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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Wednesday, 27 August 2008

BBC NEWS | Wales | Sex abuse compensation 'insult'


To follow on from a previous post regarding the compensation levels for this and many other types of crime, comes further confirmation of that premise that the blame the victim culture is not just an urban myth and that those who a victims of miscarriages of justice or injured at work are more likely to be treat fairly than the victims of sexual crimes.

'The mother of a Cardiff girl assaulted at the age of three by the paedophile Craig Sweeney has confirmed the family has been offered £9,000 compensation.
The woman has described the offer as "the final insult" saying it does not compensate her daughter for the ordeal. '

And I am sure that, right now, this morning, there are more insults landing on the mat for lots of other victims, struggling to rebuild their lives after falling into the hands of these predators.

In a statement, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority said: "We cannot comment specifically on applications made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, in order to protect applicants' confidentiality.

"CICA operates under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2001, as set down by Parliament. The scheme sets the levels of compensation depending on the injuries sustained.

"We pay awards under a tariff system that assigns each specific injury a fixed amount of compensation. Awards under this tariff range from £1,000 to £250,000."

Note that the one thing missing from this statement, the word sorry.
Even if their hands are tied by the poorly considered decisions of Parliament, they could express the notion that they themselves are not happy with these restraints.

It is this hiding behind the official line and that you are not an individual but just another case number which re enforces the ideas and feelings of victim blaming and inequality.

I am pleased that Cardiff North MP Julie Morgan said she felt the strict tariff system needed examination, but any changes are long over due and, even if Parliament will admit that the levels of compensation are woefully inadequate, these changes will probably be a long way into the future.

BBC NEWS | Wales | Sex abuse compensation 'insult'

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Friday, 22 August 2008

"Pisst!" Wanna ID Card mate?"


'PA Consulting is one of the companies that has been involved in developing the government's controversial ID card scheme - opposed by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.'

And opposed by any sensible inhabitant of this country as well!!

"Pisst!" Wanna ID Card mate?"

'A risk assessment was being carried out about the data that was missing, alongside the internal inquiry into what had happened, she said.' (Home Secretary Jacqui Smith )

Wooo! A risk assessment! That will show 'em!

I used to do risk assessments on the kids I used to work with. You know the sort of stuff, can this child be trusted with a large kitchen knife or to go to the shops that sort of thing.

Anyone want to do one on this government?

Can this administration be trusted with (fill in the blank with your own suggestion) ?

BBC NEWS | Politics | Firm 'broke rules' over data loss

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Friday, 15 August 2008

So you went out got yourself raped then did you love? Were you drinking?. The sound of air being sucked over teeth.

This is another example of the attitude towards victims of these sexual crimes.

The mindset of blame and punish the victim starts with the police and proceeds all the way through the CPS, the courts and finally, as we see now, with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.

The standard £11,000 award seem paltry when compared to the levels of compensation paid out to victims of miscarriages of justice or police officers involved with a 'harrowing and dangerous assignment'.

'It's been a huge strain on family relationships and the fact the whole way through the police and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority have insinuated that I was to blame or I wasn't telling the truth, has allowed people to make judgements about me.
'

Exactly!

The effects of these type of crime last throughout the victims lives.

They can end up falling foul of the law due to the amount of distress, they can lose their friends, their families and partners, their careers.

And £11,000 (if you haven't contributed in getting yourself raped by what you were, a: drinking b: wearing, c: talking about, d: being out without a chaperon) is going to help put that right?






BBC NEWS | UK | 'I felt like I'd been slapped'

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Monday, 4 August 2008

Bye Bye Bad Cop News


Oh Dear!
I wonder what is the story behind this?

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