That is the mantra that is being trotted out regarding ID Cards, THAT database, CCTV, ANPR, dog shit wardens, the bin police and all the other little snoopers, inspectors and spies that now run the rule over our lives on a daily basis.
To voice dissent suggests that you do indeed have something to hide.
Fortunately it is a two way street. The Freedom of Information Act ensures that we have the right to see what the politicians and civil servants are up to. Who watches the watchers? Well, you can, if you are so inclined.
Or not. . .
That complete arseclown Jack Straw, serious eyebrows, puts me in mind of a cannibal for some reason, and the man who has taken over Brown's mantle of 'Man who wants to be PM so badly it physically hurts', has decided to use a clause in FoI to veto the release of cabinet minutes relating to the Iraq war.
If you remember, that was the war that was based on concrete evidence that Saddam had nuclear monkeys and genetically engineered MegaEagles which shoot laser beams and shit biological warheads.
Believe it or not, some people don't think that our dear leaders were being entirely honest with us about the evidence at their disposal and their intentions regarding the oil rich country.
Straw told the House that releasing the papers would do 'serious damage' to cabinet government. What he meant to say was that releasing the papers would do 'serious damage' to the members of that cabinet, especially the ones with very serious eyebrows who really, really want to be the PM.
It just goes to show how strong the powers are that the 'authorities' who hold Parliament to account have, and how much respect the government gives them, because the Information Commissioner ruled that these minutes should be released.
Well this is a big 'fuck you' to the Parliamentary watchdogs, and shouldn't come as a surprise to any of us. Even less surprising is the reaction of the Tories who have supported Straw's decision. They couldn't very well make a song and dance about it now only to clam up when the first dodgy decision of their next term of power comes up, could they?
The only people in the House who do seem put out is the LimpDems. Don't misunderstand me, it isn't because they actually really disagree with what Straw has done, they are just all too aware that they can make political hay whilst this particular sun shines as they have precisely 0% chance of ever being in a position when they need to worry about their Cabinet minutes being published.
It's a bloody cover up, it is nothing to do with security of the realm, or the integrity of the Cabinet system, it is to do with protecting what scrap of credibility these arseholes have left. The decision to go to war is done, it was taken, it can't be taken back. One would hope these minutes would show that the Cabinet took us in because, inspite of the lack of evidence, they thought it was the right thing to do. Misguided perhaps, but at least it would show some sort of conviction. However I have the feeling that these minutes say something along the lines of Blair sitting at the table and telling his mates that 'George really wants to borrow our soldiers, and I've a speaking tour to think of.'
What is good for the goose is good for the gander, so as you've decided to hide this, I can only surmise that you have something to fear. That's the decision you make about me when I say I absolutely do not want you poring over every facet of my life.
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