Via Spyblog, this denial by John Prescott that his department plans to use satellites to spy on our home improvements.
“A spokeswoman for the office of the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, pointed out that the document was not a government publication and they were not bound by its suggestions. She added that Mr Prescott has specifically ruled out using satellite technology and that there were “absolutely no current plans” to put the scheme into operation.”
Well, there’s convenient. So, is it, as one of the commenters on Spyblog points out, a desensitizing exercise designed to switch us off from the increasingly insane ideas so that we don’t notice the real ones slipping in under the radar?
Could be… Could be…
Or is it that even the buffoon Prescott realised that this sounds as bad as it looks and it looks like he is an incompetent berk?
Could be…
My initial point stands, however; the government continues along its authoritarian agenda, continues to see mass surveillance as a good thing “for our own good” and continues to squeeze more of our earnings in taxes. The Devil’s Kitchen makes a neat point about this when discussing the matter:
“That the joy of it, my dears; just contemplate this for a moment. You have always, secretly, craved a conservatory; somewhere to eat your croissant in the morning without necessarily having to succumb to the slightly chilly British weather. Eventually you save up for this dream conservatory, and you purchase it with your hard-earned income.
* You pay 11% National Insurance (up to £34,000 or so) and about 24% income tax.
* Of course, you may have had a lump sum in shares or savings, so you pay, let’s say, 20% Capital Gains Tax.
* You pay 17.5% VAT on the conservatory.
* Your conservatory now adds £20 a month to your Council Tax Bill.
* And when you die, your estate has to pay 40% of the value of that conservatory in death duties.
It’s a wonderful world in which we live, is it not?”
Just don’t get me started on death duties… just don’t.
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