As might reading this blog or this article. That's right folks, it's time we kissed goodbye to any notion of free speech or especially freedom of press in this country. Under the guise of fighting terrorism¹, this government has been steadily eroding our freedoms our liberties and our rights since 1997. It is time for it to stop. When possessing copies of an article from Vanity Fair (Vanity Fair for goodness' sake!) is deemed to be an action against the state, when people can be jailed for up to five years without being tried or even committing acts that are illegal, when suspicion and hearsay are enough to put someone under effective house arrest it is time for it to stop.

All that is required for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing. All that is required for the state to control the people is for the people to do nothing. It's time to do something, people. We still have the ability to kick this authoritarian, reactionary, lying, cheating, dishonest, cynical, controlling, corrupt, sleaze-ridden government out of the power it craves but does not deserve. It's only just over a year since the last general election, which means that at most it is a little under four years until the next. Don't let them win, find an alternative. Use your vote or lose your freedom. In the meantime, write to, email or fax your MP to ask them to vote against ID cards and the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill². Keep yourself informed about what's going on, and most of all, keep your mind open and free.

Finally, in the words of Winston Churchill, "It is better to perish than to live as slaves".

¹Judging by the things they are combating, I think I qualify as a terrorist, so look out.
²This bill, should it become law, would allow ministers to enact laws with reference to our elected representatives -- Parliament. It would, in effect, bring to an end our democratic system as we currently know it. It is being proposed under the guise of improving efficiency and speeding up government. It must be stopped.