Britain is becoming a scary place.

They're starting to routinely log all traffic movements in Britain.

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/whos_watching_you/8064333.stm)

The traditional argument trotted out by supporters of unregulated government survelliance of the population is that if you've nothing to hide, you've nothing to fear.

This supposes a police force that is beyond reproach, and a reasonable justice system. That's a hell of a given. I've seen reclaim the streets protesters being beaten in Dublin, with-out provocation; they were simply cycling on the street, congesting traffic. I've seen film of poll tax protesters who were sitting peacefully outside Downing Street being charged by police on horses. New age travellers having their homes burnt at stone henge because Thatcher didn't approve. And that's in the democratic Western world.

I suspect that proponents ae civil rights are often thought of cranks, but I don't think so. A free society is something you get from not allowing too much power to concentrate in any-one's hands, and making the instruments of govenment and policing transparent to scrutiny. Yes, that makes their jobs harder, but the alternative is the possibility of a police state. No thanks.