RIPA and file-sharing??

[David Hansen]

On 1 Feb 2008 at 10:04, Ian Batten wrote:

> Of course, we could say that the real threat is placed in context by 
> this.  Elected officials, who presumably have access to real threat 
> analysis rather than the lies and spin the rest of us are given,  decide
> to favour giving more money to U2 over defending against  terrorists. 
> Either they really, really want to be photographed with  Bono or terrorism
> isn't as big a threat as is made out.

That is an excellent analysis.

Of course bogeymen are always a useful means of oppressing people. I 
have often heard officials and party politicians claiming that there is 
an emergency, even a national emergency. They don't know what they are 
talking about. The UK nearly cut off by sea and people dropping 
explosives, largely randomly, on towns can be rightly called an 
emergency. Current conditions are a little different.

That doesn't stop people trying to build empires, for example 
<http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Terror-chief-attack-on-
Edinburgh.3722322.jp>

The spin after the London bombings was right. We are not afraid and 
will continue as before is precisely the right approach to take towards 
criminals. Sadly it was only spin.

-- 
  David Hansen, Edinburgh 
 I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents 
me   
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54