Never knowingly one to shirk a challenge I was delighted to
get an email from Alex Wilcock inviting me to join his Meme restating what we as a
party stand for. I am someone who constantly quotes the preamble to our
constitution – and have only just returned from speaking at an International
Women’s Week event, where I quoted it to explain why I am a member and to
underline the importance of matching political allegiance with personal values.
I didn’t have a lot to argue with about what Alex has
already said. The challenge though it seems to me, is saying something which
doesn’t turn out to be a truism. Trying to incorporate the Ryan Cotzee
shorthand of “Stronger Economy, Fairer Society” is slightly problematic for me,
to use that old test, would anyone sign up to the opposite – “Weaker Economy,
Less Fair Society”? Fair can be a bit of a weasel word in so many ways which is
why I appreciate the preamble because it actually explains what we have in
mind. After all, many Tories think fairness is about getting rid of inheritance
tax and cutting benefits to the most vulnerable.
Like Alex I love the line “no-one should be enslaved by
poverty, ignorance or conformity” which underpins everything I believe, along
with our commitment to equality. This brings me to the issue many of us are
struggling with at the moment – it is no good having a statement of beliefs if
it isn’t reflected in our values, and no good claiming to hold core values if
they aren’t reflected in our actions. That is what should define us, that is
what should determine our priorities.
So if I were to try and encapsulate the essence of who we
are and what we stand for it would be this.
We believe that
everyone should have the opportunity to thrive and make their most of their
lives, free to do as they choose so
long as it doesn’t harm others, free from
those obstacles that prevent them from enjoying their lives such as poor
health, discrimination, injustice, living in poverty or fear. We believe that
the state’s role in this is three-fold. Firstly to be a safety net, protecting
us by providing public services such as the health, fire and police services, the
welfare state, adequate regulation to protect us as consumers, employees and
employers, access to justice whoever you are. Secondly to provide a ladder –
through education and other opportunities to develop our full potential. Thirdly
by ensuring the right infra-structure is in place, through for example road and
transport networks, housing, or the right environment for business to develop.
That is why as Liberal Democrats we are committed to policies that achieve
those ends, that ensure those with the most contribute more, recognising that a
fairer, more equal society is good for all of us.
And now I’d like to hand over the baton to the following:
5 comments:
I think Alex intended you to do this as a joint project with Charlotte Henry, the idea that anything the pair of you could agree on would likely apply to almost all Liberal everywhere! :p
It would be quite an interesting project to see where you could both find the common ground, don't you think?
Ah.....I didn't get that impression, I sent him what I had written and he didn't say that was his intention. But yes, it may be good to contrast and compare and find out where we have common ground! Interestingly I have another pal in the party, Paul Reynolds who is at the opposite end of the Lib Dem spectrum to me and has spent many years trying to do precisely that :-)
No, Linda's right - that was definitely the idea. I just hoped there'd be a consensus :)
I feel honored to carry the baton for this. I have put my thinking cap on and will come back later with my thoughts.
Maelo :)
Dear Linda,
I have blogged my thoughts on what I think being a Lib Dem means. Here is the link :) http://libdemchild.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/what-lib-dems-stand-for-my-response-to.html
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