RIPA and file-sharing??

[Ian Johnson]

On Fri, 2008-02-01 at 12:37 +0000, Ian Batten wrote:
> 
> Part of the problem is the cowardice (yes, the toxic `c' word) of  
> Labour politicians. 

I wouldn't ascribe to cowardice that which I could ascribe to
malice in this situation. I believe HMG finds it a handy plausible
excuse to justify whatever is flavour of the week.  I think you're
being way too generous.

How many changing justifications for ID cards have we had?  What are
they for this week?

>  The Tory party knew about terrorism. 
> ...
> In that time, the Tory Party did not collectively wet its pants.   

Personally, I think we have a govt that wants to be all things to
all people, has no convictions and is scared of anything negative in
the press.  We've also had a steady erosion of civil liberties that
whilst the milk-snatcher started it, this govt has accelerated it.

> ... But in office, they  
> embodied the British stiff upper lip (and I speak as a Labour voter  
> who regards most of the activities of Thatcher's government as  
> hateful and poisonous).

I don't vote labour any more I vote Plaid Cymru :).
Frankly I think the current administration will be viewed as a major
failure.  With a landslide majority they could have achieved anything.
Compared to labour governments in the late 40's & 60's they had
significant advantages. The previous ones gave us the NHS and major
improvements in the laws relating to divorce, homosexuality and
abortion.  This one has massively increased inequality whilst eroding
civil liberties. Other than that?

> The IRA were a genuine threat to this country.  They had weapons,  
> backing, training, organisation, and were able to act on a monthly  
> basis throughout the 1970s.  The purported terrorists of today are  
> none of those things.
> 

You appear to think it's a lack of personal backbone, I think it is
political opportunism coupled with a serious fear of the results of
an anti-Muslim backlash and/or the loss of votes from Muslim
communities.

Regards,

Ian