It has come to my attention that the UK has started following the US example in alerting the general public to heightened levels of terrorist threat. This is a bad, bad idea. What are we supposed to do about it? These alert gradings have existed for years with regards to the threat levels previously posed by the Soviets and the IRA. It was never made public and the government just got on with dealing with said threats.

As FDR stated there is nothing to fear but fear itself. These alerts only accomplish one thing and that’s to do the terrorist’s job for them. We all know the threat's there, that it could occur at any time and that our governments need to be given the necessary resources to deal with them. However, why do they feel the need to scare us? Here in Britain we've lived with the threat of terrorism for decades and have learned to live with it but those poor old Yanks appear to live in fear of even visiting their local malls what about Europe!

Checkout the following which shows the history of the US Department of Homeland Defense's color-coding scheme:

 9.11.01: WTC And Pentagon Attacks (3,044 dead)
 3.12.02: DHS's Homeland Security Advisory System established, alert set to Elevated
 9.10.02: Alert changed to High
 9.24.02: Alert changed to Elevated
 4.11.02: Tunisian Synagogue Truck Bomb (20 dead)
 5.8.02: Karachi Suicide Bomber (15 dead)
 6.14.02: Karachi Car Bombing (11 dead)
 10.6.02: French Tanker Bombing (1 dead)
 10.12.02: Bali Bombing (185 dead)
 11.28.02: Mombasa Bombing (15+ dead)
 2.7.03: Alert changed to High
 2.27.03: Alert changed to Elevated
 3.17.03: Alert changed to High
 4.16.03: Alert changed to Elevated
 5.12.03: Riyadh Bombing (29+ dead)
 5.16.03: Casablanca Bombing (41 dead)
 5.20.03: Alert changed to High

Sources:
White House
Reuters

So it would seem that the World is at it’s safest when there are high security alerts! I’m sure that’s because law enforcement agencies are doing loads behind the scenes. But what’s the use to the general public?

Terrorists can strike when we're least prepared, that much is clear. So scrap this stupid "scare the people" gimmick once and for all.  ¶ 10:47 AM

  So it looks like the ball has finally started rolling on the EURO question… pretty sure Alistair Campbell is trying his hardest to put the breaks back on! Politically this is a “lose-lose situation”. The UK public is not ready for the Euro and the press barons are against it. If Blair and his cabinet came out in support they’ll lose plain and simple. However, they and the rest of the Labour party are broadly pro-European and pro the single currency. This is the one issue the Tories can still hit hard on.

With some pretty big reservations, I’m pro the UK joining the Euro too. I'll not get bogged down in the economics of the issue here. Safe to say the UK economy doesn’t resemble Germany’s and we would probably come out of the experience pretty well. However, there are fundamental political issues at stake here that really need addressing. Foremost amongst these is the place a referendum has in a representative democracy. Surely we vote in MPs to decide these sort of, in depth and difficult, questions for us? If Parliament was given the vote and the huge Labour majority ensured a “yes” to entry, what would be the consequences of not putting that to the people. Blair has forced through a war against popular opinion, so why not impose a new currency?

Well…

This is a change to our State. In this constitutional mess we live in, who knows where sovereignty ultimately lies? I like to believe though, that it’s in the People. As such, changes to how we are governed need to be signed off by us! A referendum provides a clear and unequivocal statement on whether we the People are willing to put our names to a revised Social Contract.  ¶ 12:18 PM

  Are your memories of the 1997 election - jumping up and down madly at the news of Michael Portillo’s defeat? Does it now scare you that he seems like a voice of reasonableness?

Do you which that Ken Clarke would realise he’s not a Conservative and start a new party with a neo-liberal, progressive and inclusive philosophy. If only to provide the Blair / Brown Axis with some sort of real opposition?

Are you pro-environment and wish the Yanks would just sign the damn Kyoto Agreement like the rest of us?

Do you envy the French their transport system (and their food)?

Do you wish Jed Bartlett were really the President of the United Sates of America?

Do you think there’s nothing wrong with competition and the free market, if only the state regulated big business successfully?

Do you think the UK should have a written constitution?

Do you think the House of Lords is just an anachronism and the sooner we have a powerful elected Senate the better?

Are you proud to be a citizen in a liberal democracy and not ashamed that it’s active in spreading these virtues to other countries?

Will you be voting New Labour next time because they’re the best of a bad bunch and not because they’ve inspired you?

Do you believe in a world beating universal education system that allows a true meritocracy to develop?

Do you believe in a continuous revolution?  ¶ 9:55 AM

  Hi folks,

This is a new Blog set up with the intention of creating a similar site in the UK to DailyKos.com in the States. Is there anyone out there who wants to join me in the endeavour? If so... cool! Please email me at jgrt_uk@hotmail.com  ¶ 4:21 PM