The more I hear about these ID cards, the better they sound. The ID will control our impulses, the police (renamed the Ego) will pacify those of us with ID and do its best to please the government (renamed the … Continue reading →

I’d missed this – a nice, quick overview of the current situation re: democracy in the EU, and a handy highlighting of yet another example of ill-informed and therefore misleading EU journalism. Sadly, though, much like the Legislative and Regulatory … Continue reading →

Go read this. It would seem once again that Mr McKeating and myself are pondering along similar lines – with him covering a whole bunch of the potential flaws of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill in his usual entertaining … Continue reading →

Why is it a controversy when the (unelected) heir to the throne writes low-profile letters expressing political opinons to ministers and MPs, but not when the (unelected) Metropolitan Police Commissioner stages press conferences expressing political opinions to the entire country?

Busy, so a quick heads-up: Electronic surveillance enters EU statute books – “Europe�s justice ministers have given final approval to controversial rules forcing telephone operators and internet service providers to store data.” More later, if time. But it’s worth noting … Continue reading →

Some more past parallels, from Tom Paine: 1) (from 1776’s Common Sense) “Ye that dare oppose not only tyranny but the tyrant, stand forth! Every spot of the Old World is overrun with oppression. Freedom hath been hunted round the … Continue reading →

Notes from a small bedroom – a new blog that’s well worth a look. And also brings a handy H.L.Mencken quote: “The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed � and thus clamorous to be led … Continue reading →

A lengthy pondering on Blair, Bagehot and the threats of our consitution from me over at The Sharpener, following this, this, and especially this. Go read and stuff.

I thoroughly disapprove of this. His kind of questioning of the Holocaust may be hurtful, it may be distasteful, it may be based on dubious evidence and on the utterly unhistorical discounting of thousands of eyewitness accounts, but someone needs … Continue reading →

Hazel Blears, 20th October 2005. “It is regrettable that any families with children have to be detained at all but it is sadly the actions of the adults in the family that make this necessary.” Hazel Blears, 13th August 2003 … Continue reading →

If you want to vote in the May local elections you only have three weeks to make sure you are registered, as the deadline is Monday 13th March. Application forms can be downloaded here – and at the same site … Continue reading →

John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, Ch.III: “he who attempts to get another man into his absolute power does thereby put himself into a state of war with him; it being to be understood as a declaration of a design … Continue reading →