And then… seeing padraig’s comment on the previous post reminded me of an entry on his old blog. Rather than paraphrasing, I’ll quote directly (working links included)…
There are also fucking idiots who want to drive too fast and are prepared to risk the lives of others. There are also those who are happy to pout about Big Brother and liberty and bitch about taxes and the nanny state when in reality they are refusing to accept that the compromises we must all make to build any sort of society are also required of them.
It’s the same misguided concept of freedom used by the “call a spade a spade” fraternity. For them, it seems, freedom is not something to uphold for the benefit of society, but a tool of competition, a weapon (at risk of sounding melodramatic) of war. I’ll see your freedom to feel welcome and integrated in this country and raise you my right to call you a Paki. I’ll see your kids’ freedom to walk to school safely and raise you my right to drive as fast as I see fit.