Politics just got interesting

[rich_jacko]

Blimey, they say a week's a long time in politics, and it's only Wednesday!

Firstly, the ID cards vote. Can't say I'm terribly surprised about this, as the government seems fairly determined to stamp their feet until they get their way. I still can't see a single advantage to this hare-brained scheme, only that it will make my life less convenient and, if anything, make me more susceptible to identity fraud. Here's hoping the Lords wing it right back down again...

I notice my MP, true to form, voted in favour again. I keep meaning to badger her about that. The thing is, I also want to write to her about house prices and ask if the government's planning on doing anything to help first-time buyers (apart from making idiotic suggestions like, "Club together with six of your mates and buy a 2-bedroom semi between you"). If I do both, would she just think I was spamming her? And if I pick one, which should it be?

Not that she'd probably care. She's got a stupidly big majority, and it's not like there's even the remotest chance of me voting for her next time.

Then there was yesterday's smoking ban, to which I have to say,

"W00t!"

It's obviously a contentious piece of legislation, but I'm over the moon about it. Yeah, I've heard the civil liberties argument, but frankly I think the freedom for people to socialise or work in a clean*, healthy** environment is more important.

* I recently went to Wetherspoons in town since it went non-smoking. It was nice to be able to breathe clean(ish) air for a change, and not have the immediate compulsion on getting home to wash my hair, throw the clothes I'd just been wearing in the wash and get my coat dry-cleaned.

** It was only recently that I discovered a lot of smokers honestly don't believe there are any health risks associated with passive smoking. Er, hello???

"If you don't want to go somewhere smokey, why not go somewhere else?" goes the argument against a blanket ban. "If there's such a call for it, more landlords will make their pubs non-smoking." This is a great theory, with one teensy little problem.

Every time I've gone out drinking in town in - ooh - ever, with a mix of smokers and non-smokers, the same thing happens. The 10-20% smokers in the group kick up a fuss and refuse to go anywhere where they can't light up. The non-smokers cave in for the sake of a quiet life. And landlords know this is what happens, and are petrified of losing custom.

Finally, why all these new offenses for terrorism? What's wrong with all the existing laws against murder, conspiracy to murder and incitement to murder? Isn't treating terrorism differently, and creating all this publicity, in itself glorifying terrorism?

Comments

[vampyrefate.livejournal.com]

In Germany they have a paper ID card. Apparently it makes life easy, cos it doubles as a passport, lets you use services etc etc etc.

I was talking to a German last night, and he couldn't understand the fuss about ID cards, as he's always had one ... until we got to the bit about having figerprints taken and retinal scans. I think I could live under the German system.

I disagree with the smoking ban. If it is that dangerous/unhealthy then smoking should be made illegal. I am a non smoker by the way. I strongly agree with the "people can choose" argument - I prefer to credit them with intelligence to make their own choices. Many people say that smoking is "irritating" and thus should be banned in certain places on those grounds. Well, I find lots of things "irritating" and some of them are also potentially dangerous - like getting beaten up by people that drink Alcohol.

Hehe, but anyway, we all have our opinions!

I completely agree with you on the new "offenses for terrorism". Glorifying terrorism - does this mean if I write a book about it I can go to prison? How about Guy Fawkes night? He might have 'failed', but he does fit the description.

[otter-girl.livejournal.com]

If smoking was made illegal then the government would miss out on all that lovely tax ;)

[vampyrefate.livejournal.com]

8 billion in fag tax, apparently.

and.. 1.6 billion to the NHS on cancer ops and suchlike.

hmm. Think you're onto something.

[rich-jacko.livejournal.com]

...like getting beaten up by people that drink Alcohol.

I think you'll find beating people up is illegal too :op

[boyraceruk.livejournal.com]

If the minority of smokers don't want to go to a non-smoking bar, then just go without them. More people in this land need to grow some fucking balls.

[rich-jacko.livejournal.com]

I've tried that approach. Unfortunately other people cave in before I do and I end up outvoted (even though they agree when we're there that they find the smoke unpleasant).

Besides, the whole point of a social night out is you all get to go somewhere [i]together[/i]. If you're splitting into smoking/non-smoking groups, that rather defeats the object.

[boyraceruk.livejournal.com]

You can still all go out together, but the non-smokers should put their feet down if they outnumber the smokers.

It's like the legislation, non-smokers don't want to go somewhere smoke free apparently, since I've been hearing "Why should _I_ have to go somewhere else?" in the ukpolitics thread I started on this subject. The sad thing is I would be happy to go somewhere else to be able to enjoy a pint and a fag with like-minded people, but nobody asked. Much like people don't ask me to put my cigarettes out, or to drive slower, or anything else they don't like. Like I said, more people need to grow some fucking balls.

[otter-girl.livejournal.com]

There's no way in hell I'm paying £93 to have all my most personal details held on a national database. My passport expires in 2013; hopefully the whole scheme will have failed spectacularly by then. Given the government's track record of awarding IT contracts to utter idiots I think the whole thing will be a big expensive disaster.

I still think that pubs with outdoor space should have the option of letting people smoke in the garden or some kind of outdoor area. I'm a smoker, but I agree that sitting in a really smoky pub is pretty rank (I know, I'm a hypocrite :) and having to nip outside for a fag would make me smoke less anyway.

[morecake.livejournal.com]

Having had some dealings with Angela Smith on this issue, I'm afraid you'll be waiting a long time if you want to hear anything but the party line from her. If she gets back to you at all, that is. I think badgering her about house prices is potentially more successful, if only because she may welcome the diversion and actually answer you.

I'm very torn over the smoking ban. My civil liberties brain says that a ban is a bad idea, whereas my 'not wanting to spend the evening breathing in somke then come back smelling of smoke' brain says a ban is only reasonable.

[longhairedhippy.livejournal.com]

You have two brains? Well no wonder you're so smart!