Martin, I'm not sure what you mean by the 'dustbin of history', even
if it is in your mind. I think this needs a bit of explanation.
As for the 'nanny state', well, some of us are as weary of those who
use that phrase as we are of the New Labour crowd who choose to nanny
us in one particular way while doing the opposite of nannying in
another. The 'nanny state' is an old insult thrown at Labour's once
Welfare State by the Tories and the rich and the reactionary. The New
Labour governments of Blair and Brown have made the angle of that
insult meaningless as their nanny state is mostly concerned with
control, not fairness and equality. In other words they have
completely flipped the thing over.
I've read Pulman's piece and I know exactly what he's talking about.
It's a powerful piece, and quite poetic too, but I doubt of any of
those bureaucratic types involved with government and business will
have the foggiest what he's talking about.
Cheers
Tim A.
On 27 Feb 2009, at 19:34, Martin Walker wrote:
> From where I am, reading the news in various online publications
> every day - I remain English thoughr fo I have long consigned the
> UK to the dustbin of history in my mind - what he says is just. It's
> *that* bad.The nanny-state is the British way of describing it with
> humour - but preserve us from such a devouring nanny! I fear its
> encroachment as the EU commission becomes more demanding &
> controlling. In the end universal darkness will cover all, only the
> frozen wastes of Canada will remain for those who yearn for
> liberty to escape to - but how long before they too thaw & the
> surveillance rats move in?
> mj
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Douglas Barbour" <[log in to unmask]
> >
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 7:29 PM
> Subject: Re: pullman on liberty
>
>
>> very interesting, sad, frightening. is it really that bad yet? or
>> just, so to speak, in the laws passed as prologue...?
>>
>> Doug
>> On 27-Feb-09, at 5:28 AM, Martin Walker wrote:
>>
>>> This was in the Times today - I would have expected it in the
>>> Guardian or Independent.
>>> http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article5811412.ece
>>>
>>> M.J.Walker - no webpage, no blogspot, no idea
>>>
>>> Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the
>>> comprehension of the weak; and that it is doing God's service
>>> when it is violating all His laws.
>>> John Adams to Thomas Jefferson.
>>
>> Douglas Barbour
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>> http://www.ualberta.ca/~dbarbour/
>>
>> Latest books:
>> Continuations (with Sheila E Murphy)
>> http://www.uap.ualberta.ca/UAP.asp?LID=41&bookID=664
>> Wednesdays'
>> http://abovegroundpress.blogspot.com/2008/03/new-from-aboveground-press_10.html
>>
>> It's always night or we wouldn't need light.
>>
>> Thelonious Monk
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