NEWS RELEASE FROM THE LIBERTARIAN ALLIANCE In Association with the Libertarian International
Release Date: Monday 25 October, 2004 Release Time: Immediate Release url: http://www.libertarian.co.uk/news/nr028.htm Contact Details: Dr Chris R. Tame Tel: 07957 644519(Mobile) Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dr. Sean Gabb Tel: 07956 472199(Mobile) Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For other contact and link details, see the foot of this message "FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE NAZIS: HSBC AND BARCLAYS BANKS SHOULD NOT CLOSE BNP BANK ACCOUNT", SAYS FREE MARKET AND CIVIL LIBERTIES THINK TANK "The closure by both HSBC and Barclays Banks of the British National Party (BNP) bank account is an ominous threat to civil liberties", says the Libertarian Alliance, the radical free market and civil liberties think tank and pressure group. Libertarian Alliance Director, Dr Chris Tame commented: "Although in a fully free society and free market any commercial organization, private group or individual has a right to discriminate against, or refuse to do business with any other group or person for any reason, good or bad, rational or irrational, the existing banking system is not a free market. It is a regulated, semi-corporatist system in overt and covert relationships with the State. Inducements and pressures from the political elite are exerted are discretely veiled. Exclusion from the banking system is a direct attack on the very possibility of an organization functioning in modern society. Thus, to allow actually existing banks to reject a political organisation unpopular with the State is a threat to political diversity and to freedom itself." "Although there is no group in Britain more opposed to EVERY aspect of the BNPs overt and covert agendas - its welfare statism, its socialist economics, its crackpot anti-monetarist currency views, its environmentalism, its social, political and sexual authoritarianism, its paternalism, its racial collectivism, its anti-free trade and anti- globalism, and its opposition to the free movement of goods, capital and labour - the Libertarian Alliance opposes both HSBC and Barclay's decisions, and the growing demands for the expulsion of BNP members from the civil service, the police, teaching or other professions." "What can be done to the BNP can be done to any group. As the great Jewish libertarian philosopher Ayn Rand said: 'In the transition to statism, every infringement of human rights has begun with the suppression of a given right's least attractive practitioners. In this case, the disgusting nature of [those concerned] make's it a good test of one's loyalty to a principle'. "The principle is political freedom and freedom of expression. First they came for the Nazis ... who will be next?". The Libertarian Alliance has written formally to both HSBC and Barclays Banks to urge them to reconsider their decision. END OF COPY Note(s) to Editors (1) Dr. Chris R. Tame is the founder and Director of the Libertarian Alliance. He is a prolific writer and lecturer on many topics in sociology, economics, philosophy and the history of ideas. Amongst his many essays and books are 'The Bibliography of Freedom', 'Racism: The Lowest Form of Collectivism', 'The Case Against Immigration Controls', 'The National Front Is a Socialist Front', and 'Who Are The Fascists?' He has contributed to such journals as 'The Freethinker', 'Science and Public Policy', 'Economic Affairs' and 'The Jewish Journal of Sociology'. Dr. Tame can be contacted for further comment at 07957 644519 or by email at [EMAIL PROTECTED] *********************************************************** Extended Contact Details The Libertarian Alliance is Britain's most radical free market and civil liberties policy institute. It has published over 700 articles, pamphlets and books in support of freedom and against statism in all its forms. These are freely available at: http://www.libertarian.co.uk Our postal address is: The Libertarian Alliance Suite 35 2 Lansdowne Row Mayfair London W1J 6HL Tel: 0870 2421712 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Associated Organisations: The Libertarian International - http://www.libertarian.to - is a sister organisation to the Libertarian Alliance. Its mission is to coordinate various initiatives in the defence of individual liberty throughout the world. The Libertarian International - http://www.libertarian.to - is a sister organisation to the Libertarian Alliance. Its mission is to coordinate various initiatives in the defence of individual liberty throughout the world. Dr. Sean Gabb's personal website - http://www.seangabb.co.uk - contains about a million words of writings on themes interesting to libertarians and conservatives. Liberalia - http://www.liberalia.com - maintained by LA Executive member Christian Michel, Liberalia publishes in-depth papers in French and English on libertarianism and free enterprise. It is a prime source of documentation on these issues for students and scholars. Libertarian Samizdata - http://www.samizdata.net - a topical blog set up by LA Executive member Perry de Havilland. END OF RELEASE -- Dr. Chris R. Tame, Director The Libertarian Alliance Suite 35 2 Lansdowne Row Mayfair London W1J 6HL Tel: 0870 2421712 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] LA Web Site: http://www.libertarian.co.uk Free Life Web Site: http://www.libertarian.co.uk/freelife The Hampden Press Website: http://www.hampdenpress.co.uk LA Forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/libertarian-alliance-forum "The secret of Happiness is Freedom, and the secret of Freedom is Courage" Pericles' Funeral Oration (431BC) _______________________________________________ Libnw mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] List info and subscriber options: http://immosys.com/mailman/listinfo/libnw Archives: http://immosys.com/mailman//pipermail/libnw
