Why do governments try imposing laws on people’s private lives? Why do they feel it is their duty to decide what is right and what is wrong in people’s place of residence? In the so called free western world with a so called democracy, what right should the government have in deciding who does what to whom providing it is agreed upon by all persons participating?

I understand we all grow up being taught by our parents, and learning right from wrong, but as adults shouldn’t we be allowed to make our own decisions? As an elderly adult, I sometimes wonder just what is right and what is wrong… and who is that should decide.

There are the basics of right and wrong, and most have to do with treating others fairly, but without imposing personal wants on others. In the Christian world there are the 10 commandments, but even those could be narrowed down to only one… “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” But, governments seldom follow that commandment, but instead try enforcing others. And, there is great hypocrisy in many laws.

For example, it is quite okay to take prescribed drugs, drink alcohol, or smoke cigarettes, but it’s illegal to take certain drugs that pharmaceutical companies can’t make a profit from. Why should it even matter?

I understand that in countries that have a government imposed health care system that people who abuse their bodies could impose an added cost to the publically taxed system. But, it’s perfectly legal to eat, smoke and drink to excess, or, take up risky sports, and yet illegal to do other things just as harmful. But, it places like the USA, that doesn’t have a public medical system, why should it matter?

Prostitution is supposedly illegal, but it’s quite okay for marriages to break up and certain parties to make an exorbitant profit from the parting. But, just why is prostitution illegal in the first place? Isn’t that a private, agreed upon exchange between two participating adults? Why should the government care? Is it because they can’t somehow profit from the deal? I can understand that protection is needed for children, but why is it the government concerns its self about what happens between consenting adults?

Why is suicide illegal? Is it because the government can’t somehow profit from the action? Shouldn’t a person in pain be allowed to take their own life? Why should the government extend a person’s misery?

Certainly there are some accepted, but very nasty practices in third world countries that treat women and children as chattel. We can all abhor the practice of female genital mutilation, but it’s a common occurrence in some African countries and parts of the Middle East. Yet, those same Middle East countries want to impose their beliefs in other countries they migrate to.

I’ve always got more questions than answers.

Ian you will get no argument from me on any of those.

I could add many myself...Living in what was once called the home of Freedom it is amazing what we need to ask permission to do. Or worse get a permit for rights granted us through our Constitution or declaration of Independence.

It may be time to start over but the would be patriots of today are all dumb-ed down in most countries. Sitting in front of the tube watching & cussing but to lazy to get off their butt & react. We have been tranquilized into thinking the choices given are the only ones available. We no longer vote for the best instead we vote for the one we hate less. Knowing inside that the reality is they are all the same. Bought & paid for by the real true powers that be.

Soon enough we will not only be told what we can & cannot put in our bodies at home but we will be forced to put things in that we have no desire to. That may be the final straw...or at least I hope it will be.

You would think with the internet & the ability to spread information & talk directly with citizens from various countries we could figure it out & do something about it. As it stands I do what I can from my minuscule spot & try to let others I know/love about things that are affecting us all & will soon erode what rights we have left.

Like you I have many more questions.

But these days here at least even those question have the ability

to label you a domestic terrorist. So much for the right of free speech & lawful peaceful assembly.

Should this be a welcome to Flying? Sometimes the chang gets in the way.

If so, It's a very welcome.

Regards.

Should this be a welcome to Flying? Sometimes the chang gets in the way.

If so, It's a very welcome.

Regards.

Well I tried my decoder ring but still could not decipher this post....Help me out here

It's all about power and wealth, and the practicalities of excersising and gaining it.

To run a country, you need manpower. Your country is an economy and will not make anybody wealthy if there is not a bunch of drones to carry out whatever chores need to be done, from cleaning the toilets, to teaching the children, to inventing new technology.....you have to have masses of people to do it.

Your country is a society. For society to function, there needs to be rules because the human animal is a greedy creature and has to have it's wants curbed or governed because otherwise it will not make a good drone.

The human animal is not perfect either.....and is so diverse in intelligence, personality, temperament etc that there has never been a perfect tool for ruling society. There is no perfect form of government.

Some forward thinking nice country could corner the market on this pent up demand for greater independence.

Call it Happy Land.

No income tax - just a sales tax to cover basic shit like roads, infrastructure and so on.

No visas and all that bs - everyone is welcome.

No people telling you what you can and can't do, eat and so on.

I would suspect such a place would become very popular. Who cares if other nations try to place sanctions on the place. Sooner or later market forces will decide as it's popularity grows.

nice to dream..

Some forward thinking nice country could corner the market on this pent up demand for greater independence.

Call it Happy Land.

No income tax - just a sales tax to cover basic shit like roads, infrastructure and so on.

No visas and all that bs - everyone is welcome.

No people telling you what you can and can't do, eat and so on.

I would suspect such a place would become very popular. Who cares if other nations try to place sanctions on the place. Sooner or later market forces will decide as it's popularity grows.

nice to dream..

If it was such a nice place and everyone was welcome, everyone would come, and it wouldn't be a nice place any more.

I've been waiting for the anti-PC dinosaurs to start complaining about this bit personal intrusion.

British police building up database of domestic extremist protesters.

BRITISH police are building up a database of "domestic extremists" who turn up to protests, The Guardian newspaper reports.

The database, which includes details of activists - including photographs and vehicle details - features people seen at public demonstrations such as anti-war rallies and environmental protests, the newspaper said.

The policing of demonstrations became a major issue in Britain following the G20 protests in April.

One man died when he collapsed after being hit by an officer, and police also faced criticism for employing the controversial technique of "kettling" - the compulsory containment of large crowds.

The Guardian said senior officers said the term "domestic extremism" could include activists suspected of committing minor public order offences, such as civil disobedience.

Three national police units responsible for combating domestic extremism are run by the "terrorism and allied matters" committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the daily said.

The committee gets £9 million ($15.91 million) pounds in public funding and employs around 100 people.

The main section is the National Public Order Intelligence Unit (NPOIU), which holds the central database for information supplied from forces around the country. It routinely deploys surveillance squads at rallies.

NPOIU works with the National Extremism Tactical Coordination Unit and the National Domestic Extremism Team.

The Guardian said the units had four categories of domestic extremism: animal rights campaigns; far-right groups; "extreme leftwing" protest groups, including anti-war campaigners; and "environmental extremism".

A spokesman for the units said people on the database "should not be worried".

"There are lots of reasons why people might be on the database," he said.

"Not everyone on there is a criminal and not everyone on there is a domestic extremist, but we have got to build up a picture of what is happening.

"Those people may be able to help us in the future.

"It's an intelligence database, not an evidence database.

"Protesting is not a criminal offence, but there is occasionally a line that is crossed when people commit offences."

AFP

Link

No visas and all that bs - everyone is welcome.

I'm all for happy land

You know this one thing you said ....no visa's

Having gone through the process of getting my gf/now my wife

from Thailand to the US I was pretty amazed at the tension & worry of it all.

Amazing that in 2009 humans cannot travel the globe freely.

As for immigration....of course have a rule but jeez it is extreme.

Is it not enough that a citizen of any country has married a citizen of another country & they want to live in either country?

Couldn't they just have the citizen of said country submit a form promising the spouse will be no burden on the state & assume all liability for that person?

Shouldn't that suffice?

At times I think they should remove the torch from the Statue of Liberty & replace it with a Stop Sign

No visas and all that bs - everyone is welcome.

I'm all for happy land

You know this one thing you said ....no visa's

Having gone through the process of getting my gf/now my wife

from Thailand to the US I was pretty amazed at the tension & worry of it all.

Amazing that in 2009 humans cannot travel the globe freely.

As for immigration....of course have a rule but jeez it is extreme.

Is it not enough that a citizen of any country has married a citizen of another country & they want to live in either country?

Couldn't they just have the citizen of said country submit a form promising the spouse will be no burden on the state & assume all liability for that person?

Shouldn't that suffice?

At times I think they should remove the torch from the Statue of Liberty & replace it with a Stop Sign

Several years ago I was approached by a friend of a friend. He proposed a deal; I marry this chinese woman and get paid $10 000. I would then get paid $5000 per year for 2 years. After that, once she has citizenship, she will divorce me and we will go our seperate ways.

Once she had citizenship, she would have gradually brought the entire family over.

I can see why a governnment would have some criteria.

Whether nuptial bliss and consumation would have occurred was outside the business arangement and between ourselves, but that was not my deterrant, it was her legal entitlements after divorce. NZ law does not have a huge respect for pre-nups.

Several years ago I was approached by a friend of a friend. He proposed a deal; I marry this chinese woman and get paid $10 000. I would then get paid $5000 per year for 2 years. After that, once she has citizenship, she will divorce me and we will go our seperate ways.

Once she had citizenship, she would have gradually brought the entire family over.

I can see why a governnment would have some criteria.

Whether nuptial bliss and consumation would have occurred was outside the business arangement and between ourselves, but that was not my deterrant, it was her legal entitlements after divorce. NZ law does not have a huge respect for pre-nups.

Sure I can see the need for some criteria too.

But that is why I mentioned the liability waiver. If a spouse signs that then they assume responsibility.

All the governments red tape & fees still would not protect against the scenario you mentioned anyway.

So other than putting grown adults through the paces what does their red tape accomplish in the end that could not be satisfied with the simple declaration of a spouse that I mentioned?

In fact if you had to sign such a waiver you would not have ever entertained the proposition they offered you.

Make the waiver for 10 years or what ever satisfies the governments concern.

I knew a few Thai girls in Australia and virtually all of them had come into the country via New Zealand. Entry and permanent residency to NZ was considered a breeze then NZ residents could travel easily to Australia.

I knew a few Thai girls in Australia and virtually all of them had come into the country via New Zealand. Entry and permanent residency to NZ was considered a breeze then NZ residents could travel easily to Australia.

I can't compare it to Australian rules, but I can say that it is definitely not a breeze to get PR in NZ now.

No idea what the situation is in Kiwiland these days.

It's not too bad in Australia though if you're genuine and persevere.

Two good friends have successfully brought their Filipina girlfriends into the country in the last couple of years without any great drama.

Mind you, the excellent character references I wrote for these virtuous ladies would have assisted considerably.

Am so a minister of religion... Church of Universal Life, check it out on the 'net.