[lrh9]

I didn't say oppressive totalitarianism.

[Maviarab]

regulates public life and private life to an extent

That would be oppressive imo...

[lrh9]

To me regulation is vital. I'm thoroughly disabused of the notion that society can fairly and justly regulate itself.

[Maviarab]

Why are you against that notion? Things you have seen, witnessed or your own views based on friends/family etc?

Also, at wat point does regulation become regime and dictatorship? Its little known that currently the UK is the most oppressed country in Europe...

Not arguing lrh (in case thats what you thought), just interested in your views as I find it an interesting subject as I am a very active person in this field.

[lrh9]

Maybe it's just a matter of personal preference.

[Art]

lrh9,

Fine but it always seems that "regulation" eventually becomes "Control".  Take a look around...here in the USA, our government now knows how best to raise a child, do our laundry, what type of vehicle to buy, what type of lamp / lighting devices we need to use (compact fluorescents) and on and on.

Keep in mind that these are the very group of individuals who collectively legislate and approve testing done by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and every other agency who conveniently looks the other way when food gets recalled instead of the inspectors, cars get recalled, toys get recalled due to extreme levels of lead, etc. Instead they would have us believe that WE caused global warming!!
BS...the earth has been going through its cycles for eons and we're not going to stop it by converting our homes to a different type of light bulb!!

It was supposed to be a government of, by and for the people. Congress and Senate should have TERM LIMITS...just like the office of the President. NO...these maggots get to stay in there until they are old and decrepit. They do not have to survive on our social security system...they have invented their own and believe me, it is much higher of a retirement package than you can realize! Maybe if they had to live on what the rest of the common people do, they'd quickly fix it!

How about the elderly, retired people who have had their houses paid for years and years ago. They STILL have to pay Property taxes on that property. They STILL have to pay school taxes even though they no longer have school aged children at home. There are MANY, MANY incongruities in today's society and one of them is our very government. I don't hate / dislike government...I dislike the way it's being run!!

Remember...power corrupts...absolutely power corrupts absolutely!

 <stepping down from soap box>

[Maviarab]

Remember...power corrupts...absolutely power corrupts absolutely!

never a truer word uttered.

[lrh9]

Well government doesn't have to be one type of system for all types of issues. Right now, we live entirely under a republic. Where elected officials are presumed to represent the will of the people and form policy. The popular vote for President, which does not officially count, is the closest thing we have to direct democracy. Where each individual people can propose policy and officially vote on it. Another type of government that really interests and excites me though is the technocracy. Where the academia and scientists form policy. Each one has its failings. For instance, if America was a direct democracy, then minorities would never obtain civil rights. Republics can fail to execute the will of the people. And technocracy? Well... we don't really have a technocracy so it would be difficult to judge its downsides. All though the closest thing might be some bureaucratic agencies related to science and education.

[Maviarab]

Another new article...

http://money.msn.taxbuddies.com/newsb.php?id=83

[Maviarab]

And another interesting artcile (not about tax) but the service and quality of BB

Latvia, Lithuania and Bulgaria are ready for future BB and better networks....

Kind of says something doesnt it when we are behind countries like that. No offence intended to countries like that (nothing wrong with them, Bulgariaa lvely place imo) but the UK should really be ahead of them technology wise.

[Freddy]

Latest from BT....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8298382.stm

Reading that, I just remembered that the UK is leading or one of the leaders in broadband take up.  Now we just need more speed !!  Will it ever be enough ? 

[Freddy]

Here's some news on this :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8445869.stm

The UK government wants advice on how to spend the cash being raised for next generation broadband in rural areas. The cash will be generated by imposing a 50p duty on all fixed line phones.

Since I changed ISP I am now getting about  7meg, that's about 3 times faster than it was with Orange.  And my upload is just under 1meg which is four times faster.  This has all been possible because Talk Talk upgraded the infrastructure.

So I am now thinking, if they can do it why can't the rest of the industry ?  But they might not be so interested in the smaller rural areas - hence the government's concerns I can understand.