General Chat

We are very fortunate to live in a democracy

Which means that - agree with it or not - the government that this democracy has elected does things in our name.

Now, you may - or may not - agree with fox-hunting, the smoking ban, ID cards etc etc, but we have to be guided by the ballot box.

You may think that this is trivial, but look at the world around you and see how may millions of people are denied any right to vote.

For the record, I personally disagree with much of what this govt has done, but at least I had a choice.

Sue x

I always find these discussions never ask When did you have real freedom? The 1940s perhaps? Every slightly left wing person was seen as suspect ? The police caught more people than do now but did they always catch the right person? What ever one group does it offends some one elses freedom. I agree we see our freedoms erroded but at least now we are aware they are being threatened we see spin more and more for what it is.
Not living in the UK not even a British citizen see that the Bush era of fear is not over in most countries

I agree Eldrick on certain things,,

But these things are white paper passed then we are told we have them......any amount of protest falls on deaf ears and unseeing eyes,,,,,,,any change would need a nationwide revolt,,,,,can you imagine it, there wouldnt be enough prisons:}}}}}}

maggie - if you can find me an anti-nanny-stater who thinks there should even BE an NHS ...

Hi Janey,
If you read what Eldrick said he could NO LONGER find an NHS dentist - thanks to moves by our government ro 'improve' what was working perfectly well - obviously for our benefit!!!!
Same with doctors - gave them more money for less hours.

I've been following this thread all day too and I've found it to be a very interesting read......

I'm loathe to say it.......but I DO agree with Eldrick (just know that I leave myself open to accusations of him being a *leader* or some such parp for saying it) but stuff it ..........I'll risk it lol xx


***edit*** I DO wonder though how much even the mere idea of ID cards has cost the tax payer.....

"find an NHS dentist"

:rofl:

Slip on the part of the writer, or the reader?

*accepts slapped wrist from Uggers*

but........ but.......... but, someone mentioned the French :-((

x

I have actually read this thread right from the beginning and all the way through. Thought provoking, but what is the answer?

Sue, you can usually find examples of extremist behaviour where protests are concerned but it's never fair to generalise.

You are correct you can no longer go around firing guns willy nilly or
chasing foxes with hounds - cant see anything wrong so far.

Yep lots of CCTV but dont have a problem with that especially when I know its 'watching me' walk to work at 4am - its for my protection also.

As a smoker I would never dream of smoking in a public place (ie after a meal) - its called consideration for others.

NHS dentists - with you 100% on that one

Dont know anything about cashing Giro's

Your mobile phone information has been recorded for several years - back in the 1990's we stored mobile call records for the securiity servicres

What ID card? thought it had been scrapped

ANOTHER brilliant idea from the Government - Fluoridation of our water supplies - in an attempt to stop the teeth of 'the poor' from rotting!!
However, they have loaded off the responsibility for enacting the bill to local authorities.
I personally don't want fluoride in my water - it contains enough chemicals already.
My children were bought up in a 'poor' household - I was a single parent - yet I managed to buy them toothpase and toothbrushes and limit their sweet/sugar intake.
Now, aged 26 and 29 they have - absolutely no fillings! However, had there been fluoride in the water they may have ended up dental fluorosis.
Here are some images:
http://www.fluoridation.com/teeth.htm
Strikes me, in the eyes of the government poverty and ignorance go together!
If they really wanted to stop children's teeth rotting, maybe there should be a baby brush and toothpaste given out with the 'baby packs', and a set of simple instructions!

Well I guess if Brits behaved like this:

French farmers set fire to one truckload of British sheep, killing 219 of them. They poisoned 94 sheep on one truck, slit the throats of sheep on another and doused animals on a third truck with insecticide to prevent their meat from being sold.

maybe our government might take more notice of protests.

On the other hand would you want to be associated with activists who would resort to tactics that despicable?

You can tell I have the grumps today...lol

Pmsl that's a terrible suggestion Eldrick !!

so do you have any suggestions Eldrick on how to claim our freedoms back or stop them deteriorating?

Yes, they are prepared to stand up and hold their elected government to account and I admire that. What do we have? The 10 Downing Street Petition site!

Having said that, I would love to see Jeremy Clarkson as PM :-)

The French are absolutely fantastic, I must admit. They hit the streets as soon as they feel aggrieved about anything. I can imagine the fuss in the 'Daily Mail'; or on these boards for that matter, if the Brits did anything like that!!

Re light bulbs. Does this mean that Buckingham Palace and all the government buildings plus street and motoway lights are all changing to low energy? I think not it's just Joe public of course.

I agree with Eldrick.

What is nice about this thread we have all given our opinions without argument. Great.

I quite agree with Eldrick. While I am glad some of the laws have been passed, it's our apathetic roll over and take attitude that irritates me. I remember a fuel cost protest a year or two ago, when HGVs drove around the North Circular for a bit but not for too long and no nearer London because they didn't want to cause disruption. Meanwhile the French were blockading roads and ports and bringing their government to its knees over the same issue. Vive la France I say. They don't take any shit and I admire them:)

Actually Sue-M I am...lol and yes he did listen and got back to me...but it wasn't about this.