Reducing congestion in the Big Brother state
The UK Government continues its march toward totalitarianism.
A newly leaked report shows the Labour Government are considering a new "variable road pricing" scheme. What's wrong with that, I hear you ask? Well, the scheme involves fitting every car with a GPS module so our every movement is tracked. The idea being that we would receive a bill at the end of each month.
To cut a long story short - The government plans to monitor your every move!
Every car journey will be logged, viewed and stored. There will be no escape - except for criminals. That's right, criminals will subvert the system, whilst you and I, ordinary law abiding citizens will be studied. Of course the Government will say there will be checks and balances. That the information will be used only for billing purposes. For how long? The scope for abuse is terrifying.
The congestion charge cameras in
Why should we be worried? If you're not breaking the law you have nothing to fear, right? Wrong. There was a news report today outlining that musicians, lawyers and politicians have all had phone conversations monitored. None of these people were guilty of any offence. Likewise, with this monitoring scheme, everyone should fear its misuse. History has shown that when governments get the opportunity to abuse power they invariably do. It's not unique to this government, but the new powers very well may be. We are witnessing the end of democracy. The government no longer represent the people, the powerbase is shifting. The people now serve the government.
We are moving into a time where our every movement will be monitored.
If the government were serious about reducing congestion and pollution, and not using this as a subterfuge to introduce a guilty until proven innocent system I have a number of suggestions.
1. Get a public transport system implemented! The deregulated transport services don't serve the people, they serve the shareholders. Train services say if lines get more busy a "congestion charge" will be introduced. The government needs to make public transport attractive. The easiest way of doing this is to subsidise the services. Make the cheap! The bigest ever rise in public transport usage was in the 1980's in
2. Introduce a fairer road tax system that doesn't penalise the poorest much more then the wealthy. Licence 4x4 vehicles (typically the worst pollution offenders) in the same way as red diesel! That is, for legitimate agricultural/business use. If someone has a need they can use. If there is no need? Tax them to the heavens. Likewise with huge inefficient "luxury" cars. If you pollute, you pay. Promote cleaner burning more efficient cars by reducing the tax burden.
3. Move heavy vehicles off the road. Transport more freight by rail. The rail network is perfect for freight movement.
4. Start licencing more electric trains, moving away from diesel locomotives. The government have not funded the conversion of one single rail track to electricity since coming into power. Good environmental credentials, huh?
5. Stop scaring parents with stories of child abductions. Why else do you think so many parents drive their kids to school now? It's because years of media stories have broken the nerve of parents. Children don't get abducted very often, in fact a child is more likely to contract HIV than be abducted!
6. End company car schemes. Stop incentivising car journeys and making cars status symbols. They are not symbols of achievement, they are transport.
Will any of the above happen? Yes. The GPS system will happen unless we stop it. unless we take power back and deliver this government a bloody nose at the ballot box. The GPS system will be the most complex of all the suggestions, the most intrusive, the most dangerous. But it will happen. Why?
The Government has an end game of monitoring our every move. If they can make corporate friends like Capita or Jarvis multi millions at the same time, what's not to like?
You have been warned
posted by p8ddy at 10:04 am
16 Comments:
U2...
Glad to see you! :-)
I've heard of the mythic tracking abilities of Jock Stein. Looks like he was ahead of his time in more ways than one! :-)
/p
EdwardUrsus...
I agree totally. It frightens me that so few see this though and just blindly accept. This being said, I have my thoughts on that too - which shall form the basis of another rant pretty soon. :-)
/p
P8ddy,
nice wee place you have.
GPS,will be the norm very soon,in most "developed" countries.
For every other reason than the real ones you mention.
Most of our correspondence is easily accessible to the authorities,our movements can already be tracked to a certain extent by mobile phones when switched on.A lot of us are filmed while at work,shopping,walking in the street.The only things left,is to follow us when in our preferred mode of transport,oh and to charge us for the privelege of being observed,and to invade our homes.
I fear this will not be long in coming.
Here,they are already trying to make it illegal to smoke in your own home.
Regardless of your feelings on tobacco,I resent being told,in any way shape or form,what I can and cannot do in my own home.
We are,thankfully(in Australia) far behind yourselves,as far as the amount of cameras in operation in public places.But they are increasing in number,very quietly,and at a rapid rate of knots.
Worrying times indeed P8ddy
Kano...
nice wee place you have.
Thank you! :-)
GPS,will be the norm very soon,in most "developed" countries.
For every other reason than the real ones you mention.
It's frightening what we are sleepwalking into. Of course part of the problem is the lack of decent education now. People are being conditioned not to think.
Most of our correspondence is easily accessible to the authorities,our movements can already be tracked to a certain extent by mobile phones when switched on.A lot of us are filmed while at work,shopping,walking in the street.The only things left,is to follow us when in our preferred mode of transport,oh and to charge us for the privelege of being observed,and to invade our homes.
Funnily, and I know this will sound paranoid, but it's why I don't pay for my shopping or petrol by debit card. I take money our at autotellers and pay for stuff cash. There would be no reason for me to be under anyones watchful eye, but I don't want to have my movements monitored by anyone, be it the government, shell, tesco or whoever.
Someone earlier in our other discussion mentioned freedom being "a state of mind" - I could only tink it's comments like that are syptomatic of the danger we face. People so don't see it.
Here,they are already trying to make it illegal to smoke in your own home.
You're joking! That's absurd! I mean what would you do, sue yourself for smoking in your own house?
I also seen that the Australian laws on peer to peer filesharing are falling on the sides of the corporations. It's nice to know they have our best interests at heart!
Regardless of your feelings on tobacco,I resent being told,in any way shape or form,what I can and cannot do in my own home.
Absolutely. My father was a smoker, he died of a heart attack - if anything it's strengthed my resolve that people should be allowed to do as they wish in respect to their own bodies. My father made a choice. Choice is good. Regardless of the fact it had a sad outcome, his attitude was enjoy life, to make his own decisions and to take responsibility for them. I've a lot of respect for that attitude.
We are,thankfully(in Australia) far behind yourselves,as far as the amount of cameras in operation in public places.But they are increasing in number,very quietly,and at a rapid rate of knots.
The concern is that other governments have cottoned on to the UK governments wheeze and will do likewise. Like you say, they are catching up.
Worrying times indeed P8ddy
The more people like us though the better chance we can change things.
To take the analogy of it being a football match, the dark side are 3-1 up, but it's only half time. All to play for!
/p
p8ddy,
You came close to losing your cool when that guy advanced the Westernised Bhuddism view that "freedom's just a state of mind". He could have tried Kris Kristofferson with "freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose" or "love means never having to say you're sorry" or "chanting IRA is sectarian" to complete his Big Boy's Book of Muddled Thinking.
On the surveillance thing, I wonder if we haven't cooperated in our own enslavement. We actually like voyeurism in Big Brother - the TV version, and in the celeb mags. Tommy Sheridan's sex life gets close scrutiny but not Rupert Murdoch or Conrad Black or Silvio. I think I remmeber in the 90's some front page headline about a love rat soccer player in the Sun (can I use the James Forrest defence that i read it for my thesis!). The player in question played for St. Mirren and wasn't a household name in his own house.
By the way, Paul 67 seemed to cast doubt on the assertion someone made that monitoring of blogs like his took place. Maybe he genuinely didn't know that the Americans do use filters for key words like terrorist, so that all those describing the IRA as terrorists ( and those rebutting) were keeping a Virginia based snoop in a job.
I hear you P8ddy,
I neither have a mobile phone nor do I use credit cards or debit cards to purchase.I withdraw cash once a week from the same autoteller.
Not a paranoid person as such.
Would just rather the information about my habits was kept to a minimum,unless I am imparting the info myself.
Identity theft here is a major problem,though kept incredibly quiet and low key.
For that reason mainly,I do not like my info being freely available.
It is one thing i personally do not like about the Celtic site.
The only way possible to pay for the Channel 67 service is to do so by Credit card over the internet.
I asked if I could arrange payment for a year in advance by cash and was told no.
I am informed that they have good security measures in place for making payments.But it does still bother me.
Particularly,as it is a third party,and not Celtic,who handle the info.
P8ddy,just in reference to where you think our standard of education is heading.
There is a good quote here on one of the adverts for one of the universities.Can't remember who by mind you
"An education is what is left after you have forgotten everything that you were taught"
Strange one,but I like it.
Maybe a better one would be
"An education is what is left after you have forgotten all the rubbish you were taught"
Obviously the difference now between what is taught and what is forgotten is getting smaller.
Here,a couple of universities have just dropped their entrance level to a mark of 42% in the entry tests
Wonder why that is.
p8ddy,
I think I posted before that it was the "revered" Lord Denning who put a stop to the GLC's attempts to provide a cheaper public transport system. He interpreted the GLC's charter as requiring them to provide an economic transport system and , further, that economic meant paying for itself i.e breaking even in its profit and loss columns. No account could be taken of saved car journeys or wear and tear on roads, just count up whether the buses and trains took in as much money as was paid out on wages, fuel and maintenance.
Jamie the Saxt had a rival as the cleverest fool in christendom.
Welcome back P8ddy,
hope you had a good break in France
Kano..
Thank you! First time today looking at the blog. Been super busy since I got back.
/p
EdwardUrsus...
I agree. The problem is that when governments talk of value for money, all it means is profit and loss, not an intangible value for people who would other wise have nothing to rely on. I hate the phrase "value for money" because it's a stick used to beat public services with, when the real focus shouldn't be on profit or value, but in fact on service. The governemtn fail to recognise that sometimes subsidies aren't losses, but in fact a better way of gaining an intangible, non cash profit. The profit is in the increase in peoples quality of life.
That's a long way of saying you're right! :-)
setting free the bears...
The problem stems from these guys not having to worry about things like public transport. When they become utterly disconnected from normal people.
Partly at least, I think the problem starts with the fact we have a monarchy - it sets in the psyche that there are people who are our "superiors". We are institutionally supine, and grow to accept not only the monarchy, but the rich and the famous as our superiors. Why should a footballer have the need for a body guard? It's a silly state of mind and one that is ingrained in nation. Why should tony Blair not be regarded as a normal citizen - it works in Sweden, why not here? We fete these people and the begin to belive they are better than us, superior. The think the "know what we need" rather then them being aware of the fact they are our representatives. They are Public servants.
I'm ashamed of the fact that our society worships lawyers, rock stars, footballers etc but we sneer at people who do menial jobs - janitors, cleaners, street sweepers. These people keep our country going every bit as much as our politicians. And I know what job I'd rather do...We should be valuing the people who do the jobs we don't. Admiring them every bit as much as the surgeon, the pop star, the athlete.
Jeez, that's entirely another topic almost! :-)
Jamie the Saxt had a rival as the cleverest fool in christendom.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Hi P8ddy,
Didn't realise you had such an interesting blog here.
I work in the transport business down here in London (South West Trains, operated by Soutar & Gloag). You are indeed correct about the transport system down here in the eighties. The one day travelcard was introduced by Ken Livingston along with other measures to make the system more amenable. These integrated the whole system - bus, tube & train.
When they were all privatised, ticketing became more confusing and expensive. Give 'Red Ken' his due though, he's trying to integrate it again with the oyster card system. Although even that's confusing.
My biggest gripe with life in the UK though, is the 'dumbing down of the nation' which was started with the Sun and now includes GMTV, Big Brother, X-Factor, all things 'Celebrity'. These are all modern day opiate for the masses, and I don't like them one bit. The thing that gets me though, is no-one seems to notice what's happening to them! All you hear is teenagers talking about who should be voted off Big Brother. WHO CARES? All it does is keeps the new people of voting age thinking about things other than how they're being shafted by the various governments.
Although I do agree with your assertion about this current government, the question remains... "What or who do we replace it with?"
BTW, putting CCTV into Coatbridge Main Street hasn't done a bad job in reducing crime! But then I suppose it is The Brig! 8-D
miketw10...
Didn't realise you had such an interesting blog here.
It's all just smoke and mirrors! :-)
Give 'Red Ken' his due though, he's trying to integrate it again with the oyster card system. Although even that's confusing.
I agree that the oyster card is a small step forward in tying the services together, although the "snooping" and data harvesting potential for Oyster is frightening. Ken is an odd character - for every good act he seems to counterbalance it with one bad. The congestion charge and the CCTV cameras being a case in point. The charge leaves poor people working during unsociable hours in the less salubrious areas seriously disadvantaged, when a subsidised bus service would have produced much better results (in terms of moving people onto public transport). The fact the cameras used for the charge are frequently used to spy on people is worrying too, and is a hallmark of Kens penchant for monitoring his "flock". It's funny how the "Red" moniker has stuck also - There isn't much red about Ken these days :-)
My biggest gripe with life in the UK though, is the 'dumbing down of the nation' which was started with the Sun and now includes GMTV, Big Brother, X-Factor, all things 'Celebrity'. These are all modern day opiate for the masses, and I don't like them one bit. The thing that gets me though, is no-one seems to notice what's happening to them! All you hear is teenagers talking about who should be voted off Big Brother. WHO CARES? All it does is keeps the new people of voting age thinking about things other than how they're being shafted by the various governments.
That's exactly right. TV is the drug of the nation. There has been a concerted atempt by governments to pacify and mislead the nation using television. Add to the mix the purposeful destruction of our education system and you'll see that successive governments have realised that the way to subvert democracy and protect their own interests is to rob our children of the tools to think. Why do you think wealthy people send their children to private schools? Our state schools only succeed to any degree by the enormous level of dedication and comitment by our teachers. pople of whom great things are asked in very testing circumstance.
I have a couple of favorite quotes on democracy -
The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy.(H.L. Mencken (1880-1956))
Democracy is not something you believe in or a place to hang your hat, but it's something you do. You participate. If you stop doing it, democracy crumbles.
(Abbie Hoffman)
Although I do agree with your assertion about this current government, the question remains... "What or who do we replace it with?"
The current state machinery must be disassembled. I don't think that any of the three main parties are fit to run the country. In a purely Scottish sense, I think the SNP would make a difference, certainly Alex Salmond is one of the few honest politicians (along with Tommy Sheridan) although I would like to see them be lot more forthright. The current pandering to the multinationals has to stop. I would also be in favour of introducing a 100% tax bracket, effectively introducing a maximum wage. The strong have a duty to protect the weak. I also think a shift back to employment as a vocation would be a great thing - you become a Doctor because you care about people, rather than because you want to make a truck load of cash. A maximum wage would start to address this alongside a good minimum wage. Personally, I would stop "unemployment benefit" - it sends out the message that if you're prepared to live in povery you can opt out of contributing to your society. Instead, if someone becomes unemployed they could work in a vocational position - a community service role, whether that be in administration, street sweeping etc etc...Normal working hours and a proper wage. No dole + £10 for putting in a 40 hour week. If someone is good enough to work they are good enough to be paid.
The country is desperate for a decent political party and a new system...it's just a matter of time. My worry is that we are heading inexorably for another popular revolution if political change doesn't happen. In history certainly it would appear the precident is that things get really bad and then people snap. The human spirit rears up and takes it's independance back.
BTW, putting CCTV into Coatbridge Main Street hasn't done a bad job in reducing crime! But then I suppose it is The Brig! 8-D
CCTV doesn't cure criminality. It just moves it somewhere else and enslaves others in the process. Even if it is the Brig! :-p
Thanks for replying P8ddy, and I'm glad to say that in political terms, we are both singing from the same hymnsheet.
And just to add a wee bit to your 'manifesto', I have a couple of my own. You have touched upon big business running the countries as opposed to governments. I've recently read 2 of Michael Moore's books "Stupid White Men" and "Downsize This", and they allude to much the same thing.
My idea is to do away the process of 'lobbyists' affecting the decision-making in the corridors of power. What right do they have to influence important policy decisions just because they have more money than us normal folk?
I read with interest a part of your argument on CQN re FTP v FTQ. Your comments regarding the 'Royals' is so correct. I am a musician and quite often I play in a friend's band in Social clubs down here in England. The one stipulation I give him is that I will not, under any circumstance, "play your national anthem". I get ribbed about it down here. "She's your queen too" they'll say. "Not in a million years" is my usual reply.
In effect therefore, the monarchy has got to go too.
BTW agree about the CCTV thing, I was just poking fun at my home town... 8>D
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