Sacrifices

In time of war this nation of ours has paid many sacrifices, none more so than during the years 1939-1945. From the words of the film maker of the time:

"Destiny gave her the torch of liberty to hold and she has not dropped it yet......Today England stands unbeaten, unconquered and unafraid."

The people of our nation - not just those in the armed forces, but also those left at home - during the years 1939-1945 fought so hard to preserve their way of life, their liberty and their nation. History shows that they were then sold out, years later, by a procession of incompetent, unlistening, self-serving politicians.

Fast forward to the present day and thanks to those incompetent, unlistening and self-serving politicians, England - together with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - has dropped the torch of liberty and stands beaten, conquered and, to those of us who can be bothered to be interested in matters EU, very, very afraid.

At the risk of being classified as a kill-joy at this time of family celebration, I wonder how many of us paused to consider the sacrifices of those who lost their lives, the sacrifices of those who survived - and are now being forgotten and ignored in their hour of need by this government? How many of us, I wonder, paused to consider the freedoms, even allowing for war restrictions, that the people then had - and which politicians have, over the years, usurped so that, in comparison, we now live in a far more restrictive society?

The youth of today, through no fault of their own, know nothing of our nation's past and of the sacrifices made - but I also wonder whether, had they been taught our nation's history, our youth would be so dismissive of matters such as, for example, pride in one's country, courtesy and tradition - all aspects which go into building the character of an individual - and that of a nation.

H/T: Fraser Nelson for the video.

More "political guidance"

"It is certain, that all parts of Europe which are enslaved, have been enslaved by armies; and it is absolutely impossible that any nation which keeps them amongst themselves can long preserve their liberties; nor can any nation perfectly lose their liberties who are without such guests. And yet, though all men see this, and at times confess it, yet all have joined in their turns to bring this heavy evil upon themselves and their country."
Cato's Letters - No:95

A country can be enslaved not only be armed forces, something to which Cato alludes. One has only to consider those members of the European Union, every one of whom has lost sovereign powers, thus becoming enslaved to the EU. Closer to home, consider the actions of our own politicians who are conducting a lesson in democratised dictatorship - for example, deciding to allow the people what matters on which they can vote, extorting taxes to pay for their latest 'pet project', etc.

Courtesy of the Conservative Party website we learn, via Andrew Lansley, that a further sum of NHS funding is to be 'ring-fenced' and given to local authorities to enable them to fight "smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity".

"Under the plans councils are to be put in charge of encouraging healthier lifestyles and local public health directors will be moved out of the NHS and into local government. Ministers believe the wider remit of councils in areas such as housing, transport and leisure puts them in a stronger position to tackle smoking, drinking and obesity in England."

So, besides the likes of Arnott (Ash), amongst others, - all unelected and unwanted - telling us how we should behave, act and live our lives, we will be subjected to further hectoring from even more unelected and unwanted 'disciples of healthy living'. This, from a government that trumpets a policy of devolving power to enable people to choose how they live their lives!

As IanPJ on Politics writes:

"And don’t even get me started on the myriad networks of taxpayer funded fake charities that lobby, cajole and lie to get many of these policies pushed through by social engineering."

That is exactly what this policy, announced by Lansley, is - social engineering. FFS, if those who wish to punish their bodies by jogging - and thus putting extra strain on their hearts - are permitted to so do, then please allow those who smoke, drink and eat to do so, likewise uninterrupted and unhindered. 

On the subject of obesity, especially amongst the young, perhaps if politicians had not interfered with education and methods of teaching - and permitted schools to continue with sporting activities free of equality and health 'n safety concerns, there would not be so many children and young members of our society who are considered obese.

Having begun this post with a quotation, it is perhaps logical to end with one. It is increasingly becoming clear that one Major Barnes, MP seriously misjudged the future.

"We certainly owe much of our liberty today; and the fact that we do not need and I hope will never need to resort to armed resistance; to the fact that some 200 or 300 years ago there were people who found it necessary to take up arms against the State."
Parliamentary Debates [1920] 

Update: England Expects posts on yet more "social engineering" - yet another example of an attempt to ake us change our habits sub-conciously!

We're All EUians Now

"The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority, or rather of that party, not always the majority, that succeeds, by force or fraud, in carrying elections"
Lord Acton, The History of Freedom and Other Essays (1907)

We are all "EUians" now because this country of ours is governed by spineless, Quisling politicians who aren't fit to lick their electorate's boots. For nearly 40 years our politicians have abused the positions that they have attained, during which time they have continually deceived those they are supposed to represent. Assuming powers to which they had no right and making decisions that were those only the people should make, our politicians have wrecked a country that was held as a beacon for freedom, honesty, fairness and tolerance.

Our politicians have been aided and abetted by what is supposed to be a 'free press', one that should be impartial and informative; and which has been anything but - having allowed itself to be 'bought' by means of 'political patronage'. As our politicians stand accused of fraud and deceit, so do our supposedly free and impartial press.

Unfortunately, probably the greatest culprits on whom the blame can be laid for the degrading of what was once a great and proud country is the electorate. Instead of querying what have turned out to be lies, presented to them by both the politicians and the free press, the electorate have accepted, without question, the information fed them on a daily basis.

Having begun with a quotation, it is perhaps fitting that I end with one - on reflection, maybe one for each of politician, press and people.

For politicians:

"We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately"
Attributed: Benjamin Franklin 

For the free press:

"The Freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks of liberty and can never be constrained but by a despotic government"
Thomas Jefferson

For the people:

"Who speaks of freedom and liberty while the human mind is in chains?"
Francis Wright