kingfisher241049 wrote:I found life in the UK too narrow, personal freedoms too sparse, the only things that were legal were basically those things which had not been made illegal yet. As a former civil rights activist, I coud see the way the UK was going, more authoritarian, more draconian, more right wing in every aspect of life. Mrs Thatcher's legacy lives on and is thriving.
...
This slide into authoritarianism started long before 9/11, but that event just gave the politicians more excuse for another round of draconian laws.

Are we actually living in the same country here Alan? Have you heard of a guy called Bush?
I've travelled extensively and I've never been more aware of such lack of personal freedom, such a nanny state with strict government/police control and dogma than here. I find that really bizarre that you see it that way. Just goes to show how two people's perceptions can be so different.
To quote the goons, my gast has never been so flabbered!
Its a sad day when people cannot be a little irresponsible once in a while, without ending up in court or in jail.
You mean like the signs we pass every day here threatening us that if we throw a cigarette out of the window (littering), we will get 30 days in gaol (jail)?
Or the ordnance we have here in Savannah that means that if I pass the same spot in my car 3 times in 2 hours I will get a $90 fine?
I'm even reticent about writing this because I know that it could easily be taken badly by the authorities who obviously are monitoring forum postings, e-mail and Internet searches (courtesy of Google). They have recently admitted illegally listening in on international telephone conversations, blithely ignoring the legal requirement to obtain a warrant. They already have the right to break into our homes while we're out, rifle through our belongings and leave without a trace - all without even having to get a warrant or justify it to anybody!
If someone asked me to list reason to return to the UK, one of the highest would be freedom - real freedom, not the propaganda one.
I realise that things are probably getting worse in that respect over there, but there can be absolutely no doubt whose lead we are following.
Alan.