Poo your pants, then...
If you've wandered past a newstand at any point today, you can't have missed the rabid scare stories about how damn close we came to being massacred by some evil terrorist. Because, let's face it, nearly being massacred is a far better pre-election tale than "the security services did their job properly - and did so without any need to lock people up without trial or to introduce biometric ID cards".
I'm insanely busy, or I'd rant on about this for longer. Thankfully, the blogger formerly known as Chicken Yoghurt (and now known as Justin McKeating) already has pretty much all the bases covered, and points to Blood and Treasure (which I really must blogroll at some point) and The Register to cover those he only brushed past.
Update: More from Martin Stabe.
10 Comments:
Thanks for the link, but it seems to be broken. The correct address for my contribution is here.
That's odd... Fixed now - ta!
No,The newspapers are right.
Why have we got these ungrateful potential murderers in our country and when are we going to properly tackle this problem?
Nosemonkey,
Is it right to fine lorry drivers who unknowingly bring in illegal immigrants?
robin - we're ALL potential murderers. Should we ALL be locked up? There's a significant difference between "potential" and "actual". Most of the defendants are now officially innocent - they have been cleared by one of Her Majesty's courts. For a good patriot like you, that should be enough, surely?
But before I answer your second question, are you by any chance a member or supporter of the British National Party? That's the second time you've asked me about my views on fining lorry drivers, and it's a standard BNP line.
I just like to know where I stand with people I'm getting into a debate with, that's all. My opinions are all over this site, so you have the advantage at the moment...
And might I also point you in the direction of the Comments Policy to the top right? Off-topic comments are generally deleted here.
Totally bang on my thinking. Whenever I see one of those 'disaster averted thanks to security services' headlines I think, 'good, well isn't it their kob to do that?' You don't see a front page story every time a doctor successfully completes an operation.
Or, indeed, job
Nosemonkey,
NO,Iam not a member of the BNP or any other far right organisation,never have been or ever will.
But I am a LORRY DRIVER who use to be on international haulage,and use to run my own trucks with my brother.Acombination of the EU and British indolent,half-witted civil servants have made me give up.
I did not know that the BNP keep raising this subject,but here shows a worrying aspect of the current political situation.
When you studied history at school did you understand why people turned to far right groups.It was because like now,the establishment were almost snobbily dismissive of their concerns.
My views may be right-wing or (to you)reactionary but definately NOT fascist.
My post should have said "this murderer"and I strongly beleive in the presumption of innocence and all our old rights like magna carta(relevant to today).The others should be thrown out the country if they are not legally here.
If you could answer the second question Iwould be obliged because(and here I stereotype-apologies if wrong)no one on the left-liberal side comments on this.Why?
robin - no offence was intended, it just seemed possible. Again - no offence is intended by that.
As for your lorry driver question - I think it is just as fair as someone getting a prison sentence because someone slipped some drugs into their bag in an airport and they unwittingly took them through customs. As unreasonable as it may be, it is the lorry driver's duty to ensure that they aren't carrying illegal cargo - human or otherwise. If, however, the lorry driver can prove that it wasn't their fault, I think they should be let off. (And that is not meant to suggest "guilty until proven innocent", merely that considering how much money people traffickers are apparently prepared to offer, it would seem to me to be a fair assumption that under-paid lorry drivers might be after extra cash).
And, for the record, yes, I do think illegal immigrants should be deported (assuming they don't have a legitimate asylum claim). What I find worrying is not objection to illegal immigration, but the tendency in certain sections of society to over-emphasise how many illegal immigrants there are, which appears to have a tendency to make people worry that anyone "foreign" may be an illegal immigrant. It has the potential to stir up racism, and I find racism not only fucking stupid, but also reprihensible.
Nosemonkey,
Just one more bit on us drivers.
Ithink that anyone who is punished by the state should have a fair trial beforehand to see if they have guilty mind.This applies to terroists with Ricin,backpackers with drugs,or drivers who unwittingly bring in clandestines.I`ve told immigration at Dover that if they find anyone in any lorry Im driving to do me under the old but still valid law,of facilitating people smuggling.If found guilty I could be locked up for ten years plus fine and confiscation,not just £2000 per person.But they would have to prove mens rhea which they cant.
Today its truckers,what group next?
Again this shows where our liberties are being eroded-double jeopardy,ID cards,right to silence prove guilt not innocence etc.
As this is an EU site,I half blame it.Half on our own shoddy establishment.
robin - in which case you should vote "Yes" to the EU constitution. It proposes harmonisation of EU immigration laws and the founding of EU border police. The whole problem of illegal immigration would then be shifted to the fringes of the EU, and any lorry drivers entering the UK from the continental mainland would have far, far less hassle.
More on the EU and immigration.
Post a Comment