the right not to be offended.
Freedom of speech is for all, not just the privileged few so stick that up your jumper Messrs Biden, Macron, Putin, Google, Facebook, Twitter and Uncle Tom Cobbly and all.
If you have always believed as I have that everyone should play by the same rules and be judged by the same standards, that would have had you labelled a radical 60 years ago, a liberal 30 years ago and a racist today.
Just a thought.
Yes why indeed should we not believe these experts?
There is at least one little maid missing. Miss Respect is not quite the same as disrespect for the latter is a lack of respect where respect could be earned. She on the other hand represents the British habit of respecting those who have not earned respect.
Miss Respect can have lots of mischievous fun pointing out the obvious stupidity of scientists, politicians, judges and professors of all disciplines. I have just been watching a video of how fluoridation of drinking water is such a debatable issue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3QTihJavRo&list=PL37247ECFD635A088
Of course while the useful idiots argue the toss with Miss Respect, Miss Belief positions herself to trip them up as they step back in outrage.
“……………doing away with political parties as they can be so diverse as to be almost treasonous”.
Is this really true, or is it what they would like us to believe ? Since the creature Blair and before, we have two parties of govt, one of the extreme Marxist Left and one of the extreme Corporatist/Fascist Left, the left and the right cheek of the same totalitarian, socialist bottom. They have been triangulating each others policies for decades to the extent it is difficult to think that Corbyninski would have been any more extreme socially or economically than Johnson who has upstaged and replaced the Maybot as the worst PM in history.
Only despots and tyrants fear what is said about them and their regimes! They have so much to hide and therefore must greatly fear what is thought and said about what they do and what they have done and what they plan to do!
Macron is immature in his outlook. He obviously needs constant reassurance from those about him. Thus he is turning into a true despot because his control only comes from his heavy handed actions rather than from reasoned and mature argument! If he can only govern by force he is not fit to govern at all! But….I’ll wager you an egg at Easter that the French elections next year get rigged the same way that they were in the USA!
Free Speech in the UK was once a prized possession! Now it is being squeezed out of existence by the same tyrannical methods that were once only attributed to Countries that were known for their restrictive hold on their populations! If your only hold over people is by force, sooner or later that situation will erupt in chaos and mayhem!
It is a shame that this forum is so often encroached upon by those whose bigoted ideas about others (less well educated!!!) brings shame upon themselves! But as ever with bigots, they are impervious to the fact that their very utterances betray their ignorance! But there we have it…..free speech means that….”I may not agree with what you say but….I will defend to the death your right to say it”! And……… I reserve the right to myself to criticise those utterances with which I do not agree!
“Judged by the same standards” Bollix.
I respect the opinions of people with relevant qualifications and experience.
I don’t respect the opinions of morons.
It’s very woke to claim the opinion of the uneducated is as valid as the opinion of the “left school with no qualifications”.
The trouble with the internet is that it gives equal weight to both.
And also we have the snowflake culture that ignores bad news.
Plus journalists that somehow think their opinion is of great value to the world at large.
Harpyagain. ‘left school with no qualifications’ does not necessarily mean that a person is uneducated or stupid !
There are plenty of people who have prospered greatly and yet have never passed exams.
HA. Freedom of speech, a cornerstone of democracy and as such equally available to all ie ‘the same standards’, is not in any sense the same as everyone’s opinions being of equal weight. It is up to the recipient to judge the validity of these opinions to accept or reject them as may be, but respect the right of those to make them.
Do you demand someones CV before reading their comments or viewpoints before judging them to be morons or otherwise?
Or, are you yourself happy to just comment on matters for which you have formal qualifications and specific experience?
“I respect the opinions of people with relevant qualifications and experience.
I don’t respect the opinions of morons.”
Well even morons have the right to an opinion, which is usually their learned or observed experience. And you have the right to pleasantly offer your alternative in the hope they will bow to your logic or facts.
But that is not what happens, Harry, is it?
These days anyone, however learned, is labelled a moron or purveyor of disinformation simply for daring to challenge the agenda-line.
There is a galaxy of Nobel prizewinners and scientists and medics with the highest “relevant qualifications and experience” who are vilified and ostracised for presenting incontrovertible evidence about Covid, about jabs or similarly about climate change.
Good points Phil.
I simply agree with you but would also add that when any of us wish to state our view or oppose some decision we often do not get the opportunity to do so.