More powers for the Welsh Assembly Government? Well, yes, that is the question on which there is to be a Referendum in March 2011 (next year, boyos). See excellent article by John Osmond on IWA website.

The Electoral Commission has studied and made a judgement on the text of the question posed initially by the Secretary State for Wales and has commented…

Participants in our public opinion research generally had a low level of public awareness that a referendum on law-making powers of the Assembly is to be held; what the referendum is about or, indeed, what a referendum is.”

I like that bit where the Commission appears to doubt the ability of Welsh voters to know what a referendum actually is. This is abit insulting to say the least. I expect that most people know what a referendum is ; what they may be less certain about is the subject matter of the referendum or what the question is they are supposed to be deciding on. This is a tricky subject and the Commission is probably right in its analysis that the Question as it was originally posed was misconstrued. Nevertheless, although the Commission’s alternative version seems more intelligible (to those that care) it still requires a complicated explanatory ‘preamble’ . I suspect  that most people are wondering why we need to have a referendum on this at all – it is hardly a life and death issue. Also, all the signs point to the fact that the ConDem coalition is busy divesting itself of powers and responsibilities as fast as possible. These minor powers so desired by WAG will probably accrue to them purely as a result of just asking the coalition for them  – it is an open door that they are pushing at.  They’re like that child in the classroom who is always constantly asking permission to go to the toilet – for God’s sake go!

Please Miss! Please Miss! Please Miss!

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Jacqui (Smith) and NuLiebour want to hack into your computer without your permission. Is this right?

Increased scrutiny of the public’s online activities could undermine the viability of the web, says lawyer Ruth Hoy.
Source: Silicon.com

eyes

They are spying on you now

The Home Office’s recent announcement that it is working with the EU to grant police powers to hack into personal computers without a warrant threatens to rock the delicate balance between the need to tackle cybercrime and the right to personal privacy.

This is a very serious issue for political bloggers like Cambria Politico and a theme on which we will be campaigning  this year. Not that we have anything to hide! The government is welcome to to look at our computers at any time but only with our express permission or a legal warrant that gives justifiable cause.

At a time when even the US President is requiring increased transparency in government this goes against the trend and makes the Labour government look even more out of touch.

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Politicians may well be in the public eye and thus fair game for Media scrutiny by journalists and their online equivalents, the blogging fraternity. However, there will be a backlash at some point (see below). Also, as has been pointed out by commentators on this and other Welsh political blogs, such all pervasive, invasive and malignant persecution of politicians and others in public life will dissuade good people from standing. After all, we all have aspects of our character, physique or past history that can be misconstrued. Probably most of our well regarded politicians of history had flaws and peculiarities of character and behaviour that would destroy them in today’s world.
We could end up with a bunch of squeaky clean politicians with no human character, vision, moral compass! or skills apart from training in the Mandelsonian arts.

Perhaps many users would realise that slagging off their employer online might be something to avoid but there are plenty of other issues to watch out for beyond defamation and employment law.
Just over a month ago, a blogger in Wales was convicted of posting a grossly offensive and menacing message online. He was prosecuted and fined under provisions in the Telecommunications Act for comments made about a police officer’s family.
It’s probably fair to say that most UK bloggers would never have heard of that legislation, let alone understand its impact on them.Indeed there are a range of laws that can catch offensive messages posted online, as well as other provisions, ranging from specialist intellectual property issues to incitement, that can trip up the unsuspecting blogger.


The trouble with any legal backlashes against the blogging world is that it will be too much and too late – just like the 42 days of internment.

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Cambria Books

New publication.
Important contribution to our knowledge of the Arab Spring by Denis Campbell.

Cambria Books

New publication. Entertaining guide to the US Elections by Denis Campbell.
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