Are we living in a dictatorship or a Democracy?

[mexico1970]

I would also introduce a Universal Income. It will happen at some point - currently 54% of the UK population are on some form of benefits and that figure is only going one way, so, might as well do it properly.

Anyway, I’ve started to ramble so I’ll end it there.

If it ever comes to fruition we have to make sure that landlords and councils don't up the rents and rates taking it away from people, that would be my biggest worry.

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

It's all about cutting back on benefits. It's the only logical explanation why they want access to everyone's bank account who is in receipt of benefits. They aren't doing this so they can hand out money to all the old dears who should be getting pension credit but aren't.

 

[Blue and true]

The Government may snoop on the bank accounts of state pensioners!!! How dare this repulsive, disgusting, repellent bunch of liars and (alleged) fraudsters who give billions to their friends by way of false contracts, snoop on pensioners who have worked all their lives and paid their taxes? I am beyond disgusted, beyond comprehension and beyond being a glass half full person. This has upset me so much, not for myself, the only money I have going into my bank account is my State Pension and my Teachers Pension. I claim no benefits but I do have friends who have to because of health problems.
I cannot express how humiliated I would feel if they snooped on my bank account, probably the last piece of privacy we have.

Sorry but .... daft old woman I know.... I have got emotional about this. This is not the country I love and have defended all my life.
Rant over. Apologies.

MSN

It's a pertinent rant, and many feel the same way. Democracy and meritocracy are illusory constructs in this country. Potemkin village in action. Our head of state is an unelected tax thief. We're now on a fourth (I think) PM whom bypassed the electorates mandate to be handed the keys to Number 10. There's your democracy and meritocracy; doused in fuel, set alight, and then pissed all over by a select few that are impervious to accountability. Sadly, the consequence of such power leads inevitably to the kind of headlines you linked.

So, don't apologise, and don't ever let them massage your anger with words like democracy; short of a civil uprising, it doesn't exist.

 

[JASR]

Any form of human government will be imperfect.

Anyone care to ask ChatGPT to devise a form of govt that is impartial to all, incorruptible, and governs for the longterm benefit of all…

‘Replace humans with Bees/ants’

 

[ChicagoBlue]

The Government may snoop on the bank accounts of state pensioners!!! How dare this repulsive, disgusting, repellent bunch of liars and (alleged) fraudsters who give billions to their friends by way of false contracts, snoop on pensioners who have worked all their lives and paid their taxes? I am beyond disgusted, beyond comprehension and beyond being a glass half full person. This has upset me so much, not for myself, the only money I have going into my bank account is my State Pension and my Teachers Pension. I claim no benefits but I do have friends who have to because of health problems.
I cannot express how humiliated I would feel if they snooped on my bank account, probably the last piece of privacy we have.

Sorry but .... daft old woman I know.... I have got emotional about this. This is not the country I love and have defended all my life.
Rant over. Apologies.

MSN

I’ve mentioned repeatedly that, in the 40 years since I left Manchester (and England), while returning frequently, I have seen a massive erosion in freedoms, especially in the areas of free speech and privacy.

When I tout either, I receive the tired rejoinders of “Why would you want to say those things anyway?” and “If you’ve got nothing to hide, what are you worried about?”

Sadly, both miss the point entirely and grease the slippery slope upon which we are sliding today.

The ever-increasing list of “hate speech,” as determined by who the fuck(??) is a prime example of the things we have been warned about repeatedly by Orwell and many others. Can’t say “that,” but can say “this!” Where’s the master list and what if a banned word, which wasn’t banned when I was growing up, slips out??

We see it on here, too, with certain mods reflexively banning certain things.

 

[Kompany Car]

but if they’ve got to be earning £38k plus, they'll be coming for their jobs next and that realisation will slowly start to dawn, you’d imagine.

Ive spoken to a number of senior people in engineering companies and the opinion seems to be that they are ceasing recruitment of foreign students studying at UK universities for all but the absolute cream of the crop (Oxbridge and a few of the Russell Group Universities). Likewise, with the current situation with the slow down in the economy, for people without ILR status on tier 2 visa's who are just doing alright, their visa sponsorship wont be continued.

To me its a stupid and shortsighted thing to do from a UK plc point of view, but when did that ever stop this Government. For most businesses paying a fresh graduate £38k+, except in a very small range of professions, would break the business wage structure.

 

[mancityvstoke]

And yet when I mention anything like this in the cashless society thread I am accused of being on crack and pot.

 

[mancityvstoke]

If they snoop on my bank account they'd send me a few bob.........and hopefully pay for my season ticket in the tunnel club. After pissing themselves laughing.

 

[Rascal]

I’ve mentioned repeatedly that, in the 40 years since I left Manchester (and England), while returning frequently, I have seen a massive erosion in freedoms, especially in the areas of free speech and privacy.

When I tout either, I receive the tired rejoinders of “Why would you want to say those things anyway?” and “If you’ve got nothing to hide, what are you worried about?”

Sadly, both miss the point entirely and grease the slippery slope upon which we are sliding today.

The ever-increasing list of “hate speech,” as determined by who the fuck(??) is a prime example of the things we have been warned about repeatedly by Orwell and many others. Can’t say “that,” but can say “this!” Where’s the master list and what if a banned word, which wasn’t banned when I was growing up, slips out??

We see it on here, too, with certain mods reflexively banning certain things.

Nowadays you can get locked up for saying you are English.

 

[Rascal]

That isn't what I wrote, what I did write is that there really isn't a true meritocracy and Communism isn't the answer.

Even Commies like you should have understood that :)

Communism is the truest form of Democracy.