The Last Ditch by Tom Paine

THE LAST DITCH

Public is not realistic

Published by Tom

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Public is not realistic about terrorism, Scotland Yard chief says – Telegraph.

Isn't it odd that the police regularly tell us that our fear of crime is irrational but now also say we are not afraid enough of terrorism? If we are wimps, surely we would be overly afraid of both? If we are brave or reckless, you would think we would pour scorn on both.

I don't suppose it has anything to do with the fact that the police want us to feel they do a better job of fighting crime than our own perceptions suggest? Or that they want us to be more afraid of terrorism in order to get more powers and better toys?

Just asking.

2 responses to “Public is not realistic”

  1. Suboptimal Planet Avatar
    Suboptimal Planet

    Well said, Tom.

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  2. Bill Primrose Avatar
    Bill Primrose

    Waiting for a train on the excellent MRT underground system in the CBD of Singapore this morning at around 11:30 I was amazed to see a two minute video called “The Forgotten Bag” played on a display above the platform. In it a shady looking youth takes a sports bag onto the train, puts it under his seat, and fellow passengers take no notice. He then gets out a few stations later, calls a number on his mobile, and the train (which had just entered a tunnel) explodes in a ball of fire. The message was “report suspicious packages – your life could be one of those saved”.
    Somehow I don’t expect to see this playing on the London Underground – 7/7 is a vivid enough memory for most of us.

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Tom is a retired international lawyer. He was a partner in a City of London law firm and spent almost twenty years abroad serving clients from all over the world.

Returning to London on retirement in 2011, he was dismayed to discover how much liberty had been lost in the UK while he was away.

He’s a classical liberal (libertarian, if you must) who, like his illustrious namesake, considers that

“…government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.”

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