[Townhall] Even as a steadfast critic of the UK's socialistic healthcare system, I'll happily admit to being a full-blown Anglophile. I adore our beloved cousins and close allies across the pond. I enjoy visiting the United Kingdom, from London to Birmingham to Edinburgh. I believe the "special relationship" between our two countries is a cornerstone of global security. I'm an avid consumer of British television shows, from the Bake Off to Broadchurch. And above all, I love the warm, clever, welcoming British people. Even their food has improved. So it genuinely pains me to be pondering this question over the last few days: Is Britain still a free country that values Western democratic values? Chief among those core principles are the protection of innocent human life, freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and free citizens' ability to go about their daily lives without undue or heavy-handed interference from government. While the Brits remain -- and should remain -- our close friends, and while our national interests still align in many ways, I cannot help but look on with sadness and occasional revulsion as the British State increasingly seems to regard and treat its citizens as subjects. The people of the UK are still able to elect their leaders and impose dramatic changes, of course, so it would be a gross overstatement to liken their government (as some critics have) to a totalitarian regime. But a string of recent stories and incidents have raised serious fears in my mind about whether Great Britain is becoming something other than -- something less than -- a truly free country. I'll lay out a number of examples, and allow readers draw their own conclusions regarding that provocative proposition, starting with: (1) The appalling and inhumane treatment of Alfie Evans and his family.
Many Americans may recall the Charlie Gard case from 2017, wherein the parents of an ailing young boy were ordered by the government not to travel to the US to explore groundbreaking treatment for their son's extremely serious condition. After a protracted legal battle, the state prevailed. Young Charlie Gard was not permitted to leave Britain, care was ceased, and he died. A similar, grotesque saga featuring another terminally ill baby is playing out today: