Re 12

Last Lightning

This, from the man who thinks that he is Chuck Yeager !!

Re 164

I loathe most aspects of life that are ‘compulsory’. People, should be left to their own devices provided that it causes no offence or harm to others.

But, a majority of people, it seems to me – including me – are naturally indolent. Wr follow the line of least resistance. Doing nothing is very often to be preferred to doing something. ‘Doing something’ requires an expenditure of energy which many of us find inconvenient.

My insistence that work of civic value be made compulsory and tied to the payment of benefits is made in recognition of the natural indolence of people. If it isn’t compulsory then it simply won’t get done.

Even though the costs of administration of this idea might add to the taxpayer burden it will yield dividends in the gaining of self respect and self worth for the benefit recipients. A further gain might be that they will, eventually, be persuaded of the value of a higher level of paid employment in place of a life of criminality. Thus, making life for all of us, that much better.

All information gratefully received.

As I type, I’m receiving baleful glares from a Pentax Optio 30 which purpose is, nominally at least, that of a camera but, which I think is possessed. Possessed as in the Exorcist. It doesn’t like me. It’s a tiny thing which doubles in size in my pocket because of the need to take the instruction book every where I go.

I know for a fact – I’m not in the least paranoid, that Pentax have equipped it with a brain designed to stretch and test the analytical abilities of perhaps not every user but, me in particular.

As soon as I can find a machine that removes the ‘pain from the frame’ it is booked in for re-cycling.

Re 55

Cloud 9 (How I love that pen name!)

….”punishment should be proportionate and administered by the relevant authorities…”

That is the exact point that many here are making. The ‘relevant authorities’ cannot be relied upon to administer proportionate punishment.

Punishment, to be effective, has to discourage further criminality. The more so in the case of ‘career’ criminals. Fines, ASBOS, community service are used over and over again purely to restrict prison population growth and by the frequency of their use are thus brought into contempt.

Few who appear in court fear the consequences. We’ve gone from the awful times when a child could be strung up or transported for stealing a loaf of bread to the criminal justice system we now have where the punishment never fits the crime – in any sense. Unless of course, the ‘crime’ is an offence against the State – then, it seems to be a different matter requiring lengthy investigation and ultimately, condign punishment.

Cloud 9, people like you, holding those opinions, are central to the problem of rising levels of criminality. Those among us who are criminally minded rely upon the existence of people like you to continually bale them out on the back of every soft option and excuse that liberal opinion can produce. Liberal opinion NEVER runs out of excuses.

Your clear duty as a citizen is to try to influence your fellows with an understanding of moral responsibility and an awareness of conscience coupled to a clear concern for the welfare and consideration of others.

When proper outrage is expressed in these columns it does you no credit to strike a pose of concern for the perpetrator. We are all perfectly entitled to protect ourselves against any assault upon our life, limb or property.

We cannot completely rely on the police. Sometimes they arrive on the scene, sometimes they don’t. What shall we do while we’re waiting and being plundered? Make the bandit/s a cup of tea?

Let me ask you a question: You are with your wife/girl friend or just a female friend. You become the victims of an assault with the female threatened with rape. What do you do? Wring your hands and say a prayer? Offer would-be rapists tea and toast? Call NHS Direct/RSPCA/RNLI or grab a weapon and get stuck in?

No wonder they’re recruiting women to the Armed Forces.

Cloud 9

There must be sufficent numbers of people who think like you to enable career criminals to make a good living.

You seem to be a decent person but, weak and naive and lacking an understanding of human behaviour.

Re 18

Trumper

Don’t steal my thunder! I wanted to write that !

Yes, you are right. He seems to be a thoroughly good bloke.