Government debunked 15-minute city conspiracy it now backs (www.opendemocracy.net)

submitted 1 year ago by 0x815@feddit.de to c/unitedkingdom@feddit.uk

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Speaking to the Conservative party conference in Manchester today, transport secretary Mark Harper called himself “proudly pro-car,” while describing the concept of 15-minute cities – where local amenities are located within a 15-minute walk or cycle – as “sinister”.

“What is sinister, and what we shouldn’t tolerate,” said Harper, “is the idea that local councils can decide how often you go to the shops, and that they can ration who uses the roads and when, and that they police it all with CCTV.”

There has been opposition to 15-minute cities from those who say they are a front for “everlasting surveillance” and designed to restrict people’s freedom.

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[-] floofloof@lemmy.ca 28 points 1 year ago

This twisting of the 15-minute city idea into something sinister is stolen from US Republicans. The anti-trans rhetoric coming from the Conservatives is also stolen from US Republicans. Today's Conservative Party has no interest in even attempting to govern competently. Instead, they're content just to copy Republicans with their idiotic talking points to stir up fake cultural divisions.

[-] sim_@beehaw.org 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Some might say the ideas are “stolen” or borrowed, others might say intentionally coordinated if the Intolerance Network leaks are to be believed.

[-] Cavemanfreak@lemm.ee 8 points 1 year ago

It's almost like all the right parties in the west are paid to push the same divisive talking points.

[-] 0x815@feddit.de 17 points 1 year ago

“What is sinister, and what we shouldn’t tolerate is [that local councils] police it all with CCTV.”

There has been opposition to 15-minute cities from those who say they are a front for “everlasting surveillance” and designed to restrict people’s freedom.

Is this the same government that introduced the Online Safety Bill?

[-] echodot@feddit.uk 3 points 1 year ago

It's only bad when other people are doing it.

[-] flug@midwest.social 5 points 1 year ago

This is very much along the lines of the Agenda 21 conspiracy theories that were popular with the right wing a few years ago:

https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/02/is-the-un-using-bike-paths-to-achieve-world-domination/252572/

https://www.splcenter.org/20140331/agenda-21-un-sustainability-and-right-wing-conspiracy-theory

[-] noodle@feddit.uk 4 points 1 year ago

The word "agenda" triggers a Pavlovian rage response in me.

The sheer number of times I've seen some right-wing numpty angrily posting things like "what is your AGENDA?!" in response to political figures has permanently tainted the word for me.

[-] crapwittyname@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago

I think the best response to this is to just show them your next few meetings on your calendar, with an air of bemusement.
If they're talking about hidden motives then they need to prove you have one first.

this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2023

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