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The Three Dimensions of Freedom
The Three Dimensions of Freedom | Billy Bragg
7 posts | 1 read | 4 to read
Musician and activist Billy Bragg diagnoses the crisis of accountability in Western democracies in this new series of political pamphlets from Faber. We live in a world where strongman politics are rising; neo-liberalism has hollowed out political parties; and corporations have undermined democracy. Ordinary voters feel helpless to effect change, resulting in outbreaks of populist anger, and traditional platforms for debate are losing their viability as readers source information online. In this short and vital polemic, progressive thinker and activist Billy Bragg argues that accountability is the antidote to authoritarianism, and that without it, we can never truly be free. He shows us that Freedom requires three dimensions to function: Liberty, Equality, and Accountability - and the result is a three dimensional space in which freedom can be exercised by all.
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Bookwomble
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A link to Billy's Guardian article in which he recommends books about the importance of holding power to account:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jun/01/billy-bragg-further-reading-books-...

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Bookwomble
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Pickpick

Bragg proposes that true, inclusive and democratic freedom is founded on the three principles of liberty, equality and accountability. He builds his argument for the importance of each pillar, showing how neoliberalism has eroded them, but most particularly that of accountability. Deregulation has given free rein to corporate exploitation of people and the environment, and Bragg sketches his ideas for redressing the balance. 👇🏼

Bookwomble A quick read, as clear as it is concise. It could have been three times as long and still too short. Wonderful! 5🌟 5y
Leftcoastzen I love his music ,bet I‘d love his book. 5y
GingerAntics I‘m not sure deregulation is neoliberal. At least in America, the people deregulating everything and wanting companies to have free reign to do anything they want is the Conservative party. The liberal party is constantly trying to keep things regulated. 5y
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merelybookish Unrelated but I went to see Billy Bragg a year ago and it was a big bummer. He had lost his voice and couldn't really sing. So he talked...a lot. 😒 5y
Bookwomble @GingerAntics The "liberal" part of neoliberal is s bit like the "socialism" part of national socialism - it's the opposite of what you might think it means ? Neoliberalism is a reactionary movement against the post-depression [1930s], post-war [WWII] left-wing social reforms that introduced financial and corporate regulation and accountability, and the welfare state. The ideas of neoliberalism were aggressively championed by Thatcher and Reagan. 5y
Bookwomble @merelybookish Oh, that must have been disappointing 😕 I'd pay to hear Billy speak, but going to a concert and not getting the songs must have been a definite bummer! 🎶In a perfect world we'd all sung in tune / But this is reality, so give me some room🎶😊 5y
Bookwomble @Leftcoastzen I'll take that bet! 😁 I think you'd love it. 5y
GingerAntics Ah, rich old people who aren‘t happy about it. Got it. Thanks for clearing that up. That is definitely not what I thought that was. 5y
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"The challenge that faced the English in the seventeenth century was how to curb the absolute power of the monarch. In the twenty-first century, it is the markets that have taken on the mantle of absolutism, placing themselves above the jurisdiction of national governments. Holding the king to account was unprecedented and went against custom and tradition - holding the global markets to account is just as audacious and just as necessary."

GingerAntics I love every single quote you‘ve posted. 5y
Bookwomble @GingerAntics I had to restrain myself from just transcribing the whole book! 😂 5y
GingerAntics I have that problem all the time. I feel you restrained yourself quite well. 5y
CarolynM Excellent point 5y
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"Capitalism is like fire: keep it under control and it will give you heat and light; leave it untended and it will consume everything in its path."

Weaponxgirl Boom! Thanks for that one 5y
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"Freedom of speech does not guarantee you a platform from which to air your opinions. You may hold trenchant views on a number of subjects but the fact that 'The Times' won't print your ruminations doesn't mean you are being oppressed...While freedom of speech gives you the right to dissent and, yes, to offend, it does not give you the right to abuse."

GingerAntics YES!!! This!!! Absolutely!!! 5y
TrishB Go Billy 👍🏻 5y
Aimeesue It amazes me that so many people don‘t understand that freedom of speech does not free you from the repercussions thereof, and that they don‘t know that it only applies to the *government* in the US. Sigh. 5y
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RaimeyGallant I was just saying recently to a friend that freedom of expression/speech and access to platforms may need separate thinking. 5y
Bookwomble @TrishB He went astray with a brief flirtation with the LibDems (but that's forgivable as it was during New Labour and before Clegg's betrayal of the electorate), but he's definitely on form here ✊🏻❤ 5y
Bookwomble @Aimeesue Conservatism thrives best when it can nurture ignorance and disenfranchisement. 5y
Bookwomble @RaimeyGallant Billy covers that topic well as part of his argument here. 5y
Bookwomble @GingerAntics Abso-bloody-lutely! 😁 5y
GingerAntics I completely agree that conservatism is all about ignorance and telling you who to fear. I have no idea who buys into this madness. No wonder they don‘t want critical thinking taught to their children 5y
Bookwomble @GingerAntics It's no coincidence that progressive the Western democracies, progressive policies to improve the quality of the lives of the mass of people have always been fought for by the left against the right. I do struggle at times to understand why people vote for conservatives against their own natural interest, but I suppose Orwell and Huxley explained it quite nicely. 5y
Weaponxgirl That is something that has always frustrated me too! I‘m from a working class background and then I see people voting against their own best interests and disconnecting from the reality of their lives and needs. 5y
Weaponxgirl I‘ve spoken to people who are entitled to benefits and need them who have said they don‘t want to be one of those people and it saddens and angers me at the same time. The rich aren‘t saying no to tax breaks or feel ashamed about it so don‘t feel bad when you need help you are damn well entitled to! 5y
Bookwomble @Weaponxgirl The comparison between the rich who take and take, and are celebrated for their riches, and the poor who are shamed into not taking their due, is one I've made myself. It harks back to the Victorian idea of the deserving and undeserving poor, I think. 5y
Weaponxgirl I would agree with that and the ridiculous idea of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. 5y
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Bookwomble
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The epigraph strikes the right tone... ✊🏻😀

GingerAntics 💙💙💙 5y
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Bookwomble
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Next up, William Bloke's newly published book about the state of the handcart we're in and how close to the infernal fires we might be. I'm hoping he has some thoughts on how we can change direction, or at least knows the location of a conveniently head-sized patch of sand.
[The image is the back-cover blurb, and I'd assume the use of the t-word in the first line is not unintentional.]

GingerAntics I found the use of that word quite amusing. I thought it was intentional as well. 5y
batsy Thanks for sharing the quotes from this one. Go Billy ✊🏽 5y
Bookwomble @batsy You're welcome ✊🏻😁 5y
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