September 20, 2005
My own little British constitution.
While at a loose end today I decided to come up with my own written constitution and social contract for the UK and its people. Do tell me what you think of it. Anyway, here goes:
• Raise taxes when you must; cut them when you can.
• Punish a man hard when he does wrong; reward him well when he does good.
• The state is the servant of the Crown and the Public, not the other way around.
• Freedom should only be sacrificed for security when absolutely necessary; and restored immediately when the threat is dealt with.
• Schools should teach how to read, to be numerate, to think, to love knowledge and justice and to care. Everything else will then fall into place.
• A strong military is an ugly necessity; soldiers should be rewarded for the dirtiest job of all.
• A good system recognises merit but does not punish good fortune.
• The Public and Private sectors are tools - use them for the jobs they are each best suited to.
• Ideology is the enemy of good sense: one must take account the times and act accordingly.
• A great leader leads by example.
• The citizen has a right to defend himself and an obligation to defend others, as does the state.
• Tolerate those who tolerate you; accept those who accept you; live with difference and be just.
• Raise taxes when you must; cut them when you can.
• Punish a man hard when he does wrong; reward him well when he does good.
• The state is the servant of the Crown and the Public, not the other way around.
• Freedom should only be sacrificed for security when absolutely necessary; and restored immediately when the threat is dealt with.
• Schools should teach how to read, to be numerate, to think, to love knowledge and justice and to care. Everything else will then fall into place.
• A strong military is an ugly necessity; soldiers should be rewarded for the dirtiest job of all.
• A good system recognises merit but does not punish good fortune.
• The Public and Private sectors are tools - use them for the jobs they are each best suited to.
• Ideology is the enemy of good sense: one must take account the times and act accordingly.
• A great leader leads by example.
• The citizen has a right to defend himself and an obligation to defend others, as does the state.
• Tolerate those who tolerate you; accept those who accept you; live with difference and be just.
