PERSONAL STATEMENT OF POLITICAL BELIEFS

  This site is political, so it wouldn’t be right not to define my own political beliefs. Here they are.
Politically, I would class myself as right of centre. I believe that if we pay our taxes, obey a fair law and defend our country, the state has no right to interfere in our lives in any way. Similarly, I believe in personal enterprise, but feel that globalisation actually stunts this capacity, and is wrong.
This said, any society automatically disenfranchises a small percentage of its population. Whether through illness, or simply an inability to fit into the prevalent system, a society is judged by how we treat this minority. I believe the tax payer has an obligation to help them if they ask.
I also hold some liberal ideals. I believe that a person should be free to do as he wants, provided he causes no harm to others. Yet I also believe society has an image of the norm. Exhibitionism to assault this norm is unhelpful. Your lifestyle choices should not be thrust on others.
Words, however, are a different matter. I believe it is wrong to incite violence or libel another person. I also believe we should moderate foul language. But other than these, there should be no bar to free speech. Any concept, belief or lifestyle should be open to criticism, both minority and majority. Then the debate can begin.

(c) Anthony North, Jan 2007