The LibDems have been a positive influence and moderating force on the government.
Witness the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act 2011, the Justice and Security Act 2013, the continued participation in the European Arrest Warrant, now being made subject to the jurisdiction of Luxembourg, reforms to legal aid which have ensured it is all but impossible for defendants in complex fraud cases to receive a fair trial, a more authoritarian approach to drugs... Then there are other bonkers bits of statism, including making 'emotional neglect' of a child a criminal offence, and people being imprisoned for posting things on Twitter.
Just how have the Liberal Democrats moderated Tory authoritarianism?
Fantastic post. The lunacy of people being jailed for simply expression an opinion on a public internet message board is something that needs to be stopped urgently, yet not one of the three major parties gives a damn.
Agreed. A rather sinister streak has unfortunately continued under this government, and it does not seen likely any future government of any particular composition will be inclined to reverse that.
This is the sad thing about Britain, especially so given that many of these concepts of fundamental rights developed here. The United States is very fortunate in that they founded a new form of government right at the time there was a huge debate about this stuff. The constitution and the Bill of Rights are thus at the very centre of their national identity. Unfortunately for us we have centred it on to things like monarchy instead.
That being at the centre of their national identity doesn't seem to have stopped their government from engaging in just as sinister or even worse behaviour however.
No, it hasn't. But it has meant there is public outrage about it, and prominent politicians fighting these things. Their more open democracy also means that the presidential primaries will see substantial debate about such excesses next time round.
Are those against the HmRC getting the right for persistent non payers the right to take money from accounts also against drug dealers having their assets seized ?
Pay your taxes.
Do you honestly trust HMRC to deal fairly with you and other ordinary powerless people, when they are judge, jury and executioner? Do you honestly trust a giant and immensely powerful state organ like that to act fairly without checks and balances? When the more money they collect, the more their political masters like them?
If you do, you are not a conservative. And Neither is David Cameron. Under pressure from Farage he is showing his colours as a big state europhile.
These tax proposals are going to cost him big time, even if he rows back from them. They might even cost him his job.
It is hardly extremist when all polls suggest that about half the country would vote to stay in, and 80% if better terms. Indeed the BOOers on any terms are the extreme minority.
I am happy with the record of my party in government.
So your 50% are not extremists and my 50% are extremists?
If the BBC version of reality isn't true then extrapolating from it wouldn't be very accurate.
And if the BBC version of reality is almost 100% untrue and the only thing keeping a lid on it was the sedative effect of the credit bubble (not just here but all over the EU) then all anti-EU parties across Europe will keep trending upwards (with numerous wobbles from political class sabotage).
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Pay your taxes.
Do you honestly trust HMRC to deal fairly with you and other ordinary powerless people, when they are judge, jury and executioner? Do you honestly trust a giant and immensely powerful state organ like that to act fairly without checks and balances? When the more money they collect, the more their political masters like them?
If you do, you are not a conservative. And Neither is David Cameron. Under pressure from Farage he is showing his colours as a big state europhile.
These tax proposals are going to cost him big time, even if he rows back from them. They might even cost him his job.
Strange way you have of looking at things Fox.
And if the BBC version of reality is almost 100% untrue and the only thing keeping a lid on it was the sedative effect of the credit bubble (not just here but all over the EU) then all anti-EU parties across Europe will keep trending upwards (with numerous wobbles from political class sabotage).