Sorry about the lack of posting these past few days, however I have heard some disturbing reports from friends online who have been told that they are no longer allowed to discuss their work outside of work, or more specifically, social networking sites such as Facebook and Bebo, as well as blogging sites such as here.
Capitalism and Corporations run your life, even when you're not at work. Fascism by the back door.
Of course the term 'Thought Police' came from George Orwell's 1984 (thinkpol, in Newspeak) and it was the Thought Police, who had William and Julia (the two main characters in the seminal book, arrested). It was the job of the Thought Police to expose and reprimand thoughtcrime and thought-criminals.
This was by means of psychology and that all-pervading scrutiny from telescreens to find and eradicate members of the social order who were competent of the mere consideration of challenging ruling power. The government attempts to control not only the speech and actions, but also the thoughts of its subjects, labeling unapproved opinion with the term thoughtcrime, or, in Newspeak, crimethink.
It also had much to do with Orwell's own "power of facing unpleasant facts", as he called it, and his readiness to condemn popular ideas, which brought him into conflict with others and their "smelly little orthodoxies". Although Orwell described himself as a democratic socialist, many other socialists thought that his criticism of the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin damaged the socialist cause, which up to a point it did. 
However, those views had to be said for Socialism to become more and more mainstream, which is where it is right now, either through Christian Democratic Parties, such as the CDU in Germany and Labour in the UK.
It can be argued that the Home Secretary is damaging Socialism in its present form, certainly in the UK, with her near on obsessive passion for the introduction of ID Cards, which become mandatory for non-UK nationals within the coming few weeks.
And make no mistake we will be forced to apply for one of them eventually, by book or by crook, Chairman Brown and Commisar Smith will not be denied. They say that it will be protect our liberty against terrorists.
What, like they did in Madrid? No, did not think so…
I don't see Socialists in France, Italy, Germany or Spain demanding tighter laws on our freedom – but then they are not held by the balls by our friends from across the ocean.
And as usual, the government is misdirecting the argument. It says it will not be storing the content of your phone or internet use, as if that makes it all right. It is proposing to record — for life — the particulars of everyone you call or write to and what websites you visit.
Monitoring your communications is more intrusive than probing your home. It should only ever be done under warrant, with good reason. The general expediency of the Home Office is a very bad reason indeed.
Especially in light of the continuing loss of Data from certain government offices…
Do you want the state (and anyone who can gain access to the system) to have a record of your religious and political beliefs, your sexual interests and relationships, your financial and medical worries — "just in case" they ever become of interest to the authorities? Were an individual to spy on you like this, it would be called stalking. It is a crime.
You would not tolerate someone creeping into your home at any time, night and day, to go through you and your family's private things. You should not put up with this.
This could really become Chairman Brown's Poll Tax. I thought the Labour Party would have known better than copy Thatcher…
Oops.
Rob :)
You can get a a hi-res photo of the Freedom. Not Fear mosaic here
No comments:
Post a Comment