Tuesday 30 September 2008

BBC NEWS | UK | Rape compensation still not paid

Well how come that doesn't surprise me one bit.
For those who are regular readers of The Tao will know that this is a topic which I have a great deal of interest and personal experience.
(See here and here for previous articles)



BBC NEWS | UK | Rape compensation still not paid

Let's get this straight.
Compensation is not paid to the victims because it used by the government to pay itself.

I will explain.

You have been the victim of an attack. You have gone through all the hoops and over all the hurdles that are placed in your way towards any form of justice, much to the detriment of your health so you have not been able to work or have lost your career.
The state have been paying you incapacity benefit because of this, so any compensation that you receive firstly has to go back to the government to pay for the privilege of receiving state support for being ill due to no fault of your own.

Compare to the fate of the perpetrator, either they are not convicted or, if they are, receive a community punishment, such as painting a local school (saving the local authorities thousands) or are incarcerated in one of the states prisons.
Both of these approaches deal with the rehabilitation of the offender and to pay back something to society.

In the course of these events, many thousands are spent towards this goal. There are the wages of all the 'experts' who will manage the perp. The Judge, the probation service, the police, the social worker. the supervisor of the project or the staff at the prisons, etc, all on a good wage.

The sex offender is given plenty of support to change their ways. They can be offered training and therapy. They can earn money whilst being in prison, if they are ill and unable to work they can claim the same benefits as the victim, but do not have to pay it back if they 'recover' enough to get a job.

Few of these support mechanisms exist for the victims and where they do they are patchy and uncoordinated.

Does any of this seem fair?

As I said, I am not surprised, given that most students, those who will go on to be our police officers, social workers, judges etc believe that most women invite rape or even that it is a consequence of their actions.

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Friday 26 September 2008

Craig Murray - Text of George Bush's Address

This made me laugh so hard I nearly gagged on my tea!!



Craig Murray - Text of George Bush's Address

In need of definitions to all of this financial jargon? Try here!

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Thursday 25 September 2008

BBC NEWS | Politics | Younger teens 'to get ID cards'



Strange that I didn't hear any of this on the mainstream news items.. oh! yes! too much distraction regards the PM and resignations, The Great Financial Heist in the history of Fiat currencies and such... so here we go, another media circus and another day to bury bad news.

Taken from the article:

Identity cards could be handed out to children as young as 14, a home office minister has suggested.

The first ID cards are due to be offered to 16 and 17-year-olds from 2010 as part of a plan to introduce the controversial scheme in stages.

But Meg Hillier said the age range was still "up for grabs" and could be lowered "if they prove popular".

So, we have our nations kids, who are playing spy games at school, who are vaccinated against cervical cancer while being having their fingerprints taken so they will be able to access the library or food. They are keeping diaries that their parents are not allowed to see, whilst being monitored for any un-PC comments, now are being groomed to accept that ID Cards and Biometrics are a done deal and are, in fact rather cool.

She said she had been "struck" by a visit to Hungary, where 14-year-olds routinely carried ID cards - and she pointed out that six-year-olds were already fingerprinted for visas.

Hungary is a country with an interesting history, especially when using it as a system model to compare and contrast our own.

She also hit back at suggestions by anti-ID card campaigners that the scheme might not go ahead.

"it is full steam ahead," she told the meeting, "in fact the prime minister wanted me to do it quicker than it was possible."

Phil Booth of No2ID said Ms Hiller was "delusional" if she thought ID cards could not be scrapped by an incoming Conservative government.

"The officials themselves, since 2006 have designed the contract on the basis that the entire scheme could be canned at the next election."

So the PM is so keen to have this accomplished before the next election? I suppose we can discern from these statements that election will not be called anytime soon then.

Mr Booth, who had been due to speak at the fringe meeting but was unable to gain entry to the conference centre because of a problem with his pass application, also criticised the plan to give the cards to younger children.

He said ID cards legislation specified a minimum age of 16 and he said it was wrong for young people to be tied into a giant database "for the rest of their lives".

On his conference pass problems, he said: "If this is how they are organising their ID for their own party conference, how the heck are they going to organise ID cards for 50 million people?"

LOL not so much as a problem with his pass as a gag.

BBC NEWS | Politics | Younger teens 'to get ID cards'

See also here, here and here.

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Friday 12 September 2008

Money Is Debt

Ah! The Monetary System!

We hear about this constantly on the news and we nod our heads and think we understand.
But do we?




Money Is Debt

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Sunday 7 September 2008

Malice in Blunderland or Who Stole the Tarts?

“Will you walk a little faster?” said a



whiting to a


snail,

“There’s a porpoise


close behind us,



and he’s treading on my tail.

See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance!

They are waiting on the shingle—will you come and join the
dance?




Will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you, will you join the
dance?
Will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you, won’t you join the
dance?

(The Lobster-Quadrille by Lewis Carroll)

(From the article)
Lawyers for a Briton accused of hacking into secret military and Nasa computers are asking the home secretary to ensure he is not jailed in the US.

Glasgow-born Gary McKinnon, 42, who last month lost his appeal against extradition, could face life in jail if convicted of accessing 97 computers. His lawyer Karen Todner said his human rights would be breached if he did not return to the UK after a trial.

The Home Office said his case was "receiving consideration". A spokesman said: "Further representations have been received today from solicitors against Mr McKinnon's surrender to the USA which are receiving consideration."

Ms Todner said she had written to the Home Office asking for an intervention on her client's behalf. She said: "We have requested that the home secretary obtain an assurance from the United States government that Mr McKinnon be returned to the UK immediately on receiving a sentence in the US, should he be extradited.

"It is standard practice for both the Dutch and Israeli governments to seek this assurance on behalf of their nationals who face extradition to the United States.

"In light of Mr McKinnon's being diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, it would seem to be highly appropriate that the home secretary obtains this assurance."


BBC NEWS | UK | Hacker appeals to home secretary

Well what do you think? Think Jackie is going to help out Gazza? Or is there a hand basin anywhere handy?

“Chorus again!” cried the Gryphon, and the Mock Turtle had just begun to repeat it, when a cry of “The trial’s beginning!” was heard in the distance.

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