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I hate extremes of any kind. Communism and the National Front both seek the domination of the state over the individual. They both, I believe crush the right of the individual. To me, therefore, they are parties of a similar kind. All my life I have stood against banning Communism or other extremist organisations because, if you do that, they go underground and it gives them an excitement that they don't get if they are allowed to pursue their policies openly. We'll beat them into the ground on argument... The National Front is a Socialist Front.

Margaret Thatcher#9

PoliticsFreedomDebateExtremism

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About this quote

What does it mean?
Thatcher argues that extreme ideologies like Communism and the National Front both suppress individual liberty through state control. She believes banning them drives them underground, making them more dangerous than allowing open debate.
In plain terms
Extreme groups hurt people's freedom, and banning them only makes them stronger.
What can you take from it?
Combat extremists with open argument rather than prohibition.

Where it applies

  • political analysis
  • debating policy
  • assessing threats

Putting it to work

  • engage in open debate
  • avoid banning groups
  • critique policies openly

Questions to consider

  • Is banning harmful groups ever justified?
  • How do you defeat ideas without silencing them?

Another view

Open debate may not always prevent extremist groups from gaining influence.

More from Margaret Thatcher

  1. People are really rather afraid that this country might be rather swamped by people with a different culture ... We are not in politics to ignore peoples' worr…

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  2. I can't bear Britain in decline. I just can't.

    Permalink to quote #10

  3. My job is to stop Britain going red.

    Permalink to quote #7

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