Comments on: Oh My Giddy Aunt! http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/ It is all obvious or trivial except... Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:45:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: So Much For Subtlety http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/comment-page-1/#comment-12037 So Much For Subtlety Wed, 07 May 2008 06:35:50 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/#comment-12037 I am not happy with the merging of two issues here. Yes, the British (and most other Western governments) are becoming more and more draconian in their legal systems. Yes we are losing our freedoms every day. Yes we ought to be looking for some lamp-posts. But that has nothing to do with drugs. Drugs are just an excuse because dealers are so unsympathetic. They would do it anyway. They are doing it anyway. If drugs were legal does anyone here seriously think that the Government would *not* be winding back our freedoms? I would suggest you go and look at any legal reform these last two decades. Sexual abuse? Anyone remember that? The burden of proof in rape cases? Laws on Racial and even Religious Vilification? The truth is that our rulers are f*ckwits. Stalinist f*ckwits mostly. And the Tories are Tory f*ckwits so it is not a partisan issue. They hate us. They want us to be more submissive and they will get their way one way or the other. The drug issue is totally separate. (And yes we could fight the drug war and retain our freedoms if we wanted. But they don't) I am not happy with the merging of two issues here. Yes, the British (and most other Western governments) are becoming more and more draconian in their legal systems. Yes we are losing our freedoms every day. Yes we ought to be looking for some lamp-posts.

But that has nothing to do with drugs.

Drugs are just an excuse because dealers are so unsympathetic. They would do it anyway. They are doing it anyway. If drugs were legal does anyone here seriously think that the Government would *not* be winding back our freedoms? I would suggest you go and look at any legal reform these last two decades. Sexual abuse? Anyone remember that? The burden of proof in rape cases? Laws on Racial and even Religious Vilification?

The truth is that our rulers are f*ckwits. Stalinist f*ckwits mostly. And the Tories are Tory f*ckwits so it is not a partisan issue. They hate us. They want us to be more submissive and they will get their way one way or the other. The drug issue is totally separate.

(And yes we could fight the drug war and retain our freedoms if we wanted. But they don’t)

]]> By: Eva http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/comment-page-1/#comment-12035 Eva Wed, 07 May 2008 06:23:58 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/#comment-12035 'I take it you’ve never seen My Cousin Vinny then?' No, I haven't but it sounds as if I should! More years ago than I care to remember, I lived with a public defender in Los Angeles and got an update on the city's criminal underclasses every evening. My point was, that those attorneys were government employees, paid a yearly salary to defend whom they were assigned by the court - none of this 'it isn't worth my time' business. Often, they were young lawyers intending to go into private litigation practice. Probably all changed now, though. ‘I take it you’ve never seen My Cousin Vinny then?’

No, I haven’t but it sounds as if I should!

More years ago than I care to remember, I lived with a public defender in Los Angeles and got an update on the city’s criminal underclasses every evening.

My point was, that those attorneys were government employees, paid a yearly salary to defend whom they were assigned by the court – none of this ‘it isn’t worth my time’ business. Often, they were young lawyers intending to go into private litigation practice. Probably all changed now, though.

]]> By: nicholas Gray http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/comment-page-1/#comment-12034 nicholas Gray Wed, 07 May 2008 03:03:18 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/#comment-12034 I heard a drug-user once comment, "America can either be free, or drug-free, but not both!" The same holds true for my country, Australia. I heard a drug-user once comment, “America can either be free, or drug-free, but not both!” The same holds true for my country, Australia.

]]> By: Tim Newman http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/comment-page-1/#comment-12029 Tim Newman Tue, 06 May 2008 22:09:45 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/#comment-12029 <Em>Tomai (sp) was fit as f&ck too!</em> Seconded. Tomai (sp) was fit as f&ck too!

Seconded.

]]> By: FrancisT http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/comment-page-1/#comment-12020 FrancisT Tue, 06 May 2008 18:45:52 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/#comment-12020 Looks like another import from the wonderful US of A. Two recent US forfeiture cases http://freedomsight.net/?p=2470 and http://freedomsight.net/?p=2479 In the first case the BATFE aren't explaining what exactly the crime is (it's a sealed warrant) which makes proving that the goods that have been seized are innocent of the crimes to which they are accused somewhat problematic... Looks like another import from the wonderful US of A.

Two recent US forfeiture cases
http://freedomsight.net/?p=2470
and
http://freedomsight.net/?p=2479
In the first case the BATFE aren’t explaining what exactly the crime is (it’s a sealed warrant) which makes proving that the goods that have been seized are innocent of the crimes to which they are accused somewhat problematic…

]]> By: dearieme http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/comment-page-1/#comment-12019 dearieme Tue, 06 May 2008 18:44:42 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/#comment-12019 "that’s less than £44,000 p. a.. Laughable." Clearly it is laughable, since no-one will take the work on. No doubt if I were offered that, and out of it had to fund my office expenses and so forth, I'd dismiss it as daft. What hourly rate does your garage charge you? “that’s less than £44,000 p. a.. Laughable.” Clearly it is laughable, since no-one will take the work on. No doubt if I were offered that, and out of it had to fund my office expenses and so forth, I’d dismiss it as daft. What hourly rate does your garage charge you?

]]> By: Will Rhodes http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/comment-page-1/#comment-12016 Will Rhodes Tue, 06 May 2008 17:02:11 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/#comment-12016 <blockquote>I take it you’ve never seen My Cousin Vinny then?</blockquote> Tomai (sp) was fit as f&ck too! <blockquote>This means you don’t have a Public Defender’s Office here in the UK as exists in the US?</blockquote> Per sa, no. But in the UK you have a right to legal council through legal aid if you cannot afford a lawyer - this is the whole crux of this argument. He can't afford a lawyer but cannot get legal aid because his personal wealth is too much. But as his personal wealth is seized he cannot use it to pay for a lawyer. Complete fecking madness but this is how the 'Labour' government are and have been for a number of years.

I take it you’ve never seen My Cousin Vinny then?

Tomai (sp) was fit as f&ck too!

This means you don’t have a Public Defender’s Office here in the UK as exists in the US?

Per sa, no. But in the UK you have a right to legal council through legal aid if you cannot afford a lawyer – this is the whole crux of this argument.

He can’t afford a lawyer but cannot get legal aid because his personal wealth is too much. But as his personal wealth is seized he cannot use it to pay for a lawyer.

Complete fecking madness but this is how the ‘Labour’ government are and have been for a number of years.

]]> By: Tim Almond http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/comment-page-1/#comment-12014 Tim Almond Tue, 06 May 2008 16:16:10 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/#comment-12014 "I take it you’ve never seen My Cousin Vinny then?" Have you? “I take it you’ve never seen My Cousin Vinny then?”

Have you?

]]> By: David Gillies http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/comment-page-1/#comment-12012 David Gillies Tue, 06 May 2008 15:58:46 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/#comment-12012 Who would even get out of bed for 175 quid a day? If you work five days a week, 50 weeks a year, that's less than £44,000 p. a.. Laughable. Who would even get out of bed for 175 quid a day? If you work five days a week, 50 weeks a year, that’s less than £44,000 p. a.. Laughable.

]]> By: Kay Tie http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/comment-page-1/#comment-12007 Kay Tie Tue, 06 May 2008 14:22:43 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/#comment-12007 "Whatever the weaknesses of the US legal system, this is a good idea." I take it you've never seen My Cousin Vinny then? “Whatever the weaknesses of the US legal system, this is a good idea.”

I take it you’ve never seen My Cousin Vinny then?

]]> By: Eva http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/comment-page-1/#comment-12001 Eva Tue, 06 May 2008 12:08:44 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/#comment-12001 This means you don't have a Public Defender's Office here in the UK as exists in the US? Lawyers are paid a salary, and they are appointed to defend people who can't afford their own legal counsel. Whatever the weaknesses of the US legal system, this is a good idea. This means you don’t have a Public Defender’s Office here in the UK as exists in the US?

Lawyers are paid a salary, and they are appointed to defend people who can’t afford their own legal counsel. Whatever the weaknesses of the US legal system, this is a good idea.

]]> By: dearieme http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/comment-page-1/#comment-11994 dearieme Tue, 06 May 2008 10:54:15 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/#comment-11994 Taking the principle as read, I am still contemplating the detail "legal aid fees of £175.25 per day ". I suppose if you have MPs who don't pay their own plumbing or decorating bills you must expect this sort of madness. Taking the principle as read, I am still contemplating the detail “legal aid fees of £175.25 per day “. I suppose if you have MPs who don’t pay their own plumbing or decorating bills you must expect this sort of madness.

]]> By: Kay Tie http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/comment-page-1/#comment-11990 Kay Tie Tue, 06 May 2008 08:46:39 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/#comment-11990 Sigh. Why does the Government insist on doing these stupid things? Right to a fair trial and no confiscation of property without due process means that the courts will savage the new act, and indeed may well savage the current one. I can understand how the defendant couldn't afford a decent lawyer, but why can't the Government ask one before passing such utter shite into law? Sigh. Why does the Government insist on doing these stupid things? Right to a fair trial and no confiscation of property without due process means that the courts will savage the new act, and indeed may well savage the current one.

I can understand how the defendant couldn’t afford a decent lawyer, but why can’t the Government ask one before passing such utter shite into law?

]]> By: Eva http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/comment-page-1/#comment-11989 Eva Tue, 06 May 2008 08:24:40 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/05/06/oh-my-giddy-aunt/#comment-11989 With so many billions of dollars involved, is it possible there are too many people and organisations in whose interest it is, that drugs other than alcohol and tobacco remain illegal? That's getting into the grey area of conspiracy theory, but... With so many billions of dollars involved, is it possible there are too many people and organisations in whose interest it is, that drugs other than alcohol and tobacco remain illegal? That’s getting into the grey area of conspiracy theory, but…

]]>