Freedom is something to use or lose – we must fight the antisocial behaviour bill | George Monbiot

The priority of modern politics is economic growth. But humanity’s struggle towards material security will only be worthwhile if we understand and find ways to attenuate the psychological afflictions that appear to continue into, and are sometimes directly fostered by, conditions of abundance. The problems of the thirty or so rich countries describ

and present danger to the future of liberty.

freedom has an economic dimension. Not only does powerlessness enslave, so too does poverty.8 So no one is to forfeit his independence or dignity. One

Personal freedom, we tend to believe, is inherently good

For the first time since his creation man will be faced with his real, his permanent problem – how to use his freedom from pressing economic cares, how to occupy the leisure, which science and compound interest will have won for him, to live wisely and agreeably and well.

how do we ensure that the next era belongs to the Citizen, which is to say, to all of us, at our most powerful?