There's a Lot Wrong with Britain

Off Topic Politics & World Issues
721

Also Cockney,

It makes me wonder to what extent is the media working for the Government since, for instance, I never heard of the cctv incidents mentioned above. Never.
Media coverrage might actually give the people the idea that; ‘Oh yeah, I am not alone in my outrage - we can do something’.
And the subsequent effects that knowledge of protests can cause.
The smashed cameras must be in the suburbs because Central London feels just like a high security prison.
And yes, I do challenge EVERY SINGLE parking ticket I receive and have many canceled. But it is a hassle and a time consuming procedure. How can a local council have so much power to slow our productive time to chase their errors and greedy pursuit of money through traffic penalties? It is the whole power trip they are into that bothers me the most. It’s not even the money. They make it difficult and time and money consuming if we decide to challenge their mistakes. And not so much an apology if we win!! We, on the other hand, get hugely penalized for minor infractions.
Double standards!
It makes me feel like I am living with my parents all over again, for Christ sake!

And just as an observation:

99% of the parking officers ensuing tickets are of either African or Muslim ethnicity.

Immigration = Human weapons for the Government and by the Government.

722

[quote]Alpha F wrote:
Also Cockney,

It makes me wonder to what extent is the media working for the Government since, for instance, I never heard of the cctv incidents mentioned above. Never.
Media coverage might actually give the people the idea that; ‘Oh yeah, I am not alone in my outrage - we can do something’.
And the subsequent effects that knowledge of protests can cause.
The smashed cameras must be in the suburbs because Central London feels just like a high security prison.
And yes, I do challenge EVERY SINGLE parking ticket I receive and have many canceled. But it is a hassle and a time consuming procedure. How can a local council have so much power to slow our productive time to chase their errors and greedy pursuit of money through traffic penalties? It is the whole power trip they are into that bothers me the most. It’s not even the money. They make it difficult and time and money consuming if we decide to challenge their mistakes. And not so much an apology if we win!! We, on the other hand, get hugely penalized for minor infractions.
Double standards!
It makes me feel like I am living with my parents all over again, for Christ sake!

And just as an observation:

99% of the parking officers ensuing tickets are of either African or Muslim ethnicity.

Immigration = Human weapons for the Government and by the Government.[/quote]

I really don’t think the government or the media is clever enough to be in cahoots. At the end of the day we get the media and the government that we deserve. If we watch reality shows in our millions, the companies make more. If we vote for the douche bag just because he has a blue or red rosette then the selectors don’t have to dig too deep to put up a live candidate. The problem is that these two things are a vicious cycle.

And yes, most of the speeding cameras that I have seen shot out have been a bit more out in the countryside though in London they regularly get ‘accidentally’ reversed over.

As for the parking wardens, I think the issue isn’t that they are deliberately selecting minorities, more that the pay is pretty low and the entry requirements are not exactly strict.

By the way, going back to your point about Hyde Park. I have plenty of Brazilian friends (along with Brits, Ozzies, Colombians, Mexicans, Harpies and Kiwi’s) that do lie around the park in G-String Bikini’s and I am sure that the average middle aged Brit is just as offended with the foreigners changing Traditional British Values.

I on the other hand am perfectly happy with it :wink:

723

Here is a good example of how the government has really fucked up. They have implemented into law, half baked ideas that have been a disaster because the prevent the government from taking reasonable steps to protect the people. Here is the latest example.

I do not think that the policy disaster known as the human rights act has been an accident. I think it has been a carefully calculated ploy to mold public opinion against human rights. Everything that Labour has done since 1997 has been part of an orchstrated plan to turn Britian into a dictatorship.

Follow the link to read the full article.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/6292414/Revealed-courts-let-dangerous-foreign-criminals-stay-in-Britain.html

Revealed: courts let dangerous foreign criminals stay in Britain

Dangerous foreign criminals are beating the Home Office to remain in the UK at the end of their prison sentences, The Sunday Telegraph can disclose

An investigation has uncovered scores of cases where offenders from overseas, including killers and sex attackers, have been able to stay in Britain despite strenuous attempts by the Government to deport them.

The findings demonstrate how criminals are using the 1998 Human Rights Act to avoid being sent back to their homelands â?? despite a pledge by Gordon Brown to remove any foreigner who breaks the law.

In cases thought to have cost the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds, immigration judges have overturned attempts by the Home Office to remove at least 50 foreign criminals from the country in the past 12 months, after lawyers argued that deporting them would breach their human rights.

In July 2007, shortly after becoming prime minister, Mr Brown told foreign nationals to “play by the rules or face the consequences”, warning: “If you commit a crime you will be deported from our country.”

Yet in several cases, criminals were allowed to remain in the UK despite courts acknowledging that they pose a danger to the public.

724

[quote]Sifu wrote:
Here is a good example of how the government has really fucked up. They have implemented into law, half baked ideas that have been a disaster because the prevent the government from taking reasonable steps to protect the people. Here is the latest example.

I do not think that the policy disaster known as the human rights act has been an accident. I think it has been a carefully calculated ploy to mold public opinion against human rights. Everything that Labour has done since 1997 has been part of an orchstrated plan to turn Britian into a dictatorship.

Follow the link to read the full article.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/6292414/Revealed-courts-let-dangerous-foreign-criminals-stay-in-Britain.html

Revealed: courts let dangerous foreign criminals stay in Britain

Dangerous foreign criminals are beating the Home Office to remain in the UK at the end of their prison sentences, The Sunday Telegraph can disclose

An investigation has uncovered scores of cases where offenders from overseas, including killers and sex attackers, have been able to stay in Britain despite strenuous attempts by the Government to deport them.

The findings demonstrate how criminals are using the 1998 Human Rights Act to avoid being sent back to their homelands â?? despite a pledge by Gordon Brown to remove any foreigner who breaks the law.

In cases thought to have cost the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds, immigration judges have overturned attempts by the Home Office to remove at least 50 foreign criminals from the country in the past 12 months, after lawyers argued that deporting them would breach their human rights.

In July 2007, shortly after becoming prime minister, Mr Brown told foreign nationals to “play by the rules or face the consequences”, warning: “If you commit a crime you will be deported from our country.”

Yet in several cases, criminals were allowed to remain in the UK despite courts acknowledging that they pose a danger to the public.

[/quote]

I am confused, you claim there is a secret plot and then post an example that is clearly bumbling incompetence.

725

[quote]Cockney Blue wrote:
Sifu wrote:
Here is a good example of how the government has really fucked up. They have implemented into law, half baked ideas that have been a disaster because the prevent the government from taking reasonable steps to protect the people. Here is the latest example.

I do not think that the policy disaster known as the human rights act has been an accident. I think it has been a carefully calculated ploy to mold public opinion against human rights. Everything that Labour has done since 1997 has been part of an orchstrated plan to turn Britian into a dictatorship.

Follow the link to read the full article.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/6292414/Revealed-courts-let-dangerous-foreign-criminals-stay-in-Britain.html

Revealed: courts let dangerous foreign criminals stay in Britain

Dangerous foreign criminals are beating the Home Office to remain in the UK at the end of their prison sentences, The Sunday Telegraph can disclose

An investigation has uncovered scores of cases where offenders from overseas, including killers and sex attackers, have been able to stay in Britain despite strenuous attempts by the Government to deport them.

The findings demonstrate how criminals are using the 1998 Human Rights Act to avoid being sent back to their homelands �¢?? despite a pledge by Gordon Brown to remove any foreigner who breaks the law.

In cases thought to have cost the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds, immigration judges have overturned attempts by the Home Office to remove at least 50 foreign criminals from the country in the past 12 months, after lawyers argued that deporting them would breach their human rights.

In July 2007, shortly after becoming prime minister, Mr Brown told foreign nationals to “play by the rules or face the consequences”, warning: “If you commit a crime you will be deported from our country.”

Yet in several cases, criminals were allowed to remain in the UK despite courts acknowledging that they pose a danger to the public.

I am confused, you claim there is a secret plot and then post an example that is clearly bumbling incompetence.[/quote]

I am offering up an opinion. In America we are allowed to do that. If it was bumbling incompetence then why has incompetent bumbler responsible for it NOT been relieved of any further responsibilities so he can cause no more harm and why has his gross incompetence not been repealed?

If you would bother to read the British newpapers and take the time to read peoples opinions of articles LIKE I HAVE, you would know that a lot of people are fed up with criminals and other kinds of problem people getting away murder because of the Human Rights Act.

My opinion incidentally is based upon a model for government intervention that no less of an authority than Herman Goering detailed. First you create a crisis where the people will be willing for someone, anyone to come along and provide leadership to fix it.

If you make the crisis bad enough the people will be willing to tolerate quite a lot to see it fixed. Then you provide that leadership. By the time people realize they have been had it is too late.

So it is not like what I am postulating is something new. It is an old idea that was very effective for the Nazis.

726

[quote]Cockney Blue wrote:
Sifu wrote:
Cockney Blue wrote:
Sifu wrote:
Alpha F wrote:
Sifu wrote:

One thing that I will fully agree with you on is that New Labour has been a disaster from start to finish. I remember when he got in, I was at University in Manchester and people were driving around the streets waving flags and beeping their horns.

I was telling everyone that would listen that it was possibly the worst thing that could happen for the country and no-one wanted to hear it. I really wish I had been wrong on that one. Tony Blair just struck me as deeply dishonest from the first time I saw him.[/quote]

The worst part of it is the previous labour government was a disaster too. That election was the Tory’s to lose. They did it through arrogance, conceit and corruption. They took their position for granted. I knew that when Labour got back into power they were going to go back to their bad old ways.

The country needs a revolution in it’s political thinking. What is sad is they have ready made ideas available to them courtesy of the American founding fathers. But the British are so hung up on resenting Americans that they would never do it.

727

[quote]Sifu wrote:
I am offering up an opinion. In America we are allowed to do that. If it was bumbling incompetence then why has incompetent bumbler responsible for it NOT been relieved of any further responsibilities so he can cause no more harm and why has his gross incompetence not been repealed?
[/quote]

Quite simply because the government always protects its own. I have never heard of a government employee getting in trouble unless their is public outrage.

[quote]Sifu wrote:
So it is not like what I am postulating is something new. It is an old idea that was very effective for the Nazis. [/quote]

True it might be more than incompetence. Always a possibility.

728


Live Feed from London Central

Alpha F, our T-Correspondent for the TTC, has approached the high security guards of ex Prime Minister for a an interview. She reports from Connaught Square:

Having parked the car 100 meters from the ex Prime Ministers doorstep, camera in hand and a relaxed approach, as soon as I stepped onto the pavement I immediately became aware of the two security officers with the machine guns keenly aware of my presence. As I walked in their direction I was keenly aware of how keenly aware the three security officers at Tony’s doorstep were of my now not so relax approach. My self-preservation instincts had then kicked in and I felt unease being that I was heading in the direction of two heavily armed men, and we all know what happens with Brazilian looking immigrants with the British police in the underground - and though I am more British than Brazilian by now I do look 100% Brazilian and get asked if I am Egyptian or Israeli all the time - so I sensed this background made me apprehensive. I had my camera in one hand and the other casually in my pocket and told myself as I approached them:
‘Take your hand our of your pocket so that they can see that you are ONLY armed with your camera’. another indication of how conscious I was of my self-preservation instinct and how being a citizen who looks like an unfavorable minority made me feel in the presence of armed police.
Having stopped before their presence and at close range of their guns but still able to duck under a car parked to our left, I said:

  • “Good afternoon, officers” ( pleasant, low respectful but firm tone of voice )

_ “Good afternoon” - they replied in unison and rhythm ( very pleasant and reassuring almost upbeat tone of voice )

I found myself uncomfortable being so close to those powerful guns so I went straight to the point:

  • “Am I allowed to take a picture?”

One made a face and squeezed his lips and said:

  • “Uummm, that depends. You can’t take a picture of the building.”

I, being the straight shooter that I am did not miss the target and replied:

  • "Actually, I just want to take a picture of the guns. And the other security items on your outfit ( at this point I was starring at his bullet proof jacket and pointing to all the gadgets on it ). You see, officers, I am having this discussion on a politics forum with some American friends and I told them that the security guards here had bigger guns than the ones at the American Embassy - you know Americans, they love their guns so now I need the picture to prove it ( at this point they had made me feel completely relaxed in their presence and I was slightly coquettish, my Brazilian roots sprouting out full force - and this is not the first time I find myself flirting with British policeman, there must be some T-Ness going on there ).

He said:

  • “Actually no. We are from the same department that guards the American Embassy and we do have exactly the same guns.”

Another said:

  • “So you want to take a picture for your friends?”

With a big happy smile on my face, I simply replied:

  • “Yes!”

The first officer then said:

  • " A picture of some London Bobbies for you then!" ( with a really nice upbeat tone and smile )

( I thought to myself; ‘Actually I just want a close up of the guns’ - but I didn’t tell him that. Obviously )

I took the picture and was extremely tempted to ask for another one of the guns but by then I really just wanted to safely exit from being “a target” though I was never made to feel that way, the fact they had guns and I didn’t just put me at a psychological disadvantage.

I said “Thank you” as I made eye contact with all three of them and walked away shaking my Brazilian ammunition ( completely covered, off course ) - which hopefully gave them something interesting to stare at in that dull square ( aside from the two lovely Ferraris that were parked there ).

I have to say; The British security officers are stellar!
Truly Ace ( Brazilian military police officers are such macho, unapproachable, high towers - they mustn’t be as well paid as the British ).
I was pleasantly surprised at how friendly they were, with a good sense of humor - completely unprejudiced as I did not detect not even a hint of ethnicity issues on account of my looks and I was extremely self conscious of that. True to the British gentlemanship to the core and I was impressed.

I did not expect to feel so intimidated in the presence of the guns. The guards were lovely but I gained some insight into living in a state of persecution, the possibility of human error and authoritarian power and population fear.

And so I was wrong about the security status of the Americans and Tony.
SuperTony is as important and not more, than the current world Superpower.
His house is like a mini British embassy in London Central.

Alpha F over and out.

729

I see that the picture was reduced to such format you can barely see the overwhelming power of the guns.

: (

Here is another less lethal symbol of power: The neighbors Ferrari.
With such security at my doorstep I would leave it open with the key at ignition and it would not be a problem - those guards are aware of every movement in that square.
I can testify to that.

[photo]25097[/photo]

You should be able to read Connaught Square on the street plate above the left of the car.

[photo]25098[/photo]

730

[quote]Sifu wrote:

I do not think that the policy disaster known as the human rights act has been an accident. I think it has been a carefully calculated ploy to mold public opinion against human rights. Everything that Labour has done since 1997 has been part of an orchstrated plan to turn Britian into a dictatorship. [/quote]

Interesting. My neighbor told me this two years ago and I thought she was just paranoid. [quote]

My opinion incidentally is based upon a model for government intervention that no less of an authority than Herman Goering detailed. First you create a crisis where the people will be willing for someone, anyone to come along and provide leadership to fix it.

If you make the crisis bad enough the people will be willing to tolerate quite a lot to see it fixed. Then you provide that leadership. By the time people realize they have been had it is too late.

So it is not like what I am postulating is something new. It is an old idea that was very effective for the Nazis. [/quote]

I agree with this completely.
It is a simple business strategy of supply and demand.
You supply the crisis and this creates an opening that demands for someone in a position to deliver a solution to that crisis.

This could be viewed as an elite intelligence being used as insidious manipulation.

An iron hand covered in silk gloving.

731

[quote]Cockney Blue wrote:

99% of the parking officers ensuing tickets are of either African or Muslim ethnicity.

Immigration = Human weapons for the Government and by the Government.

I really don’t think the government or the media is clever enough to be in cahoots. At the end of the day we get the media and the government that we deserve. If we watch reality shows in our millions, the companies make more. If we vote for the douche bag just because he has a blue or red rosette then the selectors don’t have to dig too deep to put up a live candidate. The problem is that these two things are a vicious cycle.[/quote]

The BBC is owned by the government, as the serious channel of media and that must have a bearing in what they portray as worthy of news. As for the others - maybe they are clearly too busy with the X-Factor; providing escapism and such other lulling programs, and quite rightly so.[quote]

As for the parking wardens, I think the issue isn’t that they are deliberately selecting minorities, more that the pay is pretty low and the entry requirements are not exactly strict.[/quote]
Fair enough. But I do wonder about their pay since I have never seen such committed and ‘on the ball’ workers. There must be a huge pay off to be out so early in the morning, never late for work, in such terrible weather on the clock to catch people outside the second of an overnight free parking allowance. I have been ticketed on my own street, in spite of having a yearly paid resident permit for parking on a yellow line overnight as the parking places were all taken and I failed to move the car past the 8:30am nightly allowance.
The warden was there to catch my offense.
What is fueling these people? Duty and work ethics?[quote]

By the way, going back to your point about Hyde Park. I have plenty of Brazilian friends (along with Brits, Ozzies, Colombians, Mexicans, Harpies and Kiwi’s) that do lie around the park in G-String Bikini’s and I am sure that the average middle aged Brit is just as offended with the foreigners changing Traditional British Values.

I on the other hand am perfectly happy with it ;-)[/quote]

I don’t agree with the Brazilian women wearing their native beach outfits in Hyde Park either.
Hyde Park is not Copacabana beach and we are not in Rio.
I don’t feel offended by the Muslim women nor the Brazilian G-Stringers. I feel embarrassed.
To me is not a question of offense since I am all for freedom. However there is a question of decorum.
It is a matter of etiquette and respect for the identity of the given place.
I wouldn’t go to watch a St. Matthews Passion at the Barbican wearing shorts and a vest. And I wouldn’t go to a club wearing my gym clothes. Would you go to the beach wearing your pajamas?
Physical places have particular identities. It does not change my id as a person to dress accordingly to where I am at. Whether I wear jeans or a dress I am and will remain, Alpha F. I don’t see how people can’t understand this basic principle; that they are not their clothes.
You are not what you wear. You can dress accordingly and still retain your cultural identity.
I can wear a British cut bikini and still lay down to sunbathe in Hyde Park in sensual Brazilian manner.
When I was growing up in Brazil and we used to see foreigners wearing socks on the beach we just thought there was something wrong with them.

I don’t feel offended I just think there is something wrong with these people.
I feel embarrassed for them as I would if I saw you walking into a sauna with an astronaut suit.

: D

732

[quote]Alpha F wrote:
Live Feed from London Central

Alpha F, our T-Correspondent for the TTC, has approached the high security guards of ex Prime Minister for a an interview. She reports from Connaught Square:

Having parked the car 100 meters from the ex Prime Ministers doorstep, camera in hand and a relaxed approach, as soon as I stepped onto the pavement I immediately became aware of the two security officers with the machine guns keenly aware of my presence. As I walked in their direction I was keenly aware of how keenly aware the three security officers at Tony’s doorstep were of my now not so relax approach. My self-preservation instincts had then kicked in and I felt unease being that I was heading in the direction of two heavily armed men, and we all know what happens with Brazilian looking immigrants with the British police in the underground - and though I am more British than Brazilian by now I do look 100% Brazilian and get asked if I am Egyptian or Israeli all the time - so I sensed this background made me apprehensive. I had my camera in one hand and the other casually in my pocket and told myself as I approached them:
‘Take your hand our of your pocket so that they can see that you are ONLY armed with your camera’. another indication of how conscious I was of my self-preservation instinct and how being a citizen who looks like an unfavorable minority made me feel in the presence of armed police.
Having stopped before their presence and at close range of their guns but still able to duck under a car parked to our left, I said:

  • “Good afternoon, officers” ( pleasant, low respectful but firm tone of voice )

_ “Good afternoon” - they replied in unison and rhythm ( very pleasant and reassuring almost upbeat tone of voice )

I found myself uncomfortable being so close to those powerful guns so I went straight to the point:

  • “Am I allowed to take a picture?”

One made a face and squeezed his lips and said:

  • “Uummm, that depends. You can’t take a picture of the building.”

I, being the straight shooter that I am did not miss the target and replied:

  • "Actually, I just want to take a picture of the guns. And the other security items on your outfit ( at this point I was starring at his bullet proof jacket and pointing to all the gadgets on it ). You see, officers, I am having this discussion on a politics forum with some American friends and I told them that the security guards here had bigger guns than the ones at the American Embassy - you know Americans, they love their guns so now I need the picture to prove it ( at this point they had made me feel completely relaxed in their presence and I was slightly coquettish, my Brazilian roots sprouting out full force - and this is not the first time I find myself flirting with British policeman, there must be some T-Ness going on there ).

He said:

  • “Actually no. We are from the same department that guards the American Embassy and we do have exactly the same guns.”

Another said:

  • “So you want to take a picture for your friends?”

With a big happy smile on my face, I simply replied:

  • “Yes!”

The first officer then said:

  • " A picture of some London Bobbies for you then!" ( with a really nice upbeat tone and smile )

( I thought to myself; ‘Actually I just want a close up of the guns’ - but I didn’t tell him that. Obviously )

I took the picture and was extremely tempted to ask for another one of the guns but by then I really just wanted to safely exit from being “a target” though I was never made to feel that way, the fact they had guns and I didn’t just put me at a psychological disadvantage.

I said “Thank you” as I made eye contact with all three of them and walked away shaking my Brazilian ammunition ( completely covered, off course ) - which hopefully gave them something interesting to stare at in that dull square ( aside from the two lovely Ferraris that were parked there ).

I have to say; The British security officers are stellar!
Truly Ace ( Brazilian military police officers are such macho, unapproachable, high towers - they mustn’t be as well paid as the British ).
I was pleasantly surprised at how friendly they were, with a good sense of humor - completely unprejudiced as I did not detect not even a hint of ethnicity issues on account of my looks and I was extremely self conscious of that. True to the British gentlemanship to the core and I was impressed.

I did not expect to feel so intimidated in the presence of the guns. The guards were lovely but I gained some insight into living in a state of persecution, the possibility of human error and authoritarian power and population fear.

And so I was wrong about the security status of the Americans and Tony.
SuperTony is as important and not more, than the current world Superpower.
His house is like a mini British embassy in London Central.

Alpha F over and out.
[/quote]

So as I suggested, the security is the standard provided by the police to both British and Foreign figures that are considered to be targets and Tony Blair actually has no choice in it whatsoever. Incidentally I know this anyway because when I am in London I train with some of these guys.

733

[quote]Alpha F wrote:
Cockney Blue wrote:

99% of the parking officers ensuing tickets are of either African or Muslim ethnicity.

Immigration = Human weapons for the Government and by the Government.

I really don’t think the government or the media is clever enough to be in cahoots. At the end of the day we get the media and the government that we deserve. If we watch reality shows in our millions, the companies make more. If we vote for the douche bag just because he has a blue or red rosette then the selectors don’t have to dig too deep to put up a live candidate. The problem is that these two things are a vicious cycle.

The BBC is owned by the government, as the serious channel of media and that must have a bearing in what they portray as worthy of news. As for the others - maybe they are clearly too busy with the X-Factor; providing escapism and such other lulling programs, and quite rightly so.

As for the parking wardens, I think the issue isn’t that they are deliberately selecting minorities, more that the pay is pretty low and the entry requirements are not exactly strict.
Fair enough. But I do wonder about their pay since I have never seen such committed and ‘on the ball’ workers. There must be a huge pay off to be out so early in the morning, never late for work, in such terrible weather on the clock to catch people outside the second of an overnight free parking allowance. I have been ticketed on my own street, in spite of having a yearly paid resident permit for parking on a yellow line overnight as the parking places were all taken and I failed to move the car past the 8:30am nightly allowance.
The warden was there to catch my offense.
What is fueling these people? Duty and work ethics?

By the way, going back to your point about Hyde Park. I have plenty of Brazilian friends (along with Brits, Ozzies, Colombians, Mexicans, Harpies and Kiwi’s) that do lie around the park in G-String Bikini’s and I am sure that the average middle aged Brit is just as offended with the foreigners changing Traditional British Values.

I on the other hand am perfectly happy with it :wink:

I don’t agree with the Brazilian women wearing their native beach outfits in Hyde Park either.
Hyde Park is not Copacabana beach and we are not in Rio.
I don’t feel offended by the Muslim women nor the Brazilian G-Stringers. I feel embarrassed.
To me is not a question of offense since I am all for freedom. However there is a question of decorum.
It is a matter of etiquette and respect for the identity of the given place.
I wouldn’t go to watch a St. Matthews Passion at the Barbican wearing shorts and a vest. And I wouldn’t go to a club wearing my gym clothes. Would you go to the beach wearing your pajamas?
Physical places have particular identities. It does not change my id as a person to dress accordingly to where I am at. Whether I wear jeans or a dress I am and will remain, Alpha F. I don’t see how people can’t understand this basic principle; that they are not their clothes.
You are not what you wear. You can dress accordingly and still retain your cultural identity.
I can wear a British cut bikini and still lay down to sunbathe in Hyde Park in sensual Brazilian manner.
When I was growing up in Brazil and we used to see foreigners wearing socks on the beach we just thought there was something wrong with them.

I don’t feel offended I just think there is something wrong with these people.
I feel embarrassed for them as I would if I saw you walking into a sauna with an astronaut suit.

: D

[/quote]

Checking into it and traffic wardens actually get paid a bit more than I thought they did, base pay is about £20K and then they get bonuses for nabbing cars (hence the reason that they are out and about on the dot of 8.30)

From my experience I would say that the entry requirements are not too strict and it is heavily unionised (same as the Tube) which is why it is hard for the management to kick out workers with bad attitudes.

734

[quote]Cockney Blue wrote:

So as I suggested, the security is the standard provided by the police to both British and Foreign figures that are considered to be targets and Tony Blair actually has no choice in it whatsoever. Incidentally I know this anyway because when I am in London I train with some of these guys.[/quote]

How do you get to train with these guys?
Who AREyou?

You are not one of them I have flirted with on Hyde Park, are you?

: D

735

[quote]Alpha F wrote:
Cockney Blue wrote:

So as I suggested, the security is the standard provided by the police to both British and Foreign figures that are considered to be targets and Tony Blair actually has no choice in it whatsoever. Incidentally I know this anyway because when I am in London I train with some of these guys.

How do you get to train with these guys?
Who AREyou?

You are not one of them I have flirted with on Hyde Park, are you?

: D

[/quote]

When I am in London I train BJJ with Roger Gracie, there are a few close protection guys and a lot of police guys that train there.

By the way, a little point of order from an earlier post. The BBC is not owned by the government. It is funded by the license fee and authorized by Royal Charter however it is deliberately set up to be totally independent from government and autonomous. There have been occasions where claims have been made of bias (sometimes rightly so in my opinion,) however these have typically been for attacks on the government not defence of it.

736

[quote]Alpha F wrote:
Live Feed from London Central

Alpha F, our T-Correspondent for the TTC, has approached the high security guards of ex Prime Minister for a an interview. She reports from Connaught Square:

Having parked the car 100 meters from the ex Prime Ministers doorstep, camera in hand and a relaxed approach, as soon as I stepped onto the pavement I immediately became aware of the two security officers with the machine guns keenly aware of my presence. As I walked in their direction I was keenly aware of how keenly aware the three security officers at Tony’s doorstep were of my now not so relax approach. My self-preservation instincts had then kicked in and I felt unease being that I was heading in the direction of two heavily armed men, and we all know what happens with Brazilian looking immigrants with the British police in the underground - and though I am more British than Brazilian by now I do look 100% Brazilian and get asked if I am Egyptian or Israeli all the time - so I sensed this background made me apprehensive. I had my camera in one hand and the other casually in my pocket and told myself as I approached them:
‘Take your hand our of your pocket so that they can see that you are ONLY armed with your camera’. another indication of how conscious I was of my self-preservation instinct and how being a citizen who looks like an unfavorable minority made me feel in the presence of armed police.
Having stopped before their presence and at close range of their guns but still able to duck under a car parked to our left, I said:

  • “Good afternoon, officers” ( pleasant, low respectful but firm tone of voice )

_ “Good afternoon” - they replied in unison and rhythm ( very pleasant and reassuring almost upbeat tone of voice )

I found myself uncomfortable being so close to those powerful guns so I went straight to the point:

  • “Am I allowed to take a picture?”

One made a face and squeezed his lips and said:

  • “Uummm, that depends. You can’t take a picture of the building.”

I, being the straight shooter that I am did not miss the target and replied:

  • "Actually, I just want to take a picture of the guns. And the other security items on your outfit ( at this point I was starring at his bullet proof jacket and pointing to all the gadgets on it ). You see, officers, I am having this discussion on a politics forum with some American friends and I told them that the security guards here had bigger guns than the ones at the American Embassy - you know Americans, they love their guns so now I need the picture to prove it ( at this point they had made me feel completely relaxed in their presence and I was slightly coquettish, my Brazilian roots sprouting out full force - and this is not the first time I find myself flirting with British policeman, there must be some T-Ness going on there ).

He said:

  • “Actually no. We are from the same department that guards the American Embassy and we do have exactly the same guns.”

Another said:

  • “So you want to take a picture for your friends?”

With a big happy smile on my face, I simply replied:

  • “Yes!”

The first officer then said:

  • " A picture of some London Bobbies for you then!" ( with a really nice upbeat tone and smile )

( I thought to myself; ‘Actually I just want a close up of the guns’ - but I didn’t tell him that. Obviously )

I took the picture and was extremely tempted to ask for another one of the guns but by then I really just wanted to safely exit from being “a target” though I was never made to feel that way, the fact they had guns and I didn’t just put me at a psychological disadvantage.

I said “Thank you” as I made eye contact with all three of them and walked away shaking my Brazilian ammunition ( completely covered, off course ) - which hopefully gave them something interesting to stare at in that dull square ( aside from the two lovely Ferraris that were parked there ).

I have to say; The British security officers are stellar!
Truly Ace ( Brazilian military police officers are such macho, unapproachable, high towers - they mustn’t be as well paid as the British ).
I was pleasantly surprised at how friendly they were, with a good sense of humor - completely unprejudiced as I did not detect not even a hint of ethnicity issues on account of my looks and I was extremely self conscious of that. True to the British gentlemanship to the core and I was impressed.

I did not expect to feel so intimidated in the presence of the guns. The guards were lovely but I gained some insight into living in a state of persecution, the possibility of human error and authoritarian power and population fear.

And so I was wrong about the security status of the Americans and Tony.
SuperTony is as important and not more, than the current world Superpower.
His house is like a mini British embassy in London Central.

Alpha F over and out.
[/quote]

Those are Heckler Koch MP5 submachine guns. Here is a video history of it for you. It fires a 9mm handgun round. It is actually less powerful than the .223 caliber rifle round that the Hello Kitty AR15 fires.

It sounds like you don’t have a lot of experience with being around firearms. Which is typical for a lot of people in Britain. In Britain peoples minds have been molded by the media to view guns as ominous, scary, instruments of death. All they are is a tool.

But your pictures do show the difference in levels of protection between upper class and the lower classes. If you are upper class you rate having immediate, firearm security available onsite because preservation of an upper class life is important and some circumstances require an immdediate armed response where milliseconds can mean the difference between life and death.

That is why the guards in the picture are demonstrating part of their training which is to always have at least one hand on their gun at all times. Both guards have their right hands on the grip with their trigger finger just above the trigger ready to go. It probably is a good idea to be conscious of your movements around them.

If you are lower class in Britain however the preservation of your life is not important. That is why for the lower classes 999 is all they get. For the lower classes those precious milli-seconds that mean life or death don’t count, because lower class lives don’t count.

737

[quote]Alpha F wrote:
Cockney Blue wrote:

99% of the parking officers ensuing tickets are of either African or Muslim ethnicity.

Immigration = Human weapons for the Government and by the Government.

I really don’t think the government or the media is clever enough to be in cahoots. At the end of the day we get the media and the government that we deserve. If we watch reality shows in our millions, the companies make more. If we vote for the douche bag just because he has a blue or red rosette then the selectors don’t have to dig too deep to put up a live candidate. The problem is that these two things are a vicious cycle. [/quote]

Once again Cock you are in denial. The Sun newspaper which is owned by Rupert Murdoch boasted that it put Tony Blair in power. Shortly after he put Tony Blair in power Tony changed the laws that prevented Rupert Murdoch from owning multiple media outlets. This is well known.

It is also well known that your favorite newspaper the Guardian is almost exclusively used to advertise civil service jobs. They get so much money from those adds that it is widely considered to be a government subsidy rewarding them for their support of the Labour party.

[quote]
The BBC is owned by the government, as the serious channel of media and that must have a bearing in what they portray as worthy of news. As for the others - maybe they are clearly too busy with the X-Factor; providing escapism and such other lulling programs, and quite rightly so.

As for the parking wardens, I think the issue isn’t that they are deliberately selecting minorities, more that the pay is pretty low and the entry requirements are not exactly strict.
Fair enough. But I do wonder about their pay since I have never seen such committed and ‘on the ball’ workers. There must be a huge pay off to be out so early in the morning, never late for work, in such terrible weather on the clock to catch people outside the second of an overnight free parking allowance. I have been ticketed on my own street, in spite of having a yearly paid resident permit for parking on a yellow line overnight as the parking places were all taken and I failed to move the car past the 8:30am nightly allowance.
The warden was there to catch my offense.
What is fueling these people? Duty and work ethics? [/quote]

Ah so you have noticed something. They are quite dilligent and extremely effective at enforcing traffic laws because they can generate revenues that way. But when it comes to important law and order issues like dealing with burglary, mugging, assault, rape, murder they are nowhere as good at catching those kinds of criminals and when they do the punishments they receive are a joke or some aspect of the human rights act helps the criminal.

Two completely different methods of law enforcement between civil and criminal law, but they have the same effect on people. They make them feel like the country has gone to the dogs and they want to get out.

[quote]
By the way, going back to your point about Hyde Park. I have plenty of Brazilian friends (along with Brits, Ozzies, Colombians, Mexicans, Harpies and Kiwi’s) that do lie around the park in G-String Bikini’s and I am sure that the average middle aged Brit is just as offended with the foreigners changing Traditional British Values. [/quote]

Again Cock is coming up with his stupid rationalisations. People in Britain are fairly laid back when it comes to nudity. It has been like that at least since I was a child.

A burqa is a lot more than just another piece of clothing. There is a whole lot of cultural baggage that goes along with it. Islam has an extensive history of treating women and girls as chattel. Using the burqa to strip women of any sense of identity and to prevent others from seeing them as individuals is the ultimate objectification of women.

What those women in Hyde park wearing burqas represent is a culture of seperation and rejection of other cultures. If the muslim population is not kept in check but allowed to grow unhindered that will be the future for all British women.

738

[quote]Cockney Blue wrote:
Alpha F wrote:
Live Feed from London Central

Alpha F, our T-Correspondent for the TTC, has approached the high security guards of ex Prime Minister for a an interview. She reports from Connaught Square:

Having parked the car 100 meters from the ex Prime Ministers doorstep, camera in hand and a relaxed approach, as soon as I stepped onto the pavement I immediately became aware of the two security officers with the machine guns keenly aware of my presence. As I walked in their direction I was keenly aware of how keenly aware the three security officers at Tony’s doorstep were of my now not so relax approach. My self-preservation instincts had then kicked in and I felt unease being that I was heading in the direction of two heavily armed men, and we all know what happens with Brazilian looking immigrants with the British police in the underground - and though I am more British than Brazilian by now I do look 100% Brazilian and get asked if I am Egyptian or Israeli all the time - so I sensed this background made me apprehensive. I had my camera in one hand and the other casually in my pocket and told myself as I approached them:
‘Take your hand our of your pocket so that they can see that you are ONLY armed with your camera’. another indication of how conscious I was of my self-preservation instinct and how being a citizen who looks like an unfavorable minority made me feel in the presence of armed police.
Having stopped before their presence and at close range of their guns but still able to duck under a car parked to our left, I said:

  • “Good afternoon, officers” ( pleasant, low respectful but firm tone of voice )

_ “Good afternoon” - they replied in unison and rhythm ( very pleasant and reassuring almost upbeat tone of voice )

I found myself uncomfortable being so close to those powerful guns so I went straight to the point:

  • “Am I allowed to take a picture?”

One made a face and squeezed his lips and said:

  • “Uummm, that depends. You can’t take a picture of the building.”

I, being the straight shooter that I am did not miss the target and replied:

  • "Actually, I just want to take a picture of the guns. And the other security items on your outfit ( at this point I was starring at his bullet proof jacket and pointing to all the gadgets on it ). You see, officers, I am having this discussion on a politics forum with some American friends and I told them that the security guards here had bigger guns than the ones at the American Embassy - you know Americans, they love their guns so now I need the picture to prove it ( at this point they had made me feel completely relaxed in their presence and I was slightly coquettish, my Brazilian roots sprouting out full force - and this is not the first time I find myself flirting with British policeman, there must be some T-Ness going on there ).

He said:

  • “Actually no. We are from the same department that guards the American Embassy and we do have exactly the same guns.”

Another said:

  • “So you want to take a picture for your friends?”

With a big happy smile on my face, I simply replied:

  • “Yes!”

The first officer then said:

  • " A picture of some London Bobbies for you then!" ( with a really nice upbeat tone and smile )

( I thought to myself; ‘Actually I just want a close up of the guns’ - but I didn’t tell him that. Obviously )

I took the picture and was extremely tempted to ask for another one of the guns but by then I really just wanted to safely exit from being “a target” though I was never made to feel that way, the fact they had guns and I didn’t just put me at a psychological disadvantage.

I said “Thank you” as I made eye contact with all three of them and walked away shaking my Brazilian ammunition ( completely covered, off course ) - which hopefully gave them something interesting to stare at in that dull square ( aside from the two lovely Ferraris that were parked there ).

I have to say; The British security officers are stellar!
Truly Ace ( Brazilian military police officers are such macho, unapproachable, high towers - they mustn’t be as well paid as the British ).
I was pleasantly surprised at how friendly they were, with a good sense of humor - completely unprejudiced as I did not detect not even a hint of ethnicity issues on account of my looks and I was extremely self conscious of that. True to the British gentlemanship to the core and I was impressed.

I did not expect to feel so intimidated in the presence of the guns. The guards were lovely but I gained some insight into living in a state of persecution, the possibility of human error and authoritarian power and population fear.

And so I was wrong about the security status of the Americans and Tony.
SuperTony is as important and not more, than the current world Superpower.
His house is like a mini British embassy in London Central.

Alpha F over and out.

So as I suggested, the security is the standard provided by the police to both British and Foreign figures that are considered to be targets and Tony Blair actually has no choice in it whatsoever. Incidentally I know this anyway because when I am in London I train with some of these guys.[/quote]

Cock you are so full of shit. That level of protection is not standard for anyone other than a handful of elites. There are a lot of people in Britain who are targets who are not allowed any protection. They do not get armed police guards or unarmed police guards. More importantly they are not allowed to have their own weaponry so they can fend for themselves without having to depend upon the unreliable police and criminal justice system.

What is wrong with Britain is honest decent people are stripped of the ability to defend themselves while criminals are allowed to run amock.

739

[quote]Sifu wrote:
Alpha F wrote:
Live Feed from London Central

Alpha F, our T-Correspondent for the TTC, has approached the high security guards of ex Prime Minister for a an interview. She reports from Connaught Square:

Having parked the car 100 meters from the ex Prime Ministers doorstep, camera in hand and a relaxed approach, as soon as I stepped onto the pavement I immediately became aware of the two security officers with the machine guns keenly aware of my presence. As I walked in their direction I was keenly aware of how keenly aware the three security officers at Tony’s doorstep were of my now not so relax approach. My self-preservation instincts had then kicked in and I felt unease being that I was heading in the direction of two heavily armed men, and we all know what happens with Brazilian looking immigrants with the British police in the underground - and though I am more British than Brazilian by now I do look 100% Brazilian and get asked if I am Egyptian or Israeli all the time - so I sensed this background made me apprehensive. I had my camera in one hand and the other casually in my pocket and told myself as I approached them:
‘Take your hand our of your pocket so that they can see that you are ONLY armed with your camera’. another indication of how conscious I was of my self-preservation instinct and how being a citizen who looks like an unfavorable minority made me feel in the presence of armed police.
Having stopped before their presence and at close range of their guns but still able to duck under a car parked to our left, I said:

  • “Good afternoon, officers” ( pleasant, low respectful but firm tone of voice )

_ “Good afternoon” - they replied in unison and rhythm ( very pleasant and reassuring almost upbeat tone of voice )

I found myself uncomfortable being so close to those powerful guns so I went straight to the point:

  • “Am I allowed to take a picture?”

One made a face and squeezed his lips and said:

  • “Uummm, that depends. You can’t take a picture of the building.”

I, being the straight shooter that I am did not miss the target and replied:

  • "Actually, I just want to take a picture of the guns. And the other security items on your outfit ( at this point I was starring at his bullet proof jacket and pointing to all the gadgets on it ). You see, officers, I am having this discussion on a politics forum with some American friends and I told them that the security guards here had bigger guns than the ones at the American Embassy - you know Americans, they love their guns so now I need the picture to prove it ( at this point they had made me feel completely relaxed in their presence and I was slightly coquettish, my Brazilian roots sprouting out full force - and this is not the first time I find myself flirting with British policeman, there must be some T-Ness going on there ).

He said:

  • “Actually no. We are from the same department that guards the American Embassy and we do have exactly the same guns.”

Another said:

  • “So you want to take a picture for your friends?”

With a big happy smile on my face, I simply replied:

  • “Yes!”

The first officer then said:

  • " A picture of some London Bobbies for you then!" ( with a really nice upbeat tone and smile )

( I thought to myself; ‘Actually I just want a close up of the guns’ - but I didn’t tell him that. Obviously )

I took the picture and was extremely tempted to ask for another one of the guns but by then I really just wanted to safely exit from being “a target” though I was never made to feel that way, the fact they had guns and I didn’t just put me at a psychological disadvantage.

I said “Thank you” as I made eye contact with all three of them and walked away shaking my Brazilian ammunition ( completely covered, off course ) - which hopefully gave them something interesting to stare at in that dull square ( aside from the two lovely Ferraris that were parked there ).

I have to say; The British security officers are stellar!
Truly Ace ( Brazilian military police officers are such macho, unapproachable, high towers - they mustn’t be as well paid as the British ).
I was pleasantly surprised at how friendly they were, with a good sense of humor - completely unprejudiced as I did not detect not even a hint of ethnicity issues on account of my looks and I was extremely self conscious of that. True to the British gentlemanship to the core and I was impressed.

I did not expect to feel so intimidated in the presence of the guns. The guards were lovely but I gained some insight into living in a state of persecution, the possibility of human error and authoritarian power and population fear.

And so I was wrong about the security status of the Americans and Tony.
SuperTony is as important and not more, than the current world Superpower.
His house is like a mini British embassy in London Central.

Alpha F over and out.

Those are Heckler Koch MP5 submachine guns. Here is a video history of it for you. It fires a 9mm handgun round. It is actually less powerful than the .223 caliber rifle round that the Hello Kitty AR15 fires.

It sounds like you don’t have a lot of experience with being around firearms. Which is typical for a lot of people in Britain. In Britain peoples minds have been molded by the media to view guns as ominous, scary, instruments of death. All they are is a tool.

But your pictures do show the difference in levels of protection between upper class and the lower classes. If you are upper class you rate having immediate, firearm security available onsite because preservation of an upper class life is important and some circumstances require an immdediate armed response where milliseconds can mean the difference between life and death.

That is why the guards in the picture are demonstrating part of their training which is to always have at least one hand on their gun at all times. Both guards have their right hands on the grip with their trigger finger just above the trigger ready to go. It probably is a good idea to be conscious of your movements around them.

If you are lower class in Britain however the preservation of your life is not important. That is why for the lower classes 999 is all they get. For the lower classes those precious milli-seconds that mean life or death don’t count, because lower class lives don’t count.

[/quote]

That is a bit disingenuous. Firstly Tony Blair is by no stretch upper class. His adoptive grandfather was a Glasgow shipyard worker.

Secondly, class doesn’t dictate the fact that Blair has armed guards. The fact that he is a legitimate target dictates this.

Where I in the UK to receive legitimate death threats from known armed groups, the police would station officers outside my property armed with Glock 17s and 9mm Heckler and Koch MP5s. This is the same equipment as the SO16 officers outside Blairs house have.

740

[quote]Sifu wrote:

Ah so you have noticed something. They are quite dilligent and extremely effective at enforcing traffic laws because they can generate revenues that way. But when it comes to important law and order issues like dealing with burglary, mugging, assault, rape, murder they are nowhere as good at catching those kinds of criminals and when they do the punishments they receive are a joke or some aspect of the human rights act helps the criminal.

Two completely different methods of law enforcement between civil and criminal law, but they have the same effect on people. They make them feel like the country has gone to the dogs and they want to get out.
[/quote]

Or could it possibly be that catching someone who has parked illegally or run a red light is a teensy bit easier than catching a rapist given that the evidence is right there and the perpertrator is linked to the vehicle?