Montgomery Toms: Lockdowns erode freedoms and burden future generations

Key Takeaways

• The relationship between the state and the individual has shifted, restricting fundamental liberties.
• Lockdowns lacked a philosophical grounding in principles of freedom.
• National debt is seen as stealing from the future of younger generations.
• Older generations have a moral responsibility to consider the future implications of their decisions on youth.
• Young people are increasingly taught a victim mentality, undermining personal responsibility.
• The entitlement mentality among young people is affecting their voting patterns.
• The definition of liberalism has shifted significantly from its traditional roots.
• There is a cultural shift among young people towards personal responsibility.
• Liberalism articulates the best form of freedom while ensuring it does not harm others.
• Societal rules are needed to protect children from harmful online content.
• The state’s role in shaping personal liberties has been questioned during significant societal events.
• Fiscal policies have long-term effects on youth, highlighting intergenerational equity concerns.
• Political ideologies have evolved, impacting current political discourse.
• Societal trends are moving away from victimhood towards personal accountability.
• Digital content regulation is crucial for child safety in the modern age.

Guest intro

Montgomery Toms is the founder of Freedom Watch TV, a UK organization modeled after Turning Point USA to build a youth platform against institutional authoritarianism. He was strong-armed out of university on his first day for refusing to wear a mandatory pronoun badge. At 20, he is a rising conservative activist challenging lockdowns, victim culture indoctrination, and two-tier policing.

The transformation of state-individual relationships

• The state has transformed the relationship between the citizen and the individual, restricting fundamental liberties.

  — Montgomery Toms

• The state feels it can restrict fundamental liberties like freedom of movement and speech.
• Government policies during lockdowns significantly impacted individual freedoms.

• I think that fundamentally for me that’s when I realized the state has transformed the relationship between the citizen and the and the individual.

  — Montgomery Toms

• The state’s ability to promote a single narrative and reject alternatives is concerning.
• The transformation reflects a broader trend in governmental control over personal liberties.

• We’re gonna restrict your fundamental liberties like freedom of movement freedom of speech.

  — Montgomery Toms

• Understanding this transformation is crucial for assessing the impact of government policies on personal freedoms.

The philosophical grounding of lockdowns

• Lockdowns were criticized for lacking a philosophical basis in freedom principles.

• It’s actually commonly respected now that lockdown wasn’t a good idea.

  — Montgomery Toms

• The effectiveness and ethical implications of lockdown measures are debated.

• There’s the scientific aspect but there’s also the philosophical grounding in it.

  — Montgomery Toms

• The absence of freedom principles in lockdowns raises ethical questions.
• Philosophical considerations should guide policy decisions during crises.
• “The complete lack of principles of freedom” during lockdowns is a critical issue. – Montgomery Toms
• This discussion highlights the need for a balanced approach to public health and personal freedoms.

National debt and its impact on future generations

• The increasing national debt is seen as stealing from the future of younger generations.

• The more debt we have, the harder it will be for someone like you to buy a house.

  — Montgomery Toms

• National debt raises concerns about intergenerational equity.
• Fiscal policies today have long-term implications for youth financial stability.

• I always think about the debt being stealing from the kids’ future.

  — Montgomery Toms

• The ethical considerations of debt highlight the responsibility of older generations.
• Economic policies should consider the future burden on younger generations.
• This discussion emphasizes the need for sustainable fiscal practices.

The moral responsibility of older generations

• There is a moral responsibility for older generations to consider future implications on youth.

• It’s a moral that for what we as adults… we’re expecting you lot to pay for it in the future.

  — Montgomery Toms

• Ethical obligations towards future generations are critical in policy-making.
• Current decisions have long-term effects on younger people.
• “We have this collective responsibility” to consider the future. – Montgomery Toms
• Intergenerational equity is a significant concern in economic and social policy.
• Older generations should prioritize the well-being of future generations.
• This insight reflects the importance of ethical considerations in governance.

Victim mentality and personal responsibility

• Young people are increasingly taught a victim mentality, undermining personal responsibility.

• We are taught to be victims as young people.

  — Montgomery Toms

• Conservatism emphasizes personal responsibility, contrasting with socialism.
• Educational influences shape young people’s political beliefs.

• Conservatism is all about personal responsibility.

  — Montgomery Toms

• The impact of societal norms on youth attitudes is significant.
• Victim mentality affects personal and political choices among young people.
• Understanding these influences is crucial for addressing youth engagement in politics.

The entitlement mentality and voting patterns

• The entitlement mentality among young people affects their voting patterns.

• This mentality of entitlement is what is captured young people.

  — Montgomery Toms

• Entitlement is linked to political engagement and choices.
• Young people feel entitled to certain lifestyles and benefits.

• They just feel entitled to everything whether that be money.

  — Montgomery Toms

• The psychological state of entitlement influences political behavior.
• Addressing entitlement can lead to more informed political participation.
• This claim provides insight into current trends in youth political engagement.

The evolution of liberalism

• The definition of liberalism has shifted significantly from its traditional roots.

• I categorize myself as a traditional liberal.

  — Montgomery Toms

• Traditional liberalism emphasizes life, liberty, and property.
• The evolution of political ideologies impacts current discourse.

• The inverse of what it’s become which is life liberty property.

  — Montgomery Toms

• Understanding historical context is crucial for assessing political changes.
• Liberalism’s shift reflects broader societal and cultural changes.
• This insight highlights the dynamic nature of political ideologies.

Cultural shift towards personal responsibility

• The cultural shift among young people is moving towards personal responsibility.
• “The pendulum is swinging” towards personal accountability. – Montgomery Toms
• Historical trends favored reliance on the state and victimhood.
• Young people’s attitudes towards government are changing.

• Historically young people have been geared directly towards this looking towards the state.

  — Montgomery Toms

• Personal responsibility is becoming more valued in youth culture.
• This shift reflects broader societal values and governance trends.
• Understanding these changes is crucial for future policy development.

Liberalism and freedom

• Liberalism articulates the best form of freedom while ensuring it does not harm others.

• What I love about liberalism is all it’s doing is articulating the best form of freedom.

  — Montgomery Toms

• Liberal philosophy emphasizes individual rights and societal structure.
• Ensuring freedom without harm is a core principle of liberalism.

• Give people as much freedom as possible without it being harmful to others.

  — Montgomery Toms

• Understanding liberal principles is crucial for political discourse.
• Liberalism provides a framework for balancing individual and societal needs.
• This insight highlights the relevance of liberalism in contemporary politics.

Protecting children from harmful online content

• There is a need for societal rules to protect children from harmful content online.

• I’m actually kind of on the fence on two things particularly the access to hardcore pornography online.

  — Montgomery Toms

• Digital content regulation is crucial for child safety.
• Balancing individual responsibility and societal regulation is challenging.

• Social media for youngsters because it is so difficult to police.

  — Montgomery Toms

• Protecting children from harmful content requires comprehensive policies.
• Societal rules should prioritize child safety in the digital age.
• This insight reflects the complexity of regulating online content for children.