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[31 Dec 2024|07:06am] I've had a whole plethora of folk add me lately so I figured I should put one of these up. Anything political or ranty sits open for public view, so if that's what you're here for then you can have your fill already. However, the majority of my personal entries are friends-protected, so if you wish to read such things then just add me, comment here/somewhere and inevitably I'll add you back. I'd prefer it if you wrote a bit on your own journal as well mind, gives me something to read... This pretty much wraps up what you're likely to read inside at times: Oh, one other thing. If you're here because you've used the myguests thing and have noticed I've been lurking, it probably means you've posted something very interesting/insightful on one of our mutual friends pages. Good work! If you find me interesting, add me and I'll almost certainly return the favour. 2 Witty retorts| Express your sentiments

Say No to ACTA [23 Jan 2012|10:39pm] Originally posted by halcyon_shift at Say No to ACTA (taken from agirlnamedtruth, originally posted on vidding) If you're from the UK and you believe in freedom of speech and an uncensored interenet, you really need to sign this petition. There are others floating about, but that particular one is the best way to ensure that your voice gets heard. It's hosted on the directgov website and addresses parliament directly. If it gets more than 100,000 signatures, it becomes eligible for discussion in the House of Commons. Everyone's been getting so worked up over SOPA -- and rightly so -- that ACTA seems to have slipped under the radar. This is hugely problematic, because ACTA is a similar bill, but it has the potential to be far more damaging than SOPA ever could be. Some people seem to have this misconception that ACTA is the 'European SOPA', but that simply isn't true. It's a global treaty, and it's already been signed by eight countries, including the US, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore. Europe votes on Thursday. If they vote 'no', the bill will have to be taken back to the drawing board and reformulated, which should buy us some time at the very least. If you think this doesn't affect you, you're wrong. If ACTA passes, it could well signal the end of the internet as we know it, and that isn't an exaggeration. It's not just about watching movies and television online. If ACTA passes, sites like YouTube, Livejournal, Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook and even Google and Wikipedia could become impossible to maintain. ACTA would allow ISPs to monitor your net activity and cut off internet access for your entire household if one person is suspected of breaching copyright. Think Big Brother is Watching. I don't think I need to emphasise just how damaging it can be to be without internet access in this day and age, when we rely so heavily on technology. It's not only bloggers and fandom that would be affected, either. Small businesses, independent film-makers and unsigned musicians who have previously found their niche online would also suffer hugely, and would be at risk of being bullied into submission by Hollywood and multinational corporations under accusations of copyright infringement. All those artists who found fame by uploading covers of songs to YouTube would never have had the opportunity to do so under ACTA, as those cover versions would be prohibited. I know the internet has its problems, but to my mind it's the single greatest invention to come out of modern times, and it would be an absolute travesty if we were to lose that now. From a personal point of view, I can't even put into words how important this is to me. I've met some of my closest friends through the internet and online fandom, people whom I would likely never have met without it, and it's given me this amazing social support system. I don't want that to end here, and I want to preserve it for future generations so that they can have the same experience and opportunities I've been given through my online interactions. I know that opinions on the seriousness of copyright infringement and online piracy vary wildly, but that isn't really the point. Internet giants such as Google are opposed to this bill, and it's pretty safe to say that they're not in favour of copyright infringment, as anyone who's ever had a fanvid taken down from YouTube will be painfully aware. Whatever your stance on copyright, this isn't the way to go about dealing with it. This is dangerous legislation that impeaches on some of our most basic human rights, such as the right to privacy and freedom of speech. So if you're from the UK, please, please sign the petition. If you hail from elsewhere in the world, there may well be similar movements in your own country, but I think the most effective thing anybody can do right now is to keep talking about this. Talk about it on Livejournal, on Twitter, on Tumblr, on Facebook, and anywhere else you can think of. Make sure this issue is never far from people's minds. The internet is an amazingly powerful tool: let's utilise it while we still have the chance. Please repost and spread the word :) SAY NO TO ACTA! This entry was originally posted at http://lithiumdoll.dreamwidth.org/673963.html. comments Express your sentiments

The Scoundrel Club - Bank Holiday Sunday - August 28th - Cardiff [22 Aug 2011|02:17pm] [ mood | horny ] Like a dog in heat, a freak without warning, the Scoundrel club returns and it's so horny! That's right you sultry lot, the UK's most decadent, depraved and altogether debauched night is back once more and invites you to slip into something a little more comfortable (perhaps a Rainbow Drop or three?), don your dapper apparel and get on down (deep deep down) to some highly sexy alternative tunes on an extremely opulent bank holiday Sunday. A night for Cads and Bounders Dames and Hussies Rockers, Ravers, Lovers and Sinners. The den of decadence, debauchery and depravity that is the Scoundrel Club has returned from it's prolonged slumber to once again play it's sumptuous blend of the sleaziest rock, the dirtiest indie, the filthiest Goth and just about anything alternative that can be deemed music to get naughty to. And, naturally, the Rainbow Drop Cocktail (Absinthe and Champagne served through a delectable sticky-cherry-sugar will be available for the ultra-cheap price of just £2 per glass. So there's no excuses to not be properly lubricated (until stocks last, naturally). The date for such an effete event is Sunday August 28th and the sultry-surroundings for such a sensual situation is Bogiez Rock Bar and nightclub, in the heart of the fair city of Cardiff. Entry is a mere £3 and opening hours will be 9pm until obscene O'Clock the next morning. So, let the sin, once again, begin.... See www.thescoundrel.co.uk or hit up the Facebook event here for full information, photos of previous events and other assorted fun 2 Witty retorts| Express your sentiments

Retirement... [19 Jan 2011|01:29pm] [ mood | aggravated ] Hmm, two weeks off from blogging and my desire to continue is still at pretty much zero. In that two weeks there have been hundreds of things I could have ripped to pieces (Alcohol minimum pricing, how the media sets up policy changes, the incoming interest-rate rises and subsequent hyperinflation all spring to mind just as I sit here), but every time I truly consider putting fingers to keyboard I end up asking myself one question: What's the point? Really, why do I bother? The majority of the UK is no longer inhabited by people as I know them, it's more infested by a bunch of idiots who feign outrage when mr bad government takes away their toys, but then who clap with glee when they take away the toys of others just because they don't like it. They sullenly accept any and all the bullshit that is pushed in their general direction with a mild complaint then totally forget about it when the next shiny TV series starts or when the next outrage comes to fry their senses with over-exposure to the point that they're bored of it. My writing about these things makes no difference to that so I wonder why I write in the first place. Everyone seems to want the state to wipe their backsides in one direction or another, and everyone is afraid that if the state-based-services changed in any way we'd somehow all cease to exist. So everyone accepts the higher prices, allows the state a say in every facet of our lives (starting with the raising of our children and ending with the organising of our retirement) and suckles at the teat with no regard for how we're being fashioned. Instead people look for their own version of Fight Club, but without the payoff. They'll create fake identities for themselves and masquerade them, they'll join teams to get others to look at them, they'll do anything to attach importance to themselves, at least for a few minutes. The one thing they will never do is ask why things are as they are. I can't change it, nobody can. So I won't try anymore. My blogging days are done. Ta-ta. 14 Witty retorts| Express your sentiments

Burning things for money and how the EU does VAT.... [05 Jan 2011|03:31pm] [ mood | calm ] Le-sigh. My passion for political/economic/social blogging wains further and further by the week, as our societal landscape slides further and further towards the inevitable New World Order we're being ushered towards. Therefore this entry won't be particularly in-depth, but there are a few things that I'd like to get off my chest if I may: ( Rant, rant, rant.... calmly ) 2 Witty retorts| Express your sentiments

The most important question of 2010... [31 Dec 2010|03:11pm] [ mood | calm ] So, here we are again, New Years Eve 2010. Another year has flown by and this year I've utterly, utterly failed to keep to my single New Years Resolution from 12 months back. There will be no resolutions this year, instead I'd like to ask you all a vitally important question. I intend on wishing 2010 goodbye in a state of drunken hedonism at Bogiez in Cardiff, naturally I wish to ensure I'm dressed for such festivities and therefore I ask of you, how shiny should I go? Decisions decisions. Wherever you end up tonight, may it be a tremendous amount of fun and may you be surrounded by lovely people and good times. See you next year. 3 Witty retorts| Express your sentiments

Rocking all over 2010... [21 Dec 2010|09:23pm] [ mood | chipper ] So, back to the eternal debate about New Years Eve then. We've narrowed it down to three potential options. The decision has been made that there has to be rock involved, so potential options are as follows: 1) Stick around in Bristol and head to the Bierkeller: Walking distance home, buy any drink and get any shot free, collapse in our own bed at the end of the night. 2) Head back to the land from whence we came and have a night in Dudley JBs, which is (I believe) the oldest Rock club in the UK. JBs is where I spent the majority of my drunken youth, and is also where I was first taught how to DJ back on a Sunday lunchtime at age 12. It's also a useful choice as, being from there, we have a bed to retire to any, should any of you guys fancy coming along, I can also offer crashspace to anyone else as well. It also may be the last chance we get to go to JBs in it's current 'guise as it was put into Administration earlier this year and Sam (a long-standing family friend) will be selling the club in early 2011. 3) Last, but by no means least, we could head over to Walesland and have a night at Bogiez. It'll involve obtaining a hotel (or some crash-space) but has the advantages of having cheap drinks, good music and probably a decent slab of people we're likely to know. Plus we could probably blag an afterparty out of someone if they're feeling crazy/drunk enough. So, dear reading-types (and those that followed the link from Facebook - not sure if it'll let you vote but the "post comment" option will work I'm sure, so don't be shy), give me your opinions as to what balexis and I should do to rock in New Years eve? If any of the options are things you'd like to join us doing then definitely comment to say so. Poll #1659445 The great NYE poll of doom Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 9 So, what do we do on NYE this year View Answers Bristol Bierkeller - Rock it close to home 2 (22.2%) Dudley JBs - Take it back from whence you came 2 (22.2%) Cardiff Bogiez - Rock out where you used to rock it. 5 (55.6%) 4 Witty retorts| Express your sentiments

[17 Dec 2010|09:45am] [ mood | calm ] Further to this whining diatribe of last week. Now there's this (short version - California has introduced a carbon cap and trade scheme, which aims to be "the second-largest market in the field, after Europe's". First point: I wasn't aware Europe had one in force as yet, although it wouldn't surprise me. If so then anyone looking for a reason why the production sector is falling to bits in the EU - there it is. There's not a manufacturer on this earth that would rather pay for carbon-trading credits instead of just moving production to Korea. Second point: I'm so going on holiday to California in a few years, the level of destitution will be like going to visit Chernobyl. Just watch as all production in California pretty much stops dead. Third point: Guess we're probably next then? Sounds fun. It's no wonder we love non-jobs so much around these parts... 4 Witty retorts| Express your sentiments

[16 Dec 2010|10:13am] More link-style reading. Well worth it. 2 Witty retorts| Express your sentiments

The countdown to the demise of the EU continues [15 Dec 2010|03:24pm] [ mood | blah ] Tick tock, tick tock Go read this and see why: http://gonzalolira.blogspot.com/2010/12/want-to-ruin-your-own-country-assume.html Very worth it. Express your sentiments

[15 Dec 2010|11:00am] [ mood | calm ] Not watching these videos will make your life worse: I'm having a Devin day, you all should too... Express your sentiments

Burning money to save the planet. [09 Dec 2010|11:58am] [ mood | anxious ] Back in time, in the depths of this blog there was this. Then, more recently, this, which was more of the same (and, incidentally, the most read post I've ever had, which gave me a nice warm feeling to my insides, vanity is a wonderful thing). And now, courtesy of the BBC, there's this, which I think may soon become a rather nasty turning point for those of us based in Europe. This is the point where everything becomes about funding, and if you think times are hard now, just wait how hard they're going to get 'for own own good'. Very nicely timed of course as the political attentions of Europe are all directed elsewhere (hi students, good luck today. Remember to buy some Top-Shop clothes and read the guardian once you're done). After this week the tie-in between Global Warming, carbon taxation and the funding of Europe's growing debts are likely to mesh very nicely together, and once again I very much doubt it'll be those with the majority of the money who lose out. Oh, and before anyone goes shouting at me for being a global warming denier (or whatever they're calling it this week, I did read a funny report stating that pollution was now cooling the planet which was unusual but there we go) that's not the argument I'm making here, nor has it ever been because **SHOCK HORROR** I suspect that humanity is indeed having an effect on this planet. Whether this effect is good, bad, indifferent or as great as many make out is another matter (and one for scientists, of which I am not one), but I do think many 'green' measures are rather good things. The argument I am making is that recycling is a good thing, because waste is a bad thing. Looking after the planet is a good thing as we all live here. What isn't a good thing is using these things as an excuse to make as much money as possible, because money cannot and will-not solve any problems that may, or may not, exist. Money is just an excuse to create pointless jobs and to ciphon the almighty dollar off at each level, making a small amount of people very, very rich, whilst the world continues to go to hell. When they start talking about actual solutions to the world falling apart (rather than ALWAYS referring to it as a method of raising money) I may start listening, and I suspect others might too. 5 Witty retorts| Express your sentiments

I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore. So I direct it somewhere futile. Why? [08 Dec 2010|02:18pm] [ mood | aggravated ] Disclaimer: This is one of the most watered-down blog entries I have ever written. The original featured levels of anger which are unhealthy to the eyes so I felt it worth doing the wishy-washy version. As such you may read the following as you see fit Second disclaimer: There's some personal stuff in here too, it gets horribly self-indulgent and I loathe what has been written, but I see no reason to delete that part so I shant. It also gets a bit incoherent towards the end. You have been warned. ( Read away ) 6 Witty retorts| Express your sentiments

Merry X-M@$ [03 Dec 2010|11:58am] [ mood | crappy ] Frankly, I'm feeling no love for Christmas whatsoever this year. In fact I'm not feeling a lot of of love for anything right now. Nevertheless, if there ever was a Christmas song (and video to go with it) that can warm the various winkles, cockles and barnacles of humanity, it's this one: Brilliant, I genuinely hope he gets to number one with this. A genuine rock artist on a genuine rock label with no other agenda than to release an amusing rock-n-roll Christmas song. Top stuff. 7 Witty retorts| Express your sentiments

[02 Dec 2010|01:52pm] [ mood | crappy ] Glad it's not just me who sees this coming: http://www.cisionwire.com/media-intelligence-partners-ltd/eurozone-set-to-fall-apart-one-by-one--warn-top-economists Read it, consider the consequences. Do something if you like? 4 Witty retorts| Express your sentiments

On Smoking, On Students, On Dancer, On Prancer.... [30 Nov 2010|01:52pm] [ mood | calm ] I had been meaning to have a go at This BBC article which boldly states that passive smoking kills 600,000 people every year and how a lot were poor, defenceless children. But I don't need to, as mrscruff has done a better job than I could here, go read, it's well worth it. Incidentally, for any of the antismoking mafia who may find their way here, I'm a nonsmoker, always have been, always will. However I firmly believe that if people want to smoke, they can and even if it does harm them, that's their choice and it's their health to damage. It's none of my business whatsoever, nor should it be. More student protests in Bristol today. There's something quite special about watching protests from the brightest our country has to offer whereby there are serious spelling and grammar errors on the placards they hold aloft. I tried to get a photo but sadly they were trying to run away from the horse-mounted and van-driving police so their protest wouldn't get directed as the coppers saw fit. This further backs up their incredible IQ levels I must say, unless they're all related to Speedy Gonzalez (or Rapid Dave, whichever). That's not to say I agree with the concept of putting university fees up to the £6k mark (anyone who quotes the £9k figure is a moron who probably uses the phrase ConDemNation and therefore shouldn't be listened to) as personally I do think this is wrong. What I do believe in, however, is that University should be much harder to get into and there should be far fewer places. The majority of folk who go to uni really do not deserve to be there and, frankly, won't make use of a degree anyway. Before anyone says it, yes, I can lump myself in there, I've never used my degree and, if I'm really honest, it was an absolute waste of money - pretty good socially though, but I could have done that without the needless degree part (and could have happily read about the subject myself, rather than having it parrot-taught at me). My opinion is that the degree should be given some of its value back and only the brightest should be going to University, and those that want to go there should be already proving this by overachieving throughout school and their A-Levels. University is not an entitlement or a right, it's something to achieve access to. In my opinion (because that's what a blog usually is) the Tony Blair "goal" of wanting 50% of people to hold degrees has done nothing more but devalue the degree and turn the entire thing into a marketplace where everyone believes they deserve their qualification. Which is not the point of Education and, sadly, is a road that the current Government are travelling further down. So, here's the plan, all those protesting today undergo IQ and subject tests on the spot to prove they're uni material. Those that fail lose their spot in university from today (and the funding that would have been spent rolls on to next year), they'll all be ok because, chances are, they'll end up in the same job they were always going to get anyway. Those that pass get to go back to a much better learning environment and both groups rest safe in the knowledge that their protests helped prevent fee rises - mission succeeded. 8 Witty retorts| Express your sentiments

[26 Nov 2010|02:11pm] [ mood | calm ] Express your sentiments

In this Democracy... [23 Nov 2010|12:34pm] [ mood | angry ] Send this to Ireland, they'll need it first: We'll be joining them soon. Express your sentiments

An open letter to the people of the UK [18 Nov 2010|01:27pm] An open letter to the people of the UK, once you've read it please then pass on to the rest of Europe Somewhat of an extension on this from a few days back. Dear good people, There are a lot of people in this country whom are angry or frustrated. Often this anger is due to something that stems back to a political decision made by people that we all don't know, and often about things we don't believe they even understand. State workers are angry about government cuts, so much so there have been strikes/marches and there are likely to be more. Students are angry about the upcoming increases in tuition fees, so much so that there has been a march and mini-riot. The rich are angry that the government has raised taxation for them and are also meddling in their bonuses, which they feel they deserve. Their response (thus far) has been to find ways around this via tax avoidance measures and often offshore investments. Those out of work are angry about the proposed welfare cuts. They're yet to act from what I can see but it seems an inevitability sooner or later. Council workers are angry because their pensions are now under scrutiny. Again, there will be strikes and lashing-out in due course I would assume. Small businesses are angry as the banks that were so eager to hand them money before, are not so eager now. Their responses are to scale back, make people unemployed and do all they can to maximise profits. Or to liquidate their companies and make off with the assets, whichever. Libertarians are angry that the levels of state control have not declined at all since May. They tend to blog a lot, spread the word and generally make nuisances of themselves. Guardianistas are angry because we have a Tory-led government. They see the above and empathise, they support strikes, protests and such. So, we've set the scene. A lot of us are angry about something, and those that aren't angry are at least worried. These are the times we live in. Time for a quick diversion to this letter. Please read this story from the BBC website. It is related, promise (short version: Ireland doesn't want to be bailed out, the EU insists it has to be). Is the problem in Ireland due to it's government debts? Strictly speaking no (even though their debts are HUGE), there's another undercurrent to this bail out. As I've mentioned before, I'm not an economist so I shall let someone far better qualified explain this, please give this a read. Long story cut as short as possible: Irish banks are likely to fail, the Irish government have guaranteed them and if the Irish banks fail then so do the various other financial institutions within the EU which have huge bondholdings within Irish banks. There's a massive banking exposure to Germany and Spain within these Irish banks so if they are allowed to fail then the domino effect will then spur on similar matters in other countries (probably leading to a Spanish collapse to add to the upcoming Portugese and Greek further defaults which are in the process). If this happens then **pop** the entire European banking system is likely to fall to tiny pieces. Many people will come out on different sides of the coin here. There are those that will say that this means a bail-out is a good idea, since the banking system is integral to our way of life and needs to be kept afloat. To these people there is often one thing they are missing: That this bail-out money has to come from you, personally. Very, very recently (and very, very conveniently) a measure was passed in the EU to streamline further bail-outs so that every EU member state has it's own share to pay if an economy goes pop. I suspect they weren't hoping the Irish would be first to test this out since the Irish economy isn't in dire straits, it's entirely the banking markets that are in trouble. So whilst the Irish government are saying "no thanks" to the EU's money, the Irish bankers are holding their hands out with desperate looks on their faces, knowing full well that they'll be given what they want, no matter whether the Government wants it or not. The knock-on effect of this being that Ireland will have "austerity measures" imposed upon it by it's new lords-and-masters (the EU literally will take full control) meaning the public sector will pretty much be torched. People will lose their jobs, riots etc etc. And what of the rest of us? Well, should we bail out the Irish banks (potential UK-only liability of £10bn), then Greece (again) then Portugal, then whoever, as is seeming likely, then we all have our shares to pay (some more than others). But each time we bail someone out that money is then added to a national debt and thereby taken away from Government money raised from taxpayers. And if UK money is being used to bail out foreign banks, this means there's even less money for State jobs, student funding, council pensions, welfare etc etc etc. And what happens when these things get cut? See the top of this letter for reasons why people are angry then add more anger to it. And so this is why I'm writing this, which I do wish a few people would read. If you're the kind of person who feels tuition fees shouldn't rise, who feels the NHS or Police forces should have more funding, not less, who thinks that public services matter, then this applies to you. Because at present it is the money that would be used for these things that is instead going to be used to prop up a failing, unsustainable financial system which has no benefit to us at all. So, instead of waiting until our public services are cut before you protest/riot/moan/bitch/complain, why not get on with it right now and work against the source of these problems. Protest the bailing out of Ireland, protest the bailing out of Greece, protest having any liability in any financial institution which you were given no choice over having in the first place. Because if you wait, and "Blame the Tories" for the cuts, you deserve them. A functioning Europe, united as a world power is one thing, an EU which has been set up to line the pockets of the extremely rich that treads on top of the public is another. Best regards Dean A concerned citizen. 2 Witty retorts| Express your sentiments

The EU and what it has in store.... [16 Nov 2010|04:48pm] [ mood | calm ] A Bit of "Back in time" blogging today I think. In December last year I had a bit of a brain dump on this blog concerning the Lisbon treaty and various other economic matters surrounding it. I'm not an economist, or some kind of financial whizzkid, but I have opinions and they're (mostly) very considered. I'm always happy to debate them mind and whilst some of my opinions have changed over the past few years, those expressed in this post have only managed to get stronger. If you've got ten spare minutes I'd recommend a quick read of the post as it gives a little context to what I'm writing today. It can be found here: http://xxxrated.livejournal.com/531519.html **taps feet** Back then? Didn't go anywhere did you? Nevermind, it's just a blog and thereby more opinion than gospel. Back to today anyway, I couldn't help but notice a bit of news in the Eurozone today which has taken my opinions from that post last December and given them even more strength. The news in question is from the AFP (so isn't a Daily Mail or Telegraph piece of hype) and you can read it for yourself here, however as a rough summary: The Greek prime minister is calling for Europe-wide taxes to become commonplace on Carbon Dioxide emissions and/or financial transactions. Yes, the Greek PM is calling for this. The guy in charge of the country that needed bailing out first (Ireland Second, Portugal third, (Britain probably fourth the way we're going especially since out government spending will still go up during the next five years and if you're stupid enough to believe the BBC when it calls Osborne's cuts "Savage" then you deserve to end up paying CO2 tax)) thinks that the Carbon-tax should become Europewide to pay for countries (like his) that have been incapable of balancing their books. Now, since we have a European Prime Minister in a bailed out country calling for these taxes it begs the question as to why the EU would even consider this since it's clearly self-interest. Nevertheless, it's also easy for said leader (and those of the same political belief) to make the case. Said case being that should these states not receive large sums of money then the people working in their state-sectors will lose their jobs, have no welfare, children will die and streets will flow with rivers of blood. Usual logic that can easily be used to defend the concept of a bail-out. And of course, the decision isn't actually down to the leader of any country. The decision will be voted for by those MEPs sitting in the European parliament in Brussels. Alarm bells should pretty much start ringing now since these are people who voted for a 6% increase in EU funding just a few weeks ago (And whom our Prime Minister has no say-so on what we contribute, claiming he'd got other leaders (who can also be ignored) to agree to just 2.9% as a moral victory). So, since they'd like 6% more money to spend as they see fit the concept of EU-wide taxation no doubt seems a good plan to them. And thus the plot thickens. We now have looming over us a system where European member-states prop-up their citizens with either welfare or state jobs, and when the states themselves fail they turn to a larger superstate to then prop-up their transactions. None of which, of course, generates any value and it's those who actually succeed that pay for it all. Except it isn't really, is it? If you're a gainfully employed worker somewhere think about how much of the money you earn gets paid in taxation as it is. 17.5% of everything you buy goes to government instantly as VAT (soon to be 20% come January) and those products are charged taxes at each stage of manufacture and shipping, you pay income tax of between 10% and 50% on every penny you earn over the first £6k of your wages. Actually, screw it, I don't need to justify this bit. The short version is that over 50% of everything you earn goes to the government at present. This isn't opinion, this is fact. So, how would you feel about another 5-10% going to a larger government, one that's above the laws of your own, due to your own use of things like your television or Xbox? Maybe another tax on the running of the car you'd love to upgrade to a nice, clean hybrid but you simply aren't able because, frankly, you're already giving over half of what you earn to the taxman? Perhaps if council taxes went up another 20% to provide for better recycling services to keep the UK's "carbon bill" down, would that be affordable? Where's the point of no return? But naturally, these matters are designed to hit the rich you would assume? How about if you're a business owner? Are you going to take a hit in profits to help pay for the additional fees your bank will charge as they pass on the financial-institution taxes to their customers? How about those extra carbon-credits you'll have to buy since you've got all those staff that just insist on driving the 15 miles to work rather than cycling? Or will you just liquidate the firm, make all those staff unemployed and take what profits you've made until now? I wonder... Opinion time. Taxes such as these never hit the rich. The poor rely on the rich to help them get out of poverty, so the rich have the power to trickle any extra expense down and thereby it's always the poor that gets hurt. It's a fundamental problem with the entire system, and it's one that those above it (and those within the EU government truly are above it all, it doesn't affect them whatsoever except to make them richer) will never, ever try to fix, because it doesn't benefit them. So, is there a solution? Well theoretically there are a few. We could take the approach of the students at their protest last week. Tear the country to pieces in the hope of whatever comes next being a better system. Except those that act as such don't have the solutions, they just know they don't like what they've got now. So whatever grows afterwards would likely be a hydra with even more heads, which I don't think will solve the problem at all. There's another option. It's quite radical though. It was on TV last week too. Watch the last half an hour of This and see what you think. End opinion... 2 Witty retorts| Express your sentiments

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