We should add children to the DNA database before they've commited any crime, because they come from a bad neighbourhood? This is somewhere between a police state wish list & an admission that we cannot police our country. Now I've heard it all.
No Mr. HB, one has always known that it is the insidious nature of the right wing to beaver away in the background chipping away at liberty. Trouble is, the left wing is worse, usually riven with internicine squabbling. Not that it matters a jot now, as we are ruled by a troughing managerial class who know how to measure everything and change nothing.
Was the current lot I was meaning, ParaP, it's been noticed due to their love of new legislation, their "must poke nose into EVERYTHING you do" attitude, the rise in departments interfering into all aspects of your life (anyone else see the latest one about the tax man?), their love of bribes and bungs, and their disdain for how the country was traditionally "run" which has steadily eroded the rights, etc, of the masses whilst enhancing the "rights" of the few. These latest ones about ASBO's for 10 year olds (yeah, that'll work) and the taking of kiddie's DNA because they MIGHT get into trouble are merely the end results of them legislating everything else into the ground.
I wonder how many peeps who quote Orwell have actually read 1984? peeps I have engaged in political debate oft use Mr Blair's tome such as " it's like feckin big brother" but when pressed mutter "err no I haven't but I seen it on telly" personally I think Winston was a bit of a plonker,nice safe civil service job,free meals in the canteen, free apartment,plus free telly and gin, and he had to rock the boat,deserved all he got IMHO.
I think that in many ways we've gone further toward "The Road To Wigan Pier". Today, the spreadsheet and the beancounter are king whereas Orwell in his day found that a machine was incredibly dull. Those machines are now objects of fascination.
You can never find a decent anarchist when you need one.
Animal Farm and 1984 were required reading for 7th and 8th grade here (age 12 and 13).
I worry far more about corporations having my personal info than the government but I'd rather they just leave me alone.
My grandparents told me when Social Security was first in effect here, everyone feared the SS numbers were the "Mark of the Beast" from Revelations. The public was promised the numbers would never be used for anything else. Now you can't get a drivers license, open a bank account or get a job without one!
If corporate America has access to all your personal details, it's very scary what they could do with it. You could be denied health insurance if you aren't buying "healthy food" or booze and ciggies. Or rejected for jobs. That's why my loyalty cards have bogus information on them!
Mr Draper has never been wrong about anything, to my knowledge.
