Many countries may have gone into the First World status, while others are at the periphery waiting to join the ranks of the economic elites. But even among these so-called rich nations, the question of Freedom for the people is still a subject that is widely challenged by the people. One question often asked is: Freedom..but at what price? Yes indeed can we put a price to freedom, but should freedom be equated to a value. One of the most common ires among people is the lack of freedom of speech, expression and assembly. We see in Thailand today the people demonstrating day after day in a mass expression of the freedom of assembly. Is this good for the country and for the people, or are they being manipulated by the rich, some even paid for their time to "exercise" their freedom? I won't go into whether there is justification in the street demonstration since the current government itself got into office through such parallel street politicking.
The point I want to make is should any nation be subjected to such inconvenience under the flag of freedom of expression, even at the cost of ruining the economy? Almost daily we read in newspapers about politicians and other social activists clamouring for more freedom, and governments proclaiming that they have given freedom to the people but some with caveats that such freedom should not be at the expense of social unrest. Indeed I suspect that some authorities are using this caveat to in fact draw the framework to the meaning of freedom that best suits their needs. Hence, they line up a list of out of bounds areas or subjects and imposed a sledge hammer policy to the slightest transgressions, to the point that it is perceived as intolerance of political freedom and personal freedom.
I don't have the answers; I believe even scholars will not be able to find a suitable answers. The probable answers I believe ultimately would lie in the hands of the people: at what price are they prepared to pay for freedom?
