[garinda]

Originally Posted by Meccy

Come, come Garinda. Is that the only response that you can offer? Cheap derision?

The man has a point. This happened in a supposedly civilised country - within living memory. It took just 6 years to turn a democracy into a dictatorship. Thinking that it can never happen here is the ostrich response I fear. Sadly we still need a government that will pass laws that will protect the individual from the state.

When any government has it's back against the wall, they seek to curtail the rights of the individual, generally using the excuse that is for the greater good. They rely on the apathy of the governed to sneak in oppressive legislation or, more commonly, their fear and anxiety for action against a real or imagined threat.

I feel that we need a written constitution, guaranteeing certain rights in perpetuity.

They have already discussed the removal of the right to trial by jury. What next do you think? Habeas corpus? They'd love to get rid of that one.

Strangely whilst we were fighting Nazism, many, including my grandfather, laying down their lives, the population of this country had identity cards...to help with the security of our nation.

Can't remember many people pathetically bleating on then about their civil liberties being attacked.