Going behind enemy lines again I see!

Talk about bearding the lion in his own den!

The central theme of the conference is Facing up to Reality:

Since the elite are meeting at The Hague, I assume the theme doesn't include radical Islam

I note that invitees will come from 'politics, government, business and media'. No scientists, and most importantly no engineers. To solve the sustainablity problem you first have to establish a range of what is possible within reasonable economic dimensions. That is an engineering problem. To get one or more 'solutions' adopted could well need politicians, business, government and the media
but those groups are totally useless at even beginning to determine the feasible solutions.
That idiot British Council (Netherlands) doesn't even have a mention of 'Engineering or Technology' the very foundation of the first 'super power' in the 19th century. They really are so pig ignorant having not the faintest idea of what engineering is about. It is a peculiarly British failing not seen on the continent or the USA.

The solution is for people to practice self-restraint and both self and community responsibility. It has been too easy to avoid personal responsibility and turn to the politicians for solutions. Politicians and Police see solutions as "One-Size-Fits-Most" and act accordingly... When citizens practice self restraing and accept responsibility for themselves and their community the need for police and political action declines... Blaming those who are responding to the outcry is like baming the fire department and insucance company because the arsonists are setting fires but nobody is stopping the arsonist...

Its time to grow up. Adults need to step forward and take responsibility for their community... Just as the juvenile elephants changed their behavior when adult males took charge and showed them the proper way to act. So too will societies change when men step out of the shadows and show some resolve against hooligans, thugs and terrorists... The Dilemna of the Commons evaporates when the aduts step forward and act in concert to demonstrate restraint...

The solution lies within the grasp of the citizens. Will they make a fist of it? Or will they surrender to the flailings of politicians and soft tyranny you describe?

The solution is for people to practice self-restraint and both self and community responsibility. It has been too easy to avoid personal responsibility and turn to the politicians for solutions. Politicians and Police see solutions as "One-Size-Fits-Most" and act accordingly... When citizens practice self restraing and accept responsibility for themselves and their community the need for police and political action declines... Blaming those who are responding to the outcry is like baming the fire department and insucance company because the arsonists are setting fires but nobody is stopping the arsonist...

Its time to grow up. Adults need to step forward and take responsibility for their community... Just as the juvenile elephants changed their behavior when adult males took charge and showed them the proper way to act. So too will societies change when men step out of the shadows and show some resolve against hooligans, thugs and terrorists... The Dilemna of the Commons evaporates when the aduts step forward and act in concert to demonstrate restraint...

The solution lies within the grasp of the citizens. Will they make a fist of it? Or will they surrender to the flailings of politicians and soft tyranny you describe?

When the ability to call BULL Garbage by its proper name... The soft tyrants will evaporate. They have power only as long as we are complacent and complicit in their efforts. They do not have the facts. They have the spin and the "doing-good" patina... Like Missionaries before them they are "doing well by doing good"... They face no serious opposition. They have only the power to influence and affect politicians...

Where are the strong voices of opposition? where i the strong light of publicity to show their weakness and failure? Where is the news outlet that will show the effects of their policies on the economy and way of life... ?

Hats off to you John Rippengal.
I couldn't agree more.

While I'm at it, the country where I feel like somebody who is a majority human is Canada.

Given the numerous, and significant, questions upon which the mainstream concensus has been utterly wrong, I'd say being outside of it has its attractions.

I would add that freedom is also making up one's own mind for one's own reasons, regardless of the "concensus".

A person may be right, or may be wrong, but at least it should be one's own position. Nobody looks good in hand-me-down clothes.

Mid,
I clicked the link and was relieved to discover that "bearding the lion" was not a euphemism for an exceptionally filthy sexual act. One possibly involving a full collection of circus sideshow freaks, a Shetland pony and a Tory MP. As in, "Yeah 500 quid an hour seems a bit steep but we were Bearding the Lion afterall..."

... a Shetland pony and a Tory MP.

Not a labor MP? It would certainly bring a new meaning to being "in labor"!

What kind of Millian silliness is this? Surely 'freedom' is simply not having to fear violence in the face of a mainstream consensus?

The fact that the term 'mainstream' and the term 'concensus' have been applied is usually an indicator that disapproval will follow; disapproval is nothing without violence.

Mid,
We've had ten years of labour pains and still nothing to show for it apart from a gigantic tent full of bugger-all in Greenwich.

Ten years of unproductive labour. Even an NHS hospital would have got round to perfroming a C-section by now...

"The majority is always wrong." -RAH. Not bad, but see the other threat about stopped clocks. Even 50%+1 can be right twice a day.

"In a nation of pansies, one stinging nettle is a majority." -Edward Abbey. Often libertarians aren't familiar with his writing, but it's worth the time.

"I'm right, they're all wrong, anyone who wants to fight about it can go (enjoy intimate interpersonal relations with) a chicken." -Me, on a point of fishing etiquette. Dangit, I WAS right about it too!