More Government Madness

"Heathrow faces fines for chaos" was the headline in the Sunday Times 26.12.10. Apparently the government is to bring in new legislation that will allow airports to be fined tens of millions of pounds for disrupting passengers' travel.

Has the government gone completely off it's trolley? Does it think that the airport operators have any control whatsoever on the amount of snow dumped on their runways or the weight of ice forming on their planes? Of course they don't. And you can bet your life that none of these "fines" will find their way back to the passengers who have been disrupted. The government has just come up with one more creative wheeze to get more money for nothing and increase costs for everybody else. If the airports are fined large amounts they will obviously have to pass on the costs to the travelling public, thus reducing the numbers who can afford to fly and increasing the dissatisfaction of those who are trying to fly but cannot because of the snow.

The government is supposed to represent the people - and I can't see many of the thinking public supporting this idea. But if they are daft enough to bring in this legislation, it is only fair (in line with their "equality" agenda) to bring in similar legislation granting tax rebates to everyone who has their travel disrupted by their failure to keep the roads clear. Or is it a cardinal sin if you can't swan off on holiday abroad but not if you can't manage to get to the shops to buy food? This government has a very weird sense of priorities!

More Stupid Policy - Insurance

I've just tried to renew our house and contents insurance policy. The guff accompanying the renewal notice says this can be done very simply by phoning the number stated. So I do ....... and give my name and details of the address and policy number....only to be told that the policy is in my wife's name and despite the fact that I am also listed on the policy I cannot renew the policy without confirmation from her. Of course she is out, as this is the only time I get to get any serious matters dealt with. The fact that I am also listed on the policy apparently does not make it a joint policy (so what is it then??).
The reason they cannot renew on my say-so is apparently due to the Data Protection Act (that iniquitous instrument which prevents anyone being in the slightest bit helpful over the phone despite the government's pressure for everyone to transact business by phone or online). I politely point out that this is complete rubbish as I am giving him the information, not the other way round. I am not covered by the Data Protection Act and I'll tell him anything he needs to know. As usual with these brainwashed automatons, he refuses to see logic. The best he can offer is to convert the policy to a "joint" one ........ but that will involve talking to Mrs Journeyman ........ who, of course, is not in!!
So we have to phone back later and, of course that particular gentleman won't be there and we'll have to start all over again...... thus wasting our time, his time, and extra phone calls. And the government really can't see why the country is going down the tubes. It beggars belief.

Business Woman of the Year

Laura (my stepdaughter) is now a business. It's official! It must be, because the government says so! So the world gets ever more insane and the Office for National Statistics is now inventing businesses that don't exist. [Must be something to do with the credit crunch]. I've heard plenty of people moan that they are now regarded as nothing more than a number, but I've never heard anyone complain that they have been turned into a business.

This interesting perspective on Laura comes to light because we have just received a very official form from the Office for National Statistics headed "Business Register Survey 2008". It is to be completed for "the business named above" ...... i.e. Laura. It must be returned by 12 June or "penalties may be incurred under section 4 of the Statistics of Trade Act 1947". The form goes on, "We hold details of your business ......". That's quite clever, considering this alleged business does not, and never has, existed. I shall be returning the form with a Freedom of Information Request demanding to know where they got this information from and what other information they hold about this fictitious business which is, in fact, my stepdaughter.

I knew the government was getting desperate, but to invent spurious businesses in order to prop up the ailing economy strikes me as really being a bit beyond the pale.