The opponents of liberty and freedom always seek to undermine it by redefining or 'updating' it.

Mussolini did this, claiming that freedom can only come within the confines of his fascist state.

Plato, no doubt, would have claimed that freedom means freedom for the state to act for its own good.

Perhaps freedom means submitting to the state to allow it to make the best decisions for you?

The enemies of freedom will always argue in such doublespeak. It is up to the defenders of liberty to show what they really mean.

The opponents of liberty and freedom always seek to undermine it by redefining or 'updating' it.



Mussolini did this, claiming that freedom can only come within the confines of his fascist state.



Plato, no doubt, would have claimed that freedom means freedom for the state to act for its own good.



Perhaps freedom means submitting to the state to allow it to make the best decisions for you?



The enemies of freedom will always argue in such doublespeak. It is up to the defenders of liberty to show what they really mean.

Yes; of course.   But we dont, do we?   And we wont as long as the words <freedom> <liberty> are used in an unthinking cliched way.  Plato (or likely Socrates) taught us to examine language: it is a shifty bit of land to stand an argument on.  There is a lot of froth about the discourse I find in this forum - it want taking down and rejigging.  The great advantage for the religious sects is that they know what they are quarreling about, and we have forgotten.  Dont dare use <doublespeak> unless you are sure you know to what you refer - Now, <submitting to the state  to make the best decisions >  Of course we must .   How otherwise are we to decide where the drains go?    It is quite possibl;e to have personal freedom inside a tyranny - if that does not involve being seditious -  our idea of freedom is jejune and ineffectual, because we have lost all notions of a proper way to live.  and that way has proved possible  enough in the past.   Come on !   let us show a little rigor and breadth.   I want to start a debate on work, one of the roots of a better life, and what follows will fill a lot of columns.   Most of us are being wasted, and most of our problems stem there. RUSKIN