Warning: pointless ramble. i.e. a Twiddle.
Just sat here, reading Aussie 500 posts and feeling the pain of it all. Which set me on my way down Ramble Lane. Honest, well intentioned folk, such as Aussie, Chillit, Brock, the IG etc. part of a list too long to name, battling the system in an attempt to help find out what, precisely, caused the ‘disappearance’ of a passenger aircraft and 200 odd lives. The effort and cost the gain access to information which ‘we’ the public, not only paid for, but pay for the folk who ‘run’ these operations. It is a bloody disgrace. FDS we pay for every paper clip the military throw at each other; we pay for AMSA; we pay for ATSB; hells bells we even paid for the boats out searching. So why should Aussie shell out more hard earned bucks for what is – arguably – publically paid for data. It’s a bollocks. A bollocks of the first water. IF the ‘tax-payer’ ultimately funds the MH 370 operation; then, that information – full and complete – belongs to those as paid for it. Is it not so? Then why is that information not fully, freely and completely available to those who wish to study it? At no additional charge?
I have an old friend who had been to a function in the city- went on a bit late and he was searching for a taxi. I may add, the guy was completely sober (medical reasons) and is in full possession of his considerable faculties. At the crossing – the light was indeed red; no argument. Even so – as there was no traffic and the light was taking for ever, having looked left, then right, then left again – with no visible traffic in sight - he crossed the road, against the red. Gottcha.
Two full hours later old mate hits his front door; 24 minutes travelling home the rest spent with the ‘law’. You can imagine the conversation – “No, I’m not colour blind”. "I resent being called a ‘Ducking idiot”. “ Yes I realise that safety is important”. “ I know you guys have a job to do”. “Yes, I understand that delivering death messages at Dark O’clock causes you stress”. “BUT: for FFS – there was not any sort of vehicle in sight for two city blocks”. No matter. Booked, fined and eventually allowed to leave for home.
Perhaps it’s just me as I live (survive) through this modern world – but it seems to me that crossing the road – safely; and, asking for what should be publically available documents, without penalty or more than a minimal cost – is an inalienable right of ‘free’ people; those as paid for it all: the folk that support this pony-pooh thing called democracy.
In short what, in the seven hells happened to ‘freedom’?
Told ya – pointless twiddle; writ to clear the mind and soothe the beast – until the next time.
Right then; my knitting awaits – Heigh Ho & Toot toot.
Just sat here, reading Aussie 500 posts and feeling the pain of it all. Which set me on my way down Ramble Lane. Honest, well intentioned folk, such as Aussie, Chillit, Brock, the IG etc. part of a list too long to name, battling the system in an attempt to help find out what, precisely, caused the ‘disappearance’ of a passenger aircraft and 200 odd lives. The effort and cost the gain access to information which ‘we’ the public, not only paid for, but pay for the folk who ‘run’ these operations. It is a bloody disgrace. FDS we pay for every paper clip the military throw at each other; we pay for AMSA; we pay for ATSB; hells bells we even paid for the boats out searching. So why should Aussie shell out more hard earned bucks for what is – arguably – publically paid for data. It’s a bollocks. A bollocks of the first water. IF the ‘tax-payer’ ultimately funds the MH 370 operation; then, that information – full and complete – belongs to those as paid for it. Is it not so? Then why is that information not fully, freely and completely available to those who wish to study it? At no additional charge?
I have an old friend who had been to a function in the city- went on a bit late and he was searching for a taxi. I may add, the guy was completely sober (medical reasons) and is in full possession of his considerable faculties. At the crossing – the light was indeed red; no argument. Even so – as there was no traffic and the light was taking for ever, having looked left, then right, then left again – with no visible traffic in sight - he crossed the road, against the red. Gottcha.
Two full hours later old mate hits his front door; 24 minutes travelling home the rest spent with the ‘law’. You can imagine the conversation – “No, I’m not colour blind”. "I resent being called a ‘Ducking idiot”. “ Yes I realise that safety is important”. “ I know you guys have a job to do”. “Yes, I understand that delivering death messages at Dark O’clock causes you stress”. “BUT: for FFS – there was not any sort of vehicle in sight for two city blocks”. No matter. Booked, fined and eventually allowed to leave for home.
Perhaps it’s just me as I live (survive) through this modern world – but it seems to me that crossing the road – safely; and, asking for what should be publically available documents, without penalty or more than a minimal cost – is an inalienable right of ‘free’ people; those as paid for it all: the folk that support this pony-pooh thing called democracy.
In short what, in the seven hells happened to ‘freedom’?
Told ya – pointless twiddle; writ to clear the mind and soothe the beast – until the next time.
Right then; my knitting awaits – Heigh Ho & Toot toot.