You just can't polish a turd!

People by nature are trusting of their state's authority and this trust is often abused. The UK government sanctioned and helped finance the war in Iraq, in the public's name and with the public's purse. Other than the obvious, one of the major casualties of the coalition was the UN. Castrating the one organisation in a position to challenge any state with sinister ambitions was either a stupendous oversight or stroke of genius. Now any state can decide to act beyond the instruction of its UN peers and refer to past coalition action in its defence. Rejecting the democratic process on the one hand, the coalition is happy to preach freedom and democracy to the Arab States, Russia, North Korea and China.

The public's response to the Prevention of Terrorism Bill earlier in the year met with limited interest. Prevention of Terrorism Bill in its original form amounted to a suspension of habeas corpus, the right to a trial, which has been frozen only a handful of times since it was enshrined in English law in 1679. On one occasion when terrorist suspects were imprisoned without trial, the innocent were deprived of their freedom, while the terrorists were given a huge boost to recruitment. In Northern Ireland in the early 1970s, the policy turned out to be a failure. See Darkening of a nation

More recently the government is proposing the removal of juries in some complex fraud trials. On the face of it there seems to be good reason to debate this proposal in light of the millions of pounds of tax payers money wasted when such cases collapse. However, removing juries in these trials crosses a line that should remain sacred if we wish to hold on to current principles of freedom, liberty and human rights. See Juries face axe in fraud trials

Finally, the House of Lords took the crusty sheen off the governments "Entitlement Card" by renaming it the "ID Card". On the face of it, the ID Card has sound benefits. Some of the official uses of the card and national database include: national security, prevention or detection of crime, enforcement of immigration controls, enforcement of prohibitions on unauthorised working or employment, securing the efficient and effective provision of public services. However, although the concept may have been based on the best intentions, it offers ample opportunity to become a Pandora’s Box. Most people have reservations based on cost and the government's answer at the moment is to place a "Cap" on the price so as not to put people off the idea. However, like many other schemes aimed at reducing the burden on

the public's purse, the government will no doubt slip the same money out of the public's back pocket.

Consider how new technology is currently being discussed, extend it with just a little imagination and you might see some of the following appear in the near future:

Governments Vision:

Your car transmits its position, time and speed using current satellite technology to bring about an age of pay as you go car tax.

or possibly:

Instant Speed Fines, Congestion charges in all cities, Peak time charges, to the penny expense claims enforcement for company car employees.

Governments Vision:

ID cards to prevent prohibitions on unauthorised working or employment

or possibly:

The week you are taking off sick is being traced by your employer via the government database. It seems that your visit to the Gym, Pub, Bookies, Garden Centre, Lake District, Golf Coarse etc is going to be causing you some embarrassment in the meeting on Monday.

You may sneer, but remember when personal phones with a face on a television were just

seen on "Space 1999"... or is that just me?

turd (tûrd)

n. Vulgar

A piece of solid excrement.

[Middle English, from Old English tord.]