For ages I have said the only difference between the bureaucacy in the USA and the UK is about four hundred years.....but it appears we are catching up at the quick step.
SASless, afraid I've seen this progressing in the 'states when over there, and get regular updates from friends. I can see all the signs ("educating" you into the rising gas/petrol price thing was a big step).
Now we know what Bush & Blair used to discuss when they met! Some of the political "language" is even showing parallels. This is what will continue to happen to countries whose industrial base is declining: the whole thing is turned into one big service industry, with every activity requiring permits or licences with an attendant cost for basically nothing tangible (with that horrible twee little word, "fee").
In the UK, about the only things I can still do now for free are f*ck and f*rt, but that will change soon (luckily, my c*ck is trim and my a*se is tight). I suggest you buy a comfortable chair and a big box of slippers for throwing at the TV when you watch the news: you're gonna need them!
But hey, don't let me depress you
