I used to believe that Gordon Brown was gung-ho about ID Cards but the news that Alan Johnson, the ex-health minister who is now Home Secretary has done a handbrake turn on them and promised that the Cards would never be compulsory for British people, could indicate that Brown is no longer in control of the Labour party. I must be one of millions who welcome this move but there are still various flies in the ointment.
The DNA database is still on the agenda and when you have a Government that acts on issues it really doesnt understand in a high-handed and far from democratic manner and does frequent U Turns, one can never be sure what they will do next. Perhaps the only sure thing is that whatever they turn too will be repressive, undemocratic, badly crafted and both highly expensive and wasteful. It almost goes without saying that whatever they do, will simply not work.
The latest change on ID cards certainly does not mark a change to a more responsive and benign type of government; they have a long way to go before that could be said of them and probably nowhere near enough time left in office to complete their lamentable agenda. Whatever Brown and his cronies may say publicly, its almost certainly because the credit crunch has robbed them and everyone else of many options. I know from many environmental campaigns in the past that when push came to shove, the big decisions were imposed not as a result of environmental pressure or enlightened and intelligent government but actually by accountants and lawyers.
The DNA database is still on the agenda and when you have a Government that acts on issues it really doesnt understand in a high-handed and far from democratic manner and does frequent U Turns, one can never be sure what they will do next. Perhaps the only sure thing is that whatever they turn too will be repressive, undemocratic, badly crafted and both highly expensive and wasteful. It almost goes without saying that whatever they do, will simply not work.
The latest change on ID cards certainly does not mark a change to a more responsive and benign type of government; they have a long way to go before that could be said of them and probably nowhere near enough time left in office to complete their lamentable agenda. Whatever Brown and his cronies may say publicly, its almost certainly because the credit crunch has robbed them and everyone else of many options. I know from many environmental campaigns in the past that when push came to shove, the big decisions were imposed not as a result of environmental pressure or enlightened and intelligent government but actually by accountants and lawyers.
The people of Britain have never been convinced on the value of ID Cards. They have credit and debit cards, driving licenses and much other parathrenalia which clearly identifies who they are and there is also much resentment at the prospect of having to take an ID card with them even if they are only walking the dog or nipping down to the corner shop. Both the LibDem and Tory opposition parties have opposed ID cards since they were first mooted and even that old authoritarian Winston Churchil abandoned ID cards as soon as World War 11 was over. Even the effects of 911 and the London bombings did not convince people who realised that ID Cards would not tackle either terrorism or ID fraud and indeed might even help promote it.
Before Alan Johnson was awarded this poison chalice, no less than three (count them) home secretaries have failed to progress them. First there was Jock Strap, then Blunkett and of course Fungus Big Ears. Just as one swallow does not make a Spring, three incompetents do not constitute a Home Secretary. The latest nonentity, Johnson is well up to standard it seems.
He's probably very glad indeed to have left the NHS behind. After all, he was confronted with the prospect of cutting £10-15BN off its budget and may yet, and hopefully, have to abandon plans to fluoridate the whole of the UK. Opposition to this useless and dangerous process is growing World wide, not just in the UK and so much that even in Southampton, not noted as a hotbed of militants. he and his Government had to lie through their teeth and bulshit about "consultation" (sic) and with the consent of local people, only to to abandon all pretense of trust and even the democratic process when it became obvious that the people of Southamption were really not that daft. As i write, plans are being drawn up to refuse to pay the water companies for water polluted by fluoride and as the Government cannot actually disconnect the water supply the Government is going to have to find large sums of money to recompense the water companies. Of course the whole process may soon be abandoned because of this and all the logistical problems that they face.
When Andy Burnham was unmasked as a double agent, working for the Government and also Vice Chair of the British Fluoridation Society it probably reduced the total amount of dosh he was trousering. If on the other hand he was only promoting fluoride for a hobby or in his spare time or regarded it as a charitable activity, then I am sure I am not the only one who would like to hear the details. And now that he is Health Minister (please dont laugh it might hurt his feelings) he will no doubt have to find promotional funds out of his own pocket. This at least marks a big improvement as in the past it all seemed to come out of our pockets.
He's probably very glad indeed to have left the NHS behind. After all, he was confronted with the prospect of cutting £10-15BN off its budget and may yet, and hopefully, have to abandon plans to fluoridate the whole of the UK. Opposition to this useless and dangerous process is growing World wide, not just in the UK and so much that even in Southampton, not noted as a hotbed of militants. he and his Government had to lie through their teeth and bulshit about "consultation" (sic) and with the consent of local people, only to to abandon all pretense of trust and even the democratic process when it became obvious that the people of Southamption were really not that daft. As i write, plans are being drawn up to refuse to pay the water companies for water polluted by fluoride and as the Government cannot actually disconnect the water supply the Government is going to have to find large sums of money to recompense the water companies. Of course the whole process may soon be abandoned because of this and all the logistical problems that they face.
When Andy Burnham was unmasked as a double agent, working for the Government and also Vice Chair of the British Fluoridation Society it probably reduced the total amount of dosh he was trousering. If on the other hand he was only promoting fluoride for a hobby or in his spare time or regarded it as a charitable activity, then I am sure I am not the only one who would like to hear the details. And now that he is Health Minister (please dont laugh it might hurt his feelings) he will no doubt have to find promotional funds out of his own pocket. This at least marks a big improvement as in the past it all seemed to come out of our pockets.
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