A WEBSITE A designed to “allow as many people in the UK as possible to put forward their ideas on what laws and regulations we should do away with” was launched at the beginning of July.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeaIB2YvKhw[/youtube]
Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, along with the rest of the Coalition Government, are inviting the public to collaborate on ideas for freedom and change.
According to Your Freedom:
This will form an important part of our commitment to cutting red tape, repealing unnecessary laws and supporting civil liberties. Your ideas will inform initiatives such as the proposed Freedom Bill and the streamlining of regulation, particularly for businesses and other organisations.
The site currently groups ideas into three important policy areas that affect your freedom:
The site adds:
Civil liberties are the basic rights and freedoms that protect an individual. They prevent the state from abusing power or intruding in citizens’ lives unnecessarily. Legislation can help keep people safe, but excessive legislation can erode civil liberties.
We are determined to restore fundamental civil liberties, while still protecting our society … we also really want your views. We hope to include the most constructive of your ideas in our Freedom Bill later in 2010.
One idea posted on the site that has sparked a lively debate is:
Schools should be free to hold secular assemblies if they wish to.
The proposer notes:
There are many atheist and agnostic families in this country whose rights are currently ignored. Children should not be forced to pray to gods that they don’t believe in. Even many people who do believe in god don’t believe in a ‘personal’ god that requires worship. Schools should be free to decide on this issue for themselves.
You can log onto the site to add a comment of your own, or simply vote in support of the proposal.
Hat tip: Harry
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
July 4th, 2010 at 10:20 am
I must say, it’s good to see a Positive post on Freethinker. I shall be looking into the sites and making my voice heard.
July 4th, 2010 at 11:05 am
There is an American survey that might interest some readers of this blog. Link here:
http://www.secularnewsdaily.co.....attitudes/
July 4th, 2010 at 11:19 am
Arnold Lane. Same here and I hope many others do the same. I am encouraged also that they are planning a Bill this year. Usually, change is spun out into the future and then so weakened that they may as well not have bothered.
July 4th, 2010 at 11:57 am
I think that the thing which is driving this government to deliver is simply that they don’t have a guaranteed number of years in power. If one party starts playing silly buggers and annoys the other party then the coalition can fall right there and then.
July 4th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Please vote for my suggestion:
http://yourfreedom.hmg.gov.uk/.....in-schools
For the sake of the children…….
PS. you have to register but it’s dead easy.
July 4th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
I added my voice to a number of laws that I think should be repealled. The most notable for me is Section 44 of the Anti Terrorism Act that results in many photographers being harrassed by Police for taking photos in public.
July 4th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Hundreds and hundreds of votes will be ignored: http://yourfreedom.hmg.gov.uk/.....abis#ideas
I hardly think we have any say is this at all.
July 4th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
We’ve got rid of the Blasphemy Law , the next thing to go should surely be that insult to democracy brought in by New Labour as a sop to it’s islamist vote called the “Religious Hatred Act”.
It was recently used by a christian convert to islam to try and prosecute a pair of christian hoteliers with whom she had had an argument, luckily the case got thrown out, but the fact that someone can face what is basically legalised police harassment for expressing an opinion is unacceptable in a free society and inhibits discussion of crucial issues.
July 4th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
I agree with Great Satan. The fact is that religious ideas should not be priviliged over others. We should confront this idea, that has permeated throughout the highest levels of government & polite society, that religion is uniquely worthy of respect. In fact questionable claims should be challenged & bad ideas confronted because as we all know ideas have real-world consequences.
We should fuck it off, all the legal & social restrictions that prevent us from caricaturing religion, making unfunny jokes, cartoons, & just saying it’s a load of bollocks. Repealing this odious law would be a statement that this is what is about to happen.
July 4th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
This site sounds much better than what the Republicans did over here. IFIRC, the site is called something like “Voices of America”, and it’s like Wikipedia meets Urban Dictionary, with really, really stupid people. Half the time, the site doesn’t work because too many morons are on it. When it does work, it doesn’t actually do anything. They tried to set up a site to give serious political discussion a try, but people post some of the dumbest shit you’ll ever read (I hope that’s the dumbest shit I’ll read), and you can vote on it. At least your government posts it’s bills and encourages discussion.
July 4th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
Barrie: thanks (once again) for the link. It’s a canadian survey not an american one – Waterloo, ON.
July 4th, 2010 at 7:18 pm
the incitement to religious hatred act should be scrapped as well as the so called “dangerous pictures act” some of my album covers and copies of bizzarre magazine could land me in jail becuase of that :O
I think religion should be taken out of school assemblies altogwther, religious education is one thing but actually forcing kids to sing a bunch of crap songs they have no interest in is just cruel and end of term services when they used to make you go to an actual church, though I did vomit in one of those services once when I was a kid so I got some revenge
July 4th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
This will go: “No, we’re not “freeing da weed!!!1″ as so many of you have suggested, but while you brought up removing laws, we’re cutting health and safety regulations and union rights. Glad you brought that up, members of the public.”
July 4th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
Oops – I didn’t look closely enough at that link!
Sadly, I fear that Sean Reynolds is on the mark there!!
July 5th, 2010 at 9:37 am
This is nothing more than a cosmetic exercise by a new government. I agree with Synchronium at 1:30 pm yesterday: we’ll have no say at all.
As long as Brenda remains head of state and head of a church, and we have 24 unelected supernaturalists in the Lords then expect no changes anytime soon.
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 am
This is the suggestion I have put forward and I would like other atheists and supporters of the NSS to vote for it or to add a similar suggestion. I would also add that Philosophy should be taught alongside Comparative Religion:-
‘Repeal requirement for Christian education in schools.
The law which requires schools to teach Christianity should be replaced with one which requires the teaching of Comparative Religion in an unbiased manner. State subsidies for Faith Schools/Academies should also be withdrawn unless they teach Comparative Religion.
In a society and a world where there are frequent religious conflicts, the emphasis on Christian education in our schools is divisive and out of step with multi-faith communities. Not only is it morally wrong to indoctrinate children in this way, it is likely to cause the same sort of conflict and bloodshed that we saw in Northern Ireland.’
I have not called for the outright banning of the teaching of religion in UK schools because I think that would be a step too far at this time – softly, softly, catchee monkey!
July 7th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
I have heard what you have to say now do as I say. This is what will happen and what has already been said to that spineless Cameron arse licker Clegg. These chances to voice our opinion will do no good because our freedom is no more important to this fuckers in charge anymore than it is to religious leaders, this is only an information gathering exercise and will not give you anymore rights or freedom.