moonchildhippy
Group: Members
Posts: 1807
Joined: Dec. 2004 |
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Posted: Oct. 23 2007, 18:00 |
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| Quote (Ratty @ Oct. 23 2007, 13:13) | But where does all this PC Madness stop? I am a lover of real ale, i love a pint as much as anyone, many of my friends loved a cig with their pint. This smoking ban has killed the traditional pub atmosphere. People dont socialise anymore because of these crackpot government directives. As a non smoker it never bothered me if people were smoking in the bar but it just looks shoddy with groups of peope stood on the street smoking. The age old debate is begining to rumble here, what kills more people smoking or drinking? How long is it before drinking is banned? Yes, it seems ludicrous now but if you would have said to anyone 10 years ago, "do you know you wont be able to smoke anywhere in England in 10 years time" They would have thought you insane.
I think Mike has had enough of the whole politic correctness issue in this country like many others. There is too much pandering to the wishes of lilly livered liberals, the do gooders who dont want anyones human rights infringed!!! Ordinary folk in England have become second class citizens..you get mugged or burgled, god help you if you protect yourself, you`ll be sued by the criminal. Run someone over while disqualified and without insurance, under the influence and you get less of a sentence than a persistent parking offender.
Most of us are out working for a living all day, as a family support worker it makes my blood boil when i have to help able bodied men 18-25 years of age to claim as many benefits as possible because they claim to have ADHD or something. Do you know how they refer to receiving their benefits? "getting paid" and i have to bite my tongue.
So yes, you may think these examples are extreme but the smoking issue is just the tip of the iceberg and things are not going to get much better for a long time.
Drink anyone!! |
I agree Ratty, surely I would have thougt that it would be up to the landlord or lady to decide smoking policy in his or her pub  , not some government official with nothing better to do.
I do enjoy an occaisional tipple of real ale, and sometimes a roll up with it, (I find roll ups less addictive than conventional cigarettes. I opersonally would not feel safe in a UK town or city centre on a Friday or Saturday night , unless I was part of a largish group, or my boyfriend was with me (he's tall and has big biceps).
Venture into any town or city centre on a Friday or Saturday night and see the effects of people who can't handle their booze, people throwing up from binge drinking or violence.
I personally would much rather be amongst a group of pot smoking hippies. However I feel pot smoking was something I experimented with in my youth, and I personally don't feel the need to do it these days. I know cannabis can maybe cause psychosis in some individuals. As a former carer to my ex husband(we remain friends),an MS sufferer, I can see the medicinal benefits using cannabis can have. I was often woken up to eight times a night. I feel much of the problem is cannabis from drug dealers (the scum of the earth, along with child abusers) is often adulterated.
Why doesn't the government ban fattening foods as obeseity is a growing problem. I try and eat healthily, but it can be a problem for people on limited incomes, as the cost of buying fresh fruit and veg can cost more than buying processed foods.
| Quote | | TOBY Posted on Oct. 23 2007, 17:19Keeping the debate general. Though political correctness is fairly abhorrent I also find the other extreme fairly abhorrent. Middle class people will moan on endlessly about their taxes vanishing off to pay for others needs and the intrusiveness of CCTV and health and safety paranoia. Until that is they need some sort of government benefit themselves ( from the NHS when lung cancer strikes through passive smoking in bars for example) or until they need that vital CCTV footage having just had their 4X4 broken into or indeed when they need to sue their local authority because they slipped on a crack in the pavement thus fueling the health and safety paranoia that they so despise yet they themselves created in the first place. |
Regarding the saftey and security of streets at night I don't think CCTV cameras really work. The introduction of Police Community Support Officers I don't see works as they don't have the same powers of arrest as a police officer. Yes PCSO may be able to advise me on how to keep my home safe and secure, but if I was unlucky to be a victim of crime I would like to think that a policeman or woman would be able to arrest the offender. To be a CCTV camera operator, you need an SIA liceince (Security Industry Authority) The SIA is the regulatory body for the security industry, and I guess many employers won't pay for the cost of employees to gain such a licence, and the cost may be prohibitive if an employee is expected to pay for such training out of his/her own pocket. This is often the reason why so much CCTV evidence is thrown out of court , as the camera operator doesn't have the proper licence, and the accused is let off. Makes a mockery of the justice system.
I think the vast majority of benefit claimants wish to work, but cannort find work or are signed of sick by a doctor. I've been trying to find work since December, as since stopping caring my work situation has been at best erratic, and then I've eneded up only being able to find employment doing care work. I hate having to exist on sickness benefits , it's no fun. I'm currently trying to find meaningful work. I've applied to volunteer with Victim Support, as I'm trying to retrain as a counsellor, youth or social worker, but have been advised when enquiring about courses at the Jobcentre that the cost is too much, I know the System often gets me down,and I know I'd rather do work that I enjoy, rather than end up in the wrong job and end up back on benefits again.
On a positive note I feel I'm getting there slowly, even if I seem to be taking thew windy scenic route rather than the "fast lane" of the motorway. I know a move is on the cards for me next year, roll on '08 
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I'm going slightly mad,
It finally happened, I'm slightly mad , just very slightly mad
If you feel a little glum to Hergest Ridge you should come.
I'm challenging taboos surrounding mental health
"Part time hippy"
I'M SUPPORTING OUR SOLDIERS
BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW!!
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