The Beijing Consensus - Europe agrees

[DoomYoshi]

David Nutt is still allowed to conduct and publish that sort of research (and did so not long after being removed from his government post).

It's just a question of whether or not it is conducive to the public good to have senior government servants and ministers openly opposing government policy.

It is. Let's see what the British Department of Roads thinks:

[mrswdk]

It's kinda like how if your partner is saying something stupid at a dinner party, then even if you know it's stupid you offer some vague gesture of agreement. Have you ever seen that episode of American Dad where Stan keeps getting embarrassed by the dumb things Francine says at parties and pushes her in the pool? And then comes to realize that he's being an ass, and starts taking her side even when she's being a moron? It's like that.

The same principle applies to government. How are you supposed to command respect, locally or internationally, if you allow cross-eyed party delegates to trip you up every time you try to pass a bill? Even if things are a bit of a mess behind the scenes, you need to present strength and unity to the outside world.

[DoomYoshi]

there is no outside world. democracy means people power.

[Symmetry]

I think we can pretty much agree that there's a degree to freedom of speech:

USA----many european countries, not all----------China-----------North-Korea

10 countries with most freedom of speech:

• 1)New zealand
• 2)Australia
• 3)UK
• 4)Japan
• 5)USA
• 6)Estonia
• 7)Portugal
• 8)Uruguay
• 9)Chile
• 10)Jamaica

Now I can't find a list of the countries with the least freedom of speech, but I do remember reading it in some article. I don't remember all the countries but I know China is not in the top 10 but countries like Turkey, Cuba, Belarus and North-Korea are.

The Press Freedom Index is often a good indicator.

http://rsf.org/ranking

[waauw]

I think we can pretty much agree that there's a degree to freedom of speech:

USA----many european countries, not all----------China-----------North-Korea

10 countries with most freedom of speech:

• 1)New zealand
• 2)Australia
• 3)UK
• 4)Japan
• 5)USA
• 6)Estonia
• 7)Portugal
• 8)Uruguay
• 9)Chile
• 10)Jamaica

Now I can't find a list of the countries with the least freedom of speech, but I do remember reading it in some article. I don't remember all the countries but I know China is not in the top 10 but countries like Turkey, Cuba, Belarus and North-Korea are.

The Press Freedom Index is often a good indicator.

http://rsf.org/ranking

Good indicator, but not the same thing exactly. For instance your url shows Belgium as very press-free, however we also forbid racist organizations and political parties. We've had politicans convicted, parties broken up and organizations obstructed due to their racist nature, something I don't see happening any time soon in the US.

[Symmetry]

I think we can pretty much agree that there's a degree to freedom of speech:

USA----many european countries, not all----------China-----------North-Korea

10 countries with most freedom of speech:

• 1)New zealand
• 2)Australia
• 3)UK
• 4)Japan
• 5)USA
• 6)Estonia
• 7)Portugal
• 8)Uruguay
• 9)Chile
• 10)Jamaica

Now I can't find a list of the countries with the least freedom of speech, but I do remember reading it in some article. I don't remember all the countries but I know China is not in the top 10 but countries like Turkey, Cuba, Belarus and North-Korea are.

The Press Freedom Index is often a good indicator.

http://rsf.org/ranking

Good indicator, but not the same thing exactly. For instance your url shows Belgium as very press-free, however we also forbid racist organizations and political parties. We've had politicans convicted, parties broken up and organizations obstructed due to their racist nature, something I don't see happening any time soon in the US.

Sure, but those aren't really examples of restrictions on the press. But yes, you're right- it's only an indicator.

[waauw]

Sure, but those aren't really examples of restrictions on the press. But yes, you're right- it's only an indicator.

Huh? Did I misunderstand the topic? I thought it was about freedom of speech not freedom of the press in specific.

[Symmetry]

Sure, but those aren't really examples of restrictions on the press. But yes, you're right- it's only an indicator.

Huh? Did I misunderstand the topic? I thought it was about freedom of speech not freedom of the press in specific.

I misread your post, thinking your examples were following on from the previous sentence. Apologies.

[mrswdk]

Ah. So Symmetry is not a troll who likes to deliberately twist people's views and put words in their mouths, just a guy who struggles to follow a post from one sentence to the next without getting confused. We should all offer him our support and sympathy.