more on i.d. cards

nicholas von hoffman: government secrecy inspires conspiracy, paranoia and rumors.



this is, of course, as true here in the u.k. as it is in the u.s.



the majority of british people, while whingeing and moaning about bliar's i.d. card scheme, will knuckle-under and register for their cards in order that they can get new passports.



if that majority would simply refuse to renew their passports, take their holidays in the u.k. (very good for some british businesses, bad for the airlines) and write to their m.p. explaining what they're doing, the whole pile of shit would collapse in no time, as the airlines and travel companies (big contributors to political parties, both) suffered hard times and begged (forced?) bliar to get rid of the whole sorry shambles.



but there's a deeper problem than just i.d. cards.



there are large chunks of government business which are kept secret. for example, the appallingly ill-inspired, badly-run p.f.i. scheme, about which the public and even m.p.s know nothing because certain things are 'trade secrets'. this scheme spends billions in public money. a full accounting is absolutely essential, but the majority accept the government's assertions that such details should be kept secret.



i don't happen to agree. it's my money they're spending, not their own, and i demand to know how, why and where it's being spent.