Totalitarianism
So Steve and I were talking last weekend about the government’s plans for creeping totalitarianism and he blogged about it. This is very, very scary because it totally bypasses our democratic safeguards: our MP’s and the Lords. (Never mind that they’re increasingly being eroded.)
Ian blogs about the increasingly mandatory nature of ID cards. This is also very scary for two reasons:
One: First, the cards are optional. Then, the cards are mandatory, but you won’t have to carry them or present them on demand. Finally, you have to swipe them to go into pubs, pick up your benefits, check into hospital…
Two: First, the database (the National Identity Register) “just” has 49 items. Then, they “just” add a few more, extend access to all public services. Finally, anyone can subscribe to to the database commercially and it stores your medical records, psychiatric results, school history, every journey you ever made on public transport or through the congestion charging zone…
Add the two pieces of legislation together and its basically all over: we have to trust that ministers won’t abuse their power, that public servants won’t abuse our private information. I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel very trusting.
Add comment March 28th, 2006