Tim
Creative Writer
Revolutions round the world creating democracies, that are looking corrupt already, and we see existing democracies are getting very scared right now.
I've been reading scifi for 30 years now and the images of possible futures where people live in fear of the state, with punishments severe and everyone looking over their shoulder, even informing on each other for liberties, that was all supposed to be an exaggeration to prove our rights and freedoms.
After 30 years of apathy, here in the UK there is a fight going on and a number of things in reaction are pushing us towards that imagery.
Our police are starting to train and equip with baton rounds. One force is asking for tazers in every response vehicle. They've just priced up for three water cannons.
You'd think that if things are going so wrong that people are protesting on the streets that maybe, just maybe you ought to start listening and stop acting like a sovereign government.
We have the media and government, and pure jealousy and rage turning some of the population against those fighting for their rights. And amongst those fighting there are enough loonies and domestic extremists to discredit the movements given half the chance.
I'm glad in a way we don't have massive civilian gun ownership here, although they are generally not that hard to buy on the black market (although I wouldn't recommend converted starter pistols for sure) Anyone selling the chemicals for explosives has to report to the police their sales.
I didn't expect to have to see this in my lifetime. It was supposed to be the future, or at least a possible future. I'm going to get out, go to Asia teaching English for a while next year. It's a timely escape valve for me. I don't feel good to be English anymore.
I've been reading scifi for 30 years now and the images of possible futures where people live in fear of the state, with punishments severe and everyone looking over their shoulder, even informing on each other for liberties, that was all supposed to be an exaggeration to prove our rights and freedoms.
After 30 years of apathy, here in the UK there is a fight going on and a number of things in reaction are pushing us towards that imagery.
Our police are starting to train and equip with baton rounds. One force is asking for tazers in every response vehicle. They've just priced up for three water cannons.
You'd think that if things are going so wrong that people are protesting on the streets that maybe, just maybe you ought to start listening and stop acting like a sovereign government.
We have the media and government, and pure jealousy and rage turning some of the population against those fighting for their rights. And amongst those fighting there are enough loonies and domestic extremists to discredit the movements given half the chance.
I'm glad in a way we don't have massive civilian gun ownership here, although they are generally not that hard to buy on the black market (although I wouldn't recommend converted starter pistols for sure) Anyone selling the chemicals for explosives has to report to the police their sales.
I didn't expect to have to see this in my lifetime. It was supposed to be the future, or at least a possible future. I'm going to get out, go to Asia teaching English for a while next year. It's a timely escape valve for me. I don't feel good to be English anymore.