You Don’t Know What You’ve Got Till It’s Gone
Yesterday, Ally (Ducking for Apples)posted a link to an article in the Independent which examines the gradual dilution of our rights and freedoms here in the UK. Pete (The Quacks of Life) has also picked up on this, and airs his opinion in a very eloquent piece. Not wishing to be repetitive but I am also going to cover the subject because I think it is so important.
Consider this: In the the last nine years we have lost the right to trial by jury; hearsay evidence has been made admissible in court; we no longer have the right to take our protests to our elected and supposedly accountable representatives; it is very likely that compulsory id cards will be introduced after the next election; the government are attempting to push the (all be it modified) Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill through parliament which will reduce the powers of MPs, and give it to unaccountable ministers who will be able to adjust laws at will. A system of unofficial house arrest now exists; and anyone can be placed under an anti social behaviour order (ASBO) for acts which are not necessarily illegal. Tony Blair is also hoping to override the Human Rights Act.
You may be thinking, the girl is off her trolley, none of this applies to me, these are simply measures to protect us from terrorism. If you are then I’m afraid you are wrong. (Well, except for the bit about me being off my trolley) Seriously, these measures do apply to you! Just because they are only used against those suspected of links to certain political or terrorist organisations at the moment, does not mean they will not be used against you, your family, neighbours or friends at some point in the future. In fact it may be sooner than you think:
A 63 year old health visitor from Hull, was electronically tagged and placed under curfew for protesting about the presence of the US listening post at Menwith Hill in Yorkshire. Protests at and against such places have been ongoing for decades now, but it is only this government which has sought to actively remove an individuals right to hold such a protest.
You may not spend your weekends protesting about American installations on British soil, but that does not mean you are immune or safe from falling foul of this new legislation. If you are reading this, then it is logical to assume you are a regular internet user, and, most likely, a blogger too. Suppose, at some point in the future you complain on your blog about the level of taxation in your area, or suggest that your visitors vote for political party A instead of political party B, or write to your MP complaining about some aspect of government policy you are unhappy with. That same government either have, or will soon have, the power to label you an anti-social person; keep tabs on everything you do; confine you to your home with no means of contact with the outside world, or arrest and imprison you without trial.
One of the most worrying aspects of the current situation is our PMs desire to remove the protection of the Human Rights Act. Contrary to what the tabloids and the spin doctors would have us believe this act is not something imposed on us by Brussels, it was a mainly British idea. It came from the European Convention on Human Rights which was thought up by Winston Churchill, drawn up by mostly British lawyers and which was designed to provide Europe wide protection for all people, and to reduce the chances of another despot coming to power as Hitler did in 1930s Germany.
Even more worrying is the fact that when I wrote to my MP about the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill in her response to me she cited the Human Rights Act as something which offered protection against it’s possible misuse by politicians. Now, we discover that if our dear leader has his way this protection will be removed.
I hope you have taken a few minutes to read the article Ally linked to, it is long, but interesting, and contains a lot of information I feel we need to know. The quote from Shami Chakrabarti of Liberty stood out for me. She says:
“If you throw live frogs into a pan of boiling water, they will sensibly jump out and save themselves. If you put them in a pan of cold water and gently apply heat until the water boils they will lie in the pan and boil to death. It’s like that.”
Lets not be like those frogs. We can stand up for and protect our rights and freedoms, and the Mother of Parliaments need not become a Big Brother state. Remember, Hitler did not seize power in a coup! He was elected democratically, then used legislation to further his political ends.
“If you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a small chance of survival. There may even be a worse case: you may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.” – Winston Churchill
Further Reading and Campaigns:
Save Parliament – opposing the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill
No2ID – campaigning against id cards and a state database.
Charter 88 – campaign for a fair democracy
Liberty – UK civil liberties and human rights organisation.
I appreciate you dropping by,
Please leave a comment, don’t be shy
Find me on: Twitter | LinkedIn | Google Buzz | Friendfeed
Follow this blog on: Facebook | Google Connect | Networked Blogs
Diddums
1Pete
wrote on 30 June 2006 at 14:57
Many thanks for the compliment.
I find it all terribly depressing, perhaps more so because I voted for Blair. Oh those heady days of 1997.
Sometime ago I mentioned that we get the government we deserve. We live in a time when accidents don’t happen where someone is to blame and I believe that the government are pandering to that.
The thing is that it starts with children, parents think there brats are perfect and teachers are powerless. When I was a lad if I was accused of something my parents would assume I’d done it. Nowadays? There little Chantelle or Darren is a little angel.
You often hear “what about the victim”. Well until guilt is proved the accused is innocent. I’m pretty certain that families want justice.
I’ve never voted Conservative in my life. I’d consider a Ken Clarke led party but Cameron and his ilk seem very Blairite to me.
I’m not sure what to make of Brown, I imagine he is cut from a similar cloth to Blair whatever might be said. He has upset the left by his pro-Nuclear stance.
Seems like thequacksoflife will be urging you to vote Lib Dem.
2parnellpr
wrote on 30 June 2006 at 16:32
This post just confirms a few things that I have felt for a while. Sure, we have a right to defend our state, but NOT by any means unnecessary, especially when it comes to protecting civil liberties and human rights. For example the anti terror laws are unbelievably open to abuse, things could get so bad that just for expressing anti iraq war views in public you could get arrested. There are certain things that I feel we have to accept in a democracy. One of them is that freedom of speech and expression applys to all, even though whose views we find abhorrent. The next few years are absolutely crucial in world politics. Both the UK and the US will be facing regime changes. The question is what kind and how will they deal with the events already set in motion by the current regimes. Notice the use of the word “regime”. Another thing that this post reaffirmed for me is that, with terrorism as the excuse, we are slowly slipping away from governments judged by the people to those that are entirely self determined and are therefore “regimes”. I agree with Pete about Cameron. Until recently I felt that he would be the one to create a viable opposition to Blairs lot. Since the radio 1 debacle I see him for what he is. A lightweight, happy to jump any bandwagon, as opposed to concentrating on redeveloping his party, its image and what it stands for. Unless things change I don’t think I will ever vote Labour or conservative. The thought is too abhorrent to me. P.S In regards to your comments on my post, Sven could only win using those methods. The image that you evoked made me laugh loads. Thanx.P.P.S I hope Charlie C feels himself soon and gets back to blogging, I always think his posts and commments are fab!
3parnellpr
wrote on 30 June 2006 at 16:35
Shami Chakrabati- whom I often get confused with her relative rita- whenever I see her on newsnight or tv she is often the only one who speaks honestly and with clarity and sense. I admire her for that.If only politicians followed suit more often.
4The Boy
wrote on 30 June 2006 at 18:41
This is a terrible thing to say, but I believe that terrorism is the best thing that ever happened to the governments who would be dictators: the UK and US.
It is no coincidence that similar political acts are going on simultaneously in both countries, up till now probably the freest in the world.
The thing is, neither Bush nor Blair is behind all of this: they are merely the puppets (Bush isn’t even smart enough to be a puppet).
It seems that the situation right now is worse in the UK. In the US, however, we are plodding towards a theocracy: the “Christians” are determined to protect me.
As Michael Moore said in one of his books, “I do not believe in conspiracies, unless they are true.”
Amen. (Oops)
[Kate: I am on vacation, but I cannot resist your blog and your common sense—I can even forgive your clumsiness.]
5Kate
wrote on 2 July 2006 at 13:09
Pete – I voted for them too in 97, it seemed like the best thing at the time, and I thought they would be an improvement on the Tories. With hindsight I was naive.
I’ll be supporting the Lib Dems next time too, it’s not that I agree with them, more that I disagree with them the least.
Like you I am undecided about Brown. I have a feeling he won’t be too different to Blair. It is depressing when you think of the options we have. Labour and the Tories are so similar, and the Lib Dems have so much ground to make up before they ever get elected. I can see why some people feel a sense of apathy and don’t vote at all.
6Kate
wrote on 2 July 2006 at 13:16
Pippa – You are right, there has been a big change in our relationship with the government over the last five years or so. It’s no longer the case that they are public servants . . . not that many thought of themselves that way in the first place, but they did at least maintain a veneer of that. Now, they seem to see the people as being there to do their bidding, and that is wrong. We pay them, they work for us, not the other way around.
7Kate
wrote on 2 July 2006 at 13:20
Pippa (again LOL) Ah well, Shami can be honest she doesn’t have to worry about toeing the party line, or losing the chance of a lucrative consultancy. Politicans are never honest, in effect they lie for a living.
I bet they hate her though, she was one of the establishment before she ‘defected’ She knows how they think, and operate, she can play them at their own game.
8Kate
wrote on 2 July 2006 at 13:31
Charlie – thank you for taking a break from your holiday to come and visit. Hope you are back with us soon, I know I’m not alone when I say how much I enjoy your postings. Oh, and thank you for forgiving my COD, it’s always nice to know someone understands LOL
“It is no coincidence that similar political acts are going on simultaneously in both countries, up till now probably the freest in the world.”
This is so true. I honestly believe that those in power use our freedom against us. We have become so used to it, we take it for granted and assume it will always be this way. People must wake up and take notice, our rights and freedoms are being slowly stolen from beneath our noses with the excuse that is in our best interests, but it’s not. We already have the powers and laws to protect our countries, especially here. Terrorism is not new to the UK. The new measures are being implemented for other reasons. It’s all about control and surveillance.
I know this makes me sound like a tin foil hat wearer, but I assure you I’m not. I usually disregard conspiracy theories, but I agree with your quote from Michael Moore – I also believe them when they are true. And anyway, none of this is theory, politicians admit themselves that they are doing it, it’s their motoivation they lie about.