And the line they always trot out? "If you've done nothing wrong..."
Define 'wrong'? Anything the Gov't du Jour decide there and then is wrong.
They can decide that anyone who doesn't have an ID card can be deprived of the services they pay for.
They can decide that if you're on a list provided by US 'intelligence' agencies - rightly or wrongly - you can be deported to the States without trial or representation.
I must admit I'm now using cash more and more... Paranoid? Maybe, but like your correspondent noted, any old Tom, Dick or Shrub can examine your life in detail, watch you on CCTV, whatever. And then decide they want to tag your car so they know where you are.
Of course that's to protect you against theft, isn't it? Spin, spin, spin.
They can decide that if you're on a list provided by US 'intelligence' agencies - rightly or wrongly - you can be deported to the States without trial or representation.
Not just to the US, but as of last week to any one of several EU member country, for a crime which is not illegal in the UK. By mid-year this is to be extended to any EU country, I understand.
I suppose oen way around the particular problem mentioned is to always pay cash. I don't like the thought of the FBI reconstructing my life, but I do like the service that I can get a bank statement from a year ago and be able to follow the minute trends of my spending. I like the fact that the bank can do this too so if my credit / debit cards are lost or stolen, they can immediately step back through transactions with me until I say, "Yes, that's the last time I used the card." I would be an interesting exercise to spend only cash for an entire month, except for the usual bills. I wouldn't have the discipline to record my transitions myself, so I wonder how my financial status would compare at the end of the month, just for the purpose of avoiding Big Brother?
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(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-06 01:13 am (UTC)Define 'wrong'? Anything the Gov't du Jour decide there and then is wrong.
They can decide that anyone who doesn't have an ID card can be deprived of the services they pay for.
They can decide that if you're on a list provided by US 'intelligence' agencies - rightly or wrongly - you can be deported to the States without trial or representation.
I must admit I'm now using cash more and more... Paranoid? Maybe, but like your correspondent noted, any old Tom, Dick or Shrub can examine your life in detail, watch you on CCTV, whatever. And then decide they want to tag your car so they know where you are.
Of course that's to protect you against theft, isn't it? Spin, spin, spin.
Do you mind if I link to that article too?
(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-06 01:25 am (UTC)feel free!
(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-06 02:16 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-06 02:01 am (UTC)Not just to the US, but as of last week to any one of several EU member country, for a crime which is not illegal in the UK. By mid-year this is to be extended to any EU country, I understand.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-06 02:17 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-06 03:49 am (UTC)