Comments on: What are we fighting for? Libertarians and nationalists must make common cause

By: David

David — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:42:46 +0000

Thanks, TT. I concur with much of what you say above. I, too, don’t have Mr Anderson’s animus against our island neighbours. However, I do feel strongly that the Scots shouldn’t be allowed to call all the shots on independence. If they have any right to be express their will regarding independence – which, of course, they do – so should the English, Welsh and N. Irish.

By: Trooper Thompson

Trooper Thompson — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:30:48 +0000

I agree with much of what you say. I would like to see the United Kingdom (to paraphrase Ahmadinejad!) wiped off the map, and replaced by some kind of federal (or confederal)structure, where each constituent part takes care of its own business, except for those matters which a central government can do best, and I would note that there are more than just England, N.I., Scotland and Wales, there are a number of other bits and pieces that likewise are capable of sorting their own affairs, such as the Isle of Man, Gibraltar etc who could also participate in a central government – albeit one that is far smaller than the present gargantuan monstrosity.

I am an English Nationalist, but I do not share at all Mr Anderson’s animus against our near neighbours, it’s more that I am a nationalist who happens to be English. It has been truly said; ‘good fences make for good neighbours’.

As a libertarian, I believe a great deal of the British state should be replaced by… absolutely nothing. As much as possible should devolve to the lowest levels, and there is no need for the overarching hierarchy that exists in many fields, education being a prime example.

This said, there are economic issues that need to be addressed if sovereignty is to be reclaimed for the nation, and more importantly, claimed by the people. Too many libertarians spend their time fussing over our government and our politicians, without paying attention to the power of multinational corporations and international treaties, which rob the nation of much of its sovereignty, no matter whether its the People or the Crown in Parliament which claims that sovereignty. Also, too many libertarians (or rather classical liberals, harkening back to imperial times) have a belief in ‘free trade’ that verges on the Panglossian. To be a sovereign state means to be able to set tariffs and enact protectionist measures etc when necessary, and I have no objection in principle to such things, nor do I object to publicly-owned utilities, indeed I would rather this than a privatised cartel, such as exists in energy (is it not ironic that my energy, under privatisation, is supplied by EDF, majority owned by the French government?)

Whether or not the country is ready for real change, such as I would like to see, I don’t know, but the mainstream parties, like the mainstream media, are dying on their feet. We don’t need them – it’s them that need us.

As for a constitution and a bill of rights, the United States has the almost perfect templates for us to use – Alas! The Americans ignore them at their peril.

By: David

David — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:22:03 +0000

Well, that’s a moot point, I suppose, Philip. But if I were living in Scotland or Wales, I’d be glad their parliaments and governments were there rather than being dependent for everything on the c****y, undemocratic, corrupt Westminster parliament!

By: Philip Hosking

Philip Hosking — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:11:31 +0000

I didn’t realise that the Scottish and Welsh elites who sold out their respective peoples for personal benefit represented, in anyway, the democratic will of these nations.

By: M Anderson

M Anderson — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:43:20 +0000

we have to seek a democratic solution for England, and leave the Scots and Welsh to work out their own destiny.

How do we seek a democratic solution for England? We have been playing nice for years. Where has that got us? Nowhere. I dont see how the English can be democratic when others are being fascist! Ultimately, we have to act like them in order to show them that their ways are NOT going to get them what they want. Besides that, if there’s going to be no England then there’s going to be no scotland either.
Leave the scots and welsh to work out their own destiny? Firstly, the English have never forced the scots or welsh to be part of the union. They chose to be part of it. Did anyone force scottish King James and all his hangers on to go to London? I think not! The welsh were already annexed when the union started. Annexed by Tudor the welshman methinks! Besides that, neither the scots or welsh have been falling over themselves to get out of the union since they got their own political representation have they? Ever heard the term cry wolf?
Secondly, I really dont care what destiny the scots and welsh have. And that is from someone who has welsh, scottish and irish cousins! From where i’m sitting none of the groups mentioned have any intention of leaving the union whilst they’re getting their nests feathered by the English! We have to get them out one way OR the other!