draconian

some of the people i know get into a real tizzy about the current government comparing it to stalin's ussr, or hitler's fascists or just throw in orwell's 1984 for good measure.
i always have a rueful smile when they tell me this because it always amuses me that firstly that they think that the rights and freedoms they say have been (or are about to be) taken away where somehow there all the time and that somehow that this are naturally ours to have in the first place (mostly they have been granted us because of the spilled blood of a few noble people who fought for these rights and freedoms).
but for some people arguing in the absolute without historical thought is the best way, it makes more sense that way and a lot less messy....

anyway you ask what has gotten you worked up now pat?

well one of the recent governments rules has kicked in and now one of the first attempts to have a protest has been stopped.
a group of black cabbies have been told that if they try to protest the congestion charge outside of the houses of parliament they may face prosecution.

oh well who cares about democracy these days....
perhaps what the cabbies need to do is tell any mps who get into their cabs they are just not going south of the river!

or perhaps they should be able to protest outside the houses of parliament in a peaceful manner, as befits a democracy.

i think the smile has been wiped off my face.