BEWARE NEW HIDDEN SPEED CAMERAS

To All Drivers : With Police Forces throughout the country having to cut their cloth, (just like the rest of us) one would have assumed that the purchasing of top of the range patrol cars like high-powered Range Rovers, Audis, BMWs, Mercedes or Volvos, would have been one of the first places they’d look, in order to trim their budgets.

To give you some idea as to why police budgets need to be cut, one only needs to consider that currently, police forces spend around £83m each year buying some 5600 vehicles across Great Britain and the British Transport Police.

Now in order to screw us, save more money, the powers that be have come with yet another ‘cunning plan’

SPOT THE CAMERA?

Pay great attention to these new speed cameras, which a regular reader alerted me to. Two are already in operation on the A52 dual carriageway into Nottingham, with a further six operating on the A1 between Great Gonerby, Lincolnshire and Oakham, Rutland.

Based on the ‘success’ of these new cameras, it is envisaged that more will be rolled out nationally throughout the year.

A couple of years ago, it was reported by ‘Big Brother Watch’ that during a one month spurge on speeding, North Yorkshire police, using mobile speed cameras captured 1,805 drivers exceeding the speed limit.  Of those drivers, 37 were caught excessively speeding and faced heavy fines and driving bans.  However, out of the 1,805 drivers caught, it was found that 1,387 were first-time offenders and consequently were offered the choice of a ban or offered a speed-awareness course costing £93.00 each! – You don’t need to be ‘Brain of Britain’ to guess which the majority chose.

So, aside from the profit of nearly £130,000, the obvious issue here is that speed cameras per se, do not stop people from speeding.  The failure is not in catching offenders but in stopping them from speeding in the first place.

Now, if speed cameras solved the problem with speeding, this wouldn’t be so much a problem.  But this new generation of ‘speed camera’ are purely intended to be a clandestine money-making scheme, rather than preventing drivers from violating the law and compromising safety.

Pass this on to every driver you know.....and drive carefully.

PS Before some bright spark emails me, pointing out that speeding fines do not go directly to the police budget; all monies from tax, fines and other spurious fees, return to the Treasury from where all budgets are allocated.  But bear in mind that the Government does not have or earn any money of its own, the only money that they can distribute comes from us, the taxpayer. Therefore if budgets need to be increased, more money has to be taken off us!

THE ABUSE OF AUTHORITY

Following the accusations of “inappropriate behaviour” by four separate individuals regarding Cardinal O'Brien, I’m beginning to wonder whether I am the only one wondering what "inappropriate behaviour" means. 

The phrase leaves considerable ambiguity about what is being alleged, but of course people reading of this alleged ‘sexual sin’ or listening to reports in the media, will automatically draw much stronger conclusions than the evidence to date dictates.

 

It is difficult for us to know exactly what happened 30 years ago, and I don't want to be another armchair-judge on this case, but with the Vatican’s PR machine moving at the speed of light into crisis management mode, it can only leave one with the distinct impression that Cardinal O'Brien is indeed guilty of something!

This has not been helped by Rome’s haste to bury the story by insisting that the Cardinal takes early retirement. This only goes to further undermine his reputation.

On facing the media, the Cardinal, who did not contest claims against him, read out this statement, "In recent days certain allegations which have been made against me have become public. Initially, their anonymous and non-specific nature led me to contest them. However, I wish to take this opportunity to admit that there have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me, as a priest, archbishop and cardinal…”

So, as the Cardinal slips away into a comfortable, albeit ‘early’ retirement, the sad cost to the church’s faithful must surely add to the moral erosion of their faith.

As for those of a non-spiritual nature,this alleged abuse of authority just adds more fuel to those who point out the hypocritical actions of the establishment in general and shatters the credibility of yet another section of society in whom many had placed their trust.

WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF LONG TERM MASS IMMIGRATION.

Continuing the debate on migration; folks, I believe the damage (if that is the right word) has already been done. I feel the Coalition Governments 'cap on immigration' concept smacks of closing the door after the horse has bolted!

 

When is enough, enough? Has anyone in the Westminster bubble given a thought to just what impact a population of 70, or 80million will have on our standard of living?

Has anyone researched whether we have the land availability and sufficient agricultural usage, the impact on our environment and water provision; and that’s before we consider jobs, infrastructure, transport and the affordability of social services, utilities, pensions, education and the NHS?

According to the latest figures 63 million people now live in the UK – an additional 4.3 million since 2001. England and Wales have experienced the largest ten-year rise since records began and approximately 25% of all births were to mothers born abroad. Much of this has been brought about by the uncontrolled inter movement of migrating peoples across Europe.

Because of this so-called ‘free movement across Europe’ we do not accurately count the incomers, nor count the leavers; so how on earth can we possibly rely on any of the guesstimates given by our Governments? The truth is, as I see it, is that people here in the UK are so used to be fed lies and more lies from successive Governments, the thinking ones no longer believe anything they’re told. What they do believe is what they see with their own eyes; in their own towns and cities.

In a nut-shell, I think most people agree that the balanced immigration of productive, tax-paying workers is good news, likewise fee-paying, short stay international students. The more the better. What we don’t want is criminals, terrorists and social security scroungers.

But the problem we all face now, with all this extra pressure on or creaking systems, is that our politicians have not dealt with the population growth problem, by investing sufficiently in the infrastructure needed to support the increasing numbers – transport links, places of work, schools, and hospitals.

If I may quote the bleeding obvious, investment was needed at the same pace as the growth. Houses and infrastructure cannot now be conjured up out of thin air!

So basically, we have been ignoring a rapidly rising population aligned with a declining economy, and now find ourselves unable to pay for the infrastructure expansion needed …but, I fear that we do not have the calibre of politicians capable of sorting this out.

I read that the Migration Observatory, which is based at the University of Oxford. It said margins of error mean that net migration figures could actually be 35,000 higher or lower that those stated by the ONS.( Office for National Statistics) – Which shows we still do not know just how many arrive and just how many people leave! What is clear though is that while we are told inward migration is falling (According to the Home Office website there were 165,000 EU migrants into the UK in the 12 months up to March 2012 – down from 185,000 in the previous 12 months) it is not clear how many are leaving.

Another aspect, as I see it, is that many of those who are leaving are wealthy and self-financing and very many of those arriving are not and will just be a net cost on other tax payers. Many will, in due course, bring over elderly relatives and other dependants who may also be a further huge burden on the state. The current tax system together with our very generous benefits system tends to deter the rich and productive people and is attractive to spongers.

The real answer to this, and many other of the UKs economic problems, would be to leave the EU. We would immediately regain the ability to control our own borders and we could also get rid of the EU human rights laws that make it almost impossible to remove undesirables, criminals and suspected terrorists, like Abu Qatada.

Come the next General Election, immigration will, again, be at the forefront of politics, but unlike last time, it will not be ignored.

We desperately need brave politicians and people with guts, who will introduce a properly controlled immigration policy which works for all the peoples of these islands and direct these matters for us and for once, in our favour, and not merely pick a few morsels of the low hanging fruit in an effort to appease those who believe the popular press and acquiesce to those unelected EU bureaucrats who pull the strings from Brussels.

I look forward to receiving your comments.

IMMIGRATION

The other day, an anonymous reader, asked me for my views on the economic case for shutting the door on immigration.

There are many views, opinions and arguments regarding the advantages and disadvantages of migration and how it has affected us nationally and locally.

If one looks on immigration from a positive, controlled point of view; in many cases host countries may find job vacancies and skills gaps can be filled which in turn may lead to sustained economic growth and those host countries can be greatly enriched by cultural diversity.

Over many years, operating immigration in a properly controlled way, we here in the UK have benefited enormously from some of the most intelligent and ambitious individuals, who for a variety of reasons have become unsatisfied with their own countries, and brought their skills to the UK. Hundreds of thousands of others we actively invited here to fill the enormous employment gaps left after WW2.

Some may well have been educated here and have chosen to stay. Others, once educated choose to return home to their country of origin, to help their fellow man and be of benefit to their own nation.

However, on the negative side, one could argue that, in more recent times, immigrants willing to work for reduced wages could see a depression of wages, which in some cases has seen unscrupulous employers ignoring productivity, training and innovation and exploiting migrant workers.

Personally, it’s my opinion that both legal and illegal immigration seems to have very little real impact on the UK’s unemployment rates, as it has been reasonably steady, even with the expected impact that the ‘recession’ has had on it. Undocumented workers certainly do take some of the jobs that would otherwise go to legal workers. But undocumented workers also create many demands that leads to the creation of new jobs. They buy food and cars and pay rent, they get haircuts and go to supermarkets just like the rest of us, so on average, there really is no real net impact on the unemployment rate.

But, again, in my opinion the basic problem that we have here in the UK is the extra 2.5million (estimated because home office records on immigration were largely unrecorded) and that massive increase in population over the last decade that has put added pressure on public services. This huge, totally unexpected increase, which has happened now under several Governments, has had a detrimental strain on the costs incurred in the provision of resources such as education, social services, security, crime, benefits and health facilities.

Add to legitimate immigration, the unknown numbers of illegal immigration that has emerged in some parts of the country. This too has proven to be an added burden to the nation’s economy and our social welfare.

This has brought about widely thought premise; which has not helped by exaggerated stories in the popular press, that this unrestricted number of incomers has indeed had an effect on the nation’s unemployment, which in certain areas it has and has caused difficulties with integration has caused friction with local people. But it not rife throughout the nation; just in those pockets that have become 'mini-nations' within our nation.

Also, with the EU’s rulings covering the ease of movement from many more of the newly ascended East European countries, has facilitated a rise in organised crime and people trafficking.

Another factor, although I have no facts other than my own observations to back this up, it seems to me that many immigrants, especially here in Tameside, have not faced the facts that not only are they leaving their home country behind, they're leaving a culture behind too.

Recently, I believe Ed Miliband made a speech admitting that during their time in office, Labour, “Got it wrong on immigration! 

By the sound of it he was presumably trying to distance himself from his ex-boss, who came out with a highly politically charged statement: “British Jobs for British Workers". (More BNP than Labour!)

There will always be questions of racism and discrimination that arise as a result of the growing diversity of immigration into the UK but, immigrants must also take some responsibility if there is to be a smooth integration of cultures. For instance, one example of the enormous problem of integration could be solved by ensuring that all migrants and minorities learn and speak English.

I could probably write a whole tome on the subject, but time and space precludes.

However, hopefully I trust that the questioner appreciates the fact that I have at least tried to put my thoughts without any xenophobic thoughts or political bias.