Yet another daft idea from the British Government. They intend to set up a database that will monitor all our travel out of the country every year and keep it for at least ten years! Apparently this will help safety and security in the light of mounting terrorist threats against us. The UK Government doesn't have a good record on maintaing database security so this will be something else for them to lose. I despair. George Orwell must be shouting "told you so", just 24 years late. Is your country turning into a police state?
[question posted by p1kef1sh]
responses and comments:
What a great idea pike! Now all the lonely travellers won't have to send themselves postcards anymore. Think of the money they'll save! To be honest, I figured that record keeping like this would be done by most governments already. In Australia, business records for example must be kept for 7 years I think. Their database security record is of great concern though! shocked [James72]
That's a perfectly good point. Airlines will know who flew where and when already. So why employ a bunch more people using a dodgy database (Government IT contracts don't have a good track record) that they'll lose anyway. [p1kef1sh]
Here in the US, we are a little behind the UK. But with our new administration, we are catching up quick! [laglen]
I agree, and I'm sure 99% of people agree with that statement as well. Very good. :) [maezee]
Wow, what next they going to keep track on how much we eat, how many times we go to the Toilet, how much we sleep What has happened to privacy and Freedom [gabs8513]
No probably not P1ke I shall wait for them to knock on my door shall I lol xxx [gabs8513]
My goodness, this is "George Orwellish"! Will "big brother" initiate a computer chip installed in the ear lobe at birth to track our activities? Like we do to find lost pets? Another make work program for a government that they outsource? Like our B.C. government decided to computerize B.C.ites health records, a big job, could have employed a lot of people here....but the bid went to a Texas company...5 years later, the med records are totally messed up..a lot of persons still do not have Medical insurance...and all of our personal information is in a data bank in Texas! Even our Social Insurance Numbers..ouch! [pergammano]
It's not just the British Government then. What a mess that sounds. [p1kef1sh]
Yes, my country is gradually turning into a police state. This week our president dictated what companies receiving bailout money can pay their executives. This may sound harmless, but it's one step closer to socialism and the people are accepting it. We have a lot of wealth envy in this country and those who aren't rich are cheering about this action. They don't see that our journey down the slippery slope to socialism has begun. Just say the words "hope" and "change" and the people will accept anything. sad [dragon54u]
Social Security has already been looted so there's nothing there. I have heard rumors that our private retirement funds might be raided but that's pretty drastic and I don't think anyone dares to do that--yet. [dragon54u]
We've been there for atleast 20 years. So old George wasn't that far off!!! shocked shocked shocked [LadyMarissa]
He wasn't was he? How we all laughed and said that it wouldn't ever happen. Whoops. [p1kef1sh]
George Orwell, indeed would be saying that. But we are not animals. P1, at least your country is free from dictatorship and martial law. You count yourself lucky for that. You also don't experience Political killings and being imprisoned for one's beliefs. Cheers and happy mylotting. [Jenaisle]
That's true Jen. We have fought hard and lost millions of people in our efforts to defend and maintain our freedoms. However, that is now being undermined by a Government who spout "Safety and Security" as their excuse for doing anything. The one thing that they fail to do is to tell us just what the threat is against us. [p1kef1sh]
That's totally stupid! They can't even keep track of what the people in the House of Lords and House of Commons are doing, how can they possibly keep track of all of our holidays? Doesn't make any sense to me at all. I wonder what they're hoping to achieve from it exactly, do you think they want a way to 'legally spy' on people? Next they'll be saying they want to put video Surveillance in our houses......'for our own benefit' or 'for the safety of the nation'. Maybe I'm just paranoid, but it's not paranoia if they really really ARE out to get you! [dorypanda]
It is worrying really, I wonder if some other countries government will try to intervene and send troops to here. I've got a feeling it won't come to that though, think us and the US are supplying most places with stuff they shouldn't. [dorypanda]
Apparently. I just caught a little bit of a news story yesterday about some kind of fuel tax. All vehicles will be required to have a GPS system installed so that the government can keep tabs on where we've been and how much fuel we've used. We will be taxed accordingly. I thought they already had a tax on fuel? Now they want to charge an extra tax when we USE something we've already paid for? Ridiculous. I've already feel safe with the extra home security system services at home. [thebohemianheart]
That's not impossible. It could be based on lung capacity and justified on the basis that the revenue is being used to support "green" projects or to "combat climate change" or whatever. [jwfarrimond]
Well our PM is still waiting to BE a politician when he finally grows up, so you can imagine how good HIS ideas are! LOL Except for airport security which is now beyond ridiculous and totally ineffective, we've been pretty lucky here. But then our government is so influenced by U.S. policy............we are collectively holding our breath these days to see how Obama deals with the policies Bush left behind. Our regionality and Provincial Governments keep us protected somewhat from too much Federal interference, so day to day living is relatively 'police state' free. George Orwell would be bored in Canada I think! LOL [sparkofinsanity]
Works for me! LOL Give me a garden and a good study and the gov't can plant security dudes, cameras, rules and regs all around me and I wouldn't notice! LOL [sparkofinsanity]
Hi p1key, I think that is terrible because of terrorism, why do we have to suffer because of them?, The goverment should only do that to those who are coming and going without living in this country permently. Hugs. Tamara xxx [tamarafireheart]
I've given up trying to work out what this government is trying to do Tamara. They just seem to want to control us all. XXXX [p1kef1sh]
;starts looking, again, for a place for the P1kes to move near me; [Irishfrndly65]
What? You mean you have a problem with this pike? *takes notes down in a little black book* Sorry but I will have to report that you have a mind of your own. We cant have that going on you know. You must be just like everyone else in the nanny state. Database security and the government? Whats that? You mean Laptops holding social security numbers and uh whatever they are called there lol, arnt supposed to be lost on a cab or the subway? Wow I never knew that lol. I guess those computer security locks don't really work all the time. [darkjedi]
Yeah. Oh im sure if you just pick up your phone and start talking and confess they will hear everything. [darkjedi]
That is such a crazy idea of the British Government. I came home from South Africa and handed an immigration officer my passport and my son's passport. He asked if that is my son. Well of course I thought. I travel a lot and so having been to over 50 countries so far the British Government will have its work cut out. It does feel like living in a police state. Most of us are normal people and not terrorists that they should be arresting. I thought the Singapore Government was strict with its rules but know it is a fine country. I have been there three times and like it very much. I go off the UK a bit when I hear an idea like the British Government keeping tabs on where all its people are. [maximax8]
I think that they won't be happy until they've tagged every one of us! At least in Singapore you don't feel opressed. No Cameras on every corner etc. [p1kef1sh]
Yes. The problem is it only seems to be able to keep tabs on honest citizens, criminals, illegal immigrants and other 'undesireables' easily get away from all this surveillance. George Orwell did just get the date wrong. [nannacroc]
I agree Nanna. Catch the innocent and ignore the rest! [p1kef1sh]
Hi P1kef1sh, I heard this earlier today and it is ridiculous but with car insurance companies now doing insurance per mile you travel and the sat nav systems they even know where we got and what we do on a day to day basis, scary eh. The internet is just as bad, google yourself and see what comes up. Someone me googled my email address and it came up that I was on a counil exchange list, my email address is for a friend without a computer that wants to move, I don't even live in a council house LOL I agree it is getting very big brother these days. even the supermarkets know exactly what products we buy each week. I suppose some will say if you aren't up to anything wrong why should it bother us but it does me, no wonder I often get the feeling of being watched LOL. Smile your on camera. Huggles. Ellie :D [ellie333]
Be grateful, P1ke ... if I google my daughter I get a naked American newsreader! [guybrush]
Forgot what I did in 2003? Are you kidding - I've forgotten what I did before breakfast! Our government keeps stats on totally useless things and doesn't bother with the important stuff. They are so puffed up with self-importance with their little dossiers, red tape, x-files ... whatever. I don't care what they know about me - if it makes them feel nice and safe to think I'm sitting in front of my computer adding kilos to my arse, more power to them. Sooner or later they'll get sick of it and go away ... [guybrush]
With a bit of luck they'll send you royalties, Ellie ... could be a nice little earner - hahahaa! [guybrush]
Hey p1ke! I have no idea what the US is doing about that! I haven't left the country in so long they would have no problem finding and tracking me, even through credit card terminal machines! I haven't gone anywhere! I guess it would be a good idea except that it would take them forever to check out every single person that travelled out of the country so I'm not exactly sure what the point of this is? So if the British Government loses things it might just be a waste of time anyway! And yes, George Orwell was such a brilliant man wasn't he? [Opal26]
I think that it's another classic example of stupidity in action that my Government does so well. [p1kef1sh]
LOL!! What a boring job!! Hahahah... well, I am still waiting for my ration card. Since we are a race of people who believe in reincarnation, I have a serious feeling that I will get my ration card only in my next life. I am still surprised that they gave me my son's birth records on time. LOL! Of course, I had to pay "extra" for it. We are not turning into "police state." I really dunno what we are "turning into"... LOL!! [positiveminded1977]
Ration card Positive? Are you at war? Bureaucracy is just that the World over I think. [p1kef1sh]
Hi.I am from the USA and our government has track of us for a long time they do it mostly for taxes. if you work out of the country 330 days or more each year some of your income is tax free. they don't like giving back tax income so,if you are like me working mostly out of the states.they keep a close eye on you.have a good day. [RockCollector59]
everyone pays taxes in one way or another.but,they track everyone that leave the country.another thing they do here is if you are coming from certain country.when they scans your past port it tells custom's to give you the special look. coming back from some south American country are bad. they are looking for drugs [RockCollector59]
loli have not gone out of my country in many years.i have been roaming inside my country only.guess,i am not a threat!!! now how do i monitor ,where i went in 2003??wink [riyasam]
I think that the biggest threat will come from people already in the country Riyasam. [p1kef1sh]
I do believe this was being done already and they are now bringing it to pulic notice. Why? How then can they ressurect records from years past if they didn't had them somewhere already stored?? Aren't things like medical billing coding supposed to be private? [gtdonna]
They store all sorts of data about us Donna. But this one seems plain daft especially a the carriers do it already! [p1kef1sh]
Turned into one? Or been one for quite some time... [UtopianIdealist]
The latter. This just adds more "powers" do an already alarming list. [p1kef1sh]
Hi p1ke...this is ridiculous, soon we will have to have camera's in our own home so they can see what we are up too! This country is getting worse all the time, I have a couple of friends that have now just stopped working and by next year are hoping to move abroad perhaps to Brazil as they hate ENGLAND...you know the more that happens here I really wish I too could afford to go live abroad, hopefully big brother wouldn't be watching my every move...hugs littleowl [littleowl]
I think that it is less that they do watch us that gets me LoLo; and more that they CAN watch us, that gives me the creeps. It's like having state sponsored peeping Toms looking in our windows. What also irritates me is the way that we just let it happen! [p1kef1sh]
Oh yes, yes, yes. It is 1984 my friend and I have the book to follow Orwells famous book. Ainge [Aingealicia]
Oh I agree. I may not be able to post my story on here so I will let you know the link to it. I may be a bit to 'rough' for some shall we say. I agree, many were laughing and we no longer do. Ainge [Aingealicia]
Just recently I heard that the great stimulus is including a program to put all our medical records on a central website...something I don't like. Why would anyone want to know something as private as mid wife information? Are we turning into a police state? We have been for a long time...the government is just doing it so slowly that ppl aren't paying attention. ~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~ **STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS** [twoey68]
I agree entirely Twoey! [p1kef1sh]
Shaking my head over this one... ummmm.. yeah... nothing intelligent to add to this one, dear P!key. Texas is looking more and more appealing everyday, I bet. Hee [makingpots]