So now the UK government has once again decided to follow the lead of the American administration and introduce terror alerts on the government's website. I can't believe that this idea was even considered. This is yet another example of state control over the population. It will be used, as it is in the US, by media networks as a constant reminder of the 'threat' that we face.
Would it really be much of a surprise if the terror alerts go up and down according to the government's whim on the day? Of course, it is bound to be abused for political expediency....much like it is in America. There is no real urgent need for such a system. We managed for decades of Irish terrorism without such a system, why do we need one now? The truth is we do not need to know what the current threat level is. What difference is it going to make to us?? Are we going to refuse to go out because the terror level is set to high?? It will only serve as a tool to strike fear into the hearts of the population and to ensure that we remain supportive of anti-libertarian legislation.
There is no doubt that there has been a massive shift in recent years. September 11th has provided the perfect excuse to introduce legislation that the politicians have long waited to get on to the statute book. Long term detention without trial, identity cards, security cameras, what was once a vision of a nightmarish future, has become a vivid reality. With the rise in extremism in recent years (both religious and political), there are real concerns about the future. It is easy to say that the past won't be repeated, that the world will never again experience the tyranny of the early twentieth century. How can we be so sure? What arrogance to presume our own fate. Heaven forbid a resurgence of these forces once more, the infrastructure is already in place for crimes beyond the wildest fantasies of the tyrannical regimes of the last century.
What is most distressing is the media's acquiescence to the elites. Barely a word is spoken that dissents from the common view. The media is dominated by the voice of the right. Their agenda prevails to such an extent that left-wing politicians place themselves to the right of centre. Anyone that is left behind do so at the risk of being labelled 'far-left', or the 'loony left'. The reality couldn't be further from the truth. And yet the lies perpetuate, reinforced by the latest wave of lackies who inhabit the internet and argue for the destruction of our liberties and our freedoms in the name of a perceived threat.
The right wing still hasn't learned the lessons of the last century. They have failed to understand the methods employed by those that sought to destroy whole cultures. The alternative is too horrific to contemplate, that they do understand the methods and are willing to let history repeat itself. While they continue to use the media as their mouthpieces, we are doomed to live in a world where the state controls every aspect of our lives. And yet, they continue to hide behind the deceit of opposing state interference. This is the great lie of our times. While they hide behind the lie of reducing state interference, they continue to find new ways to ensure that we are controlled, docile, compliant and unquestioning. That will be their great victory if we allow it to happen.
The terrorist threat level has existed as a classified assessment for decades - certainly throughout the Irish troubles. It's primary purpose is for the security services, police, and certain sensitive sites to adjust their stance.
ReplyDeleteIn recent times changes in the level have been leaked, causing much speculation in the press and concern amongst the public as to what it really means. Much has been made of the fact that it went down just before 7/7 last year, for example.
The government have responded to this concern by making it more open, explaining what it means, and providing advice on security for anyone concerned. You don't have to pay any attention if you don't want to. You're quite right; for many years the government also believed that you didn't need to know about it.
It's a bit like those scientists who detected the Indian Ocean tsunami. When people find out after the fact that you knew all along it was coming and didn't tell them, they moan about it. I suppose now that they're installing an alert system, people will complain its just meant to scare people into buying expensive earthquake-proof buildings and funding geologists.
With regard to your beliefs about failing to learn the lessons of last century, it may surprise you to learn that many on the right feel the same way, albeit with a different perspective. (I'm not telling you this in any hope of persuading, but I thought you might like to know that we also take the threat of totalitarianism seriously.)
In the 1930s there was a political determination to avoid war at all costs, and a firm belief that Hitler could be negotiated with. They compromised, they appeased, they talked, they appealed for the hatemongers and warmongers to stop riling Germany. As everyone knows, the Germans were almost all of them friendly, cultured, educated people, with just a few extremist fanatics on the fringes of their society. Hating Germans just because they're Nazis would be racist.
That an analogy can be drawn is not evidence that it is valid, of course; which is why you have to read up on their ideology and history, written in their own words, to find out for oneself whether it is true.
It isn't just the history of the last century we're forgetting, but the history of the last fourteen. If you think Blair's laws are anti-libertarian, just wait until you're living under Sharia! ;->
hey anon2, thanks for another contribution!! It is good it see that we can agree about the threat of totalitarianism....just from a slightly different viewpoint.
ReplyDeleteIf you're interested to meet some more right wingers who hold similar views to you about the totalitarian dangers of the Blair government, you could try Samizdata.
ReplyDeleteThey're a bit far out for my tastes (although by no means racist or unpleasant about it) but they'd quite probably agree with your views on terror alerts and terror laws.
(Be warned: they're quite well educated, so be sure of your ground if you choose to criticise/comment there.)
So you see, it's not just a left-wing thing.
Thanks for the tip Anon2, although I hope that you are not implying that I am not well educated!!
ReplyDeleteNo, not at all!
ReplyDeleteI just recalled when I first came across you, and your comments on USS Neverdock. Marc isn't bothered by that sort of thing, and welcomes angry people from across the aisle. Samizdata is seen as more of a meeting place for the like-minded, and they don't appreciate having to eject trolls. If you've got a good point, they'd welcome contrary debate, but you had better be willing and able to back it up.
Your views reminded me of several I'd seen there, and I thought you might be appreciative, but I didn't want to start a brawl if it turned out you wasn't.
no, that's cool, i appreciate the link. i think debate is a healthy thing and i welcome the opportunity to have a reasonable discussion. A friend of mine is a pretty extreme right-winger in the US and I quite enjoy our little debates, and i think they do to. After all, debates are what drove the Ancient Greeks to their remarkable achievements.
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