tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post115810055601680034..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Is the World Going Mad? Episode No 94Iain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158201916210720302006-09-14T03:45:00.000+01:002006-09-14T03:45:00.000+01:00Well why not go the whole hog and dish out heroin ...Well why not go the whole hog and dish out heroin for free? It'd be cheaper than having the abusers in a situation where they're stealing to purchase it instead.<BR/><BR/>People have a bizarre notion of how life has been since and before 1971.Machiavelli's Understudyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150445761766304667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158192904983771202006-09-14T01:15:00.000+01:002006-09-14T01:15:00.000+01:00I am a North Wales resident. My irritation at my ...I am a North Wales resident. My irritation at my ticket for doing 37 in a 30 zone on my motorcycle was slightly mitigated by the knowledge that on the same journey I had been doing 110 in a 70 zone and hadn't seen hide or hair of a proper traffic police patrol.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158182320606296962006-09-13T22:18:00.000+01:002006-09-13T22:18:00.000+01:00Interesting all these comments calling for 'free h...Interesting all these comments calling for 'free heroin'. Would people have to prove that they are already addicted, or could anyone pop along and give it a try? It would be difficult to 'police' this.<BR/>The case has been stated within the comments here that people can get by in life perfectly well using a pure form of heroin. That being the case won't even more people be tempted to give it a go? Especially as its the case that if you lower the price of a particular item then consumption of that item will increase. Is that what we want?<BR/>I am in favour of legalising all drugs on ideological grounds(although not firmly commited to this viewpoint, in light of some evidence of the consequences), but providing them for free - madness!<BR/><BR/>ACAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158180648241566052006-09-13T21:50:00.001+01:002006-09-13T21:50:00.001+01:00Erm, Mrs Thatcher introduced the first needle exch...Erm, Mrs Thatcher introduced the first needle exchanges in 1986/87.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158180602597489242006-09-13T21:50:00.000+01:002006-09-13T21:50:00.000+01:00"The reason that this idea is wrong is because the..."The reason that this idea is wrong is because the man who supports it is not being consistent. He supports the poor heroin user, but hounds the general motorist. How can he justify it?"<BR/><BR/>speeding motorists kill children<BR/><BR/>heroin addicts shoplift from department stores<BR/><BR/>as a parent i iknow which i preferAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158171420908945022006-09-13T19:17:00.000+01:002006-09-13T19:17:00.000+01:00Brunstrom is my local cheif copper and he is even ...Brunstrom is my local cheif copper and he is even more barking daft than you think...you shoul dread the Evening Leader for Flintshire.<BR/><BR/>This is the same man, BTW, that parked his caravan illegally with car and then went off his head when he was criticised, just after introducing the UK's most draconian traffic regime.<BR/><BR/>Anything you say about this idiot wouldn't be unbelievable, especially to those who have to live with his policies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158156111951629962006-09-13T15:01:00.000+01:002006-09-13T15:01:00.000+01:00Re Speed Cameras...a family friend is a very senio...Re Speed Cameras...a family friend is a very senior copper, and no way would ho go on record with this but I know he believes...that the number of fatalities and serious accidents increasing in some areas on the road is statistically correlated to the introduction and spread of speed cameras...is it that as the police have broadly withdrawn from policing the roads (leaving it to the cheaper Gatsos) that the roads are now more dangerous, as people only change their driving behaviour near speed cameras, elsewhere they have little chance of being caught. But that goes against government policy and would be a thought crime if held by a deputy chief constable who values his pensionAnyonebutBlairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04904102375327980323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158154507545989182006-09-13T14:35:00.000+01:002006-09-13T14:35:00.000+01:00Quote: Carlos Tevez ... "If you don't like being c...Quote: Carlos Tevez ... "If you don't like being caught speeding, don't speed."<BR/><BR/>And of course you, Carlos, have never, never, ever exceeded the speed limit, have you ?<BR/><BR/>Never been distracted for a moment, and drifted above the limit.<BR/><BR/>Never strayed a little beyond, just to make sure that you overtake a little more quickly, and perhaps more safely.<BR/><BR/>Never had to accelerate above it to avoid a risky situation.<BR/><BR/>B*llocks - if you drive then you have exceeded the limit at some times, just like we all have. If you don't drive then you don't understand the scenarios I have described above, and should not comment.<BR/><BR/>Self-righteous comments like yours irritate me hugely.<BR/><BR/>With regard to speed cameras, Brunstrom's idiotic quasi-religious fervour for their use is totally disproportionate to the problem of excessive speed, which (contrary to whatever you may have been spun) is the DIRECT cause of less than 5% of all accidents.<BR/><BR/>His excessive reliance on them draws focus, and finance, away from solving other significant transport and crime problems.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158151445027209642006-09-13T13:44:00.000+01:002006-09-13T13:44:00.000+01:00I don't care whether drugs are legalised or not. A...I don't care whether drugs are legalised or not. As long as they're not legal, the police shouldn't be poncing around facilitating their "safe" use.<BR/><BR/>What's wrong with letting drug addicts die out? Where does it say in the NHS charter, if there is such a thing, that the taxpayer is responsible for self-inflicted damage? If they get AIDS, they get it. So what?<BR/><BR/>Giving up drugs is no worse than giving up a 60-cigarette a day habit. All this fuss about checking in to clinics, etc is just to add drama to the lives of inadequate people. In fact, one famous drug addict whose name I don't remember because I really don't care, actually said he had a harder time giving up cigarettes than heroin. Why has the West elevated drug taking into some special, arcane problem?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158150733584326462006-09-13T13:32:00.000+01:002006-09-13T13:32:00.000+01:00I've never understood why Tories are keen on prohi...I've never understood why Tories are keen on prohibition - smacks of the Nanny to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158149998386322142006-09-13T13:19:00.000+01:002006-09-13T13:19:00.000+01:00Okay, he's a nut, but what exactly is your argumen...Okay, he's a nut, but what exactly is your argument against clean needles? Or your argument against having a place to put them that isn't dumping them in a kid's front garden?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158149225238790902006-09-13T13:07:00.001+01:002006-09-13T13:07:00.001+01:00This tosser was actually caught speeding twice by ...This tosser was actually caught speeding twice by a newspaper although i dont think he ticketed himself.<BR/>I agree with what he is doing, and believe that drugs should be legalised , as nasty as they are and as stupids as those who take them are (I used to) they are a fact of life , contol elps prohibition doesnt , you can say the same about firearms.The Hitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17007793676288933155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158149225075825992006-09-13T13:07:00.000+01:002006-09-13T13:07:00.000+01:00"Of course we could decide that the NHS shouldn't ..."Of course we could decide that the NHS shouldn't treat anybody responsible for their condition like drug users, smokers, those of us who don't exercise ... ?"<BR/><BR/>Sounds like a good idea, although smokers fund the NHS through taxation on cigarettes so I'd let them off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158146177015799772006-09-13T12:16:00.000+01:002006-09-13T12:16:00.000+01:00I agree with ian and cinnamon.Of course if we did ...I agree with ian and cinnamon.<BR/><BR/>Of course if we did start allowing cheap generic heroin to be freely available it is likely it would increase the number of addicts. So is that too high a price? I would say certainly not.<BR/><BR/>Also I think it's a matter of philosophy. Personally I'd rather live in a society that allowed choice and valued personal responsibility. You might differ from this and prefer a nanny state. In which case I expect you're pretty happy with Tony.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158145106966327842006-09-13T11:58:00.000+01:002006-09-13T11:58:00.000+01:00"Let's help the addicts before we help the taxpaye..."Let's help the addicts before we help the taxpayers!"<BR/><BR/>Whatever the other arguments against I think it is certain that handing out needles costs far less than treating hepititas etc. Of course we could decide that the NHS shouldn't treat anybody responsible for their condition like drug users, smokers, those of us who don't exercise ... ?neil craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09157898238945726349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158140832320786412006-09-13T10:47:00.000+01:002006-09-13T10:47:00.000+01:00Iain - you've hit on a great policy proposal there...Iain - you've hit on a great policy proposal there, although of course with methodone available on prescription I'm not sure how much more of an impact it would make.<BR/>You're right though, the man's a whole victoria sponge short of a picnic - he declared not so long ago that speeding was as bad as murder.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158140295031212122006-09-13T10:38:00.000+01:002006-09-13T10:38:00.000+01:00The reason that this idea is wrong is because the ...The reason that this idea is wrong is because the man who supports it is not being consistent. He supports the poor heroin user, but hounds the general motorist. How can he justify it? <BR/><BR/>Maybe because it gets him in the paper? - he seems to be the Tony Blair of Policing!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158139394065145052006-09-13T10:23:00.000+01:002006-09-13T10:23:00.000+01:00The bins will prevent those infected needles from ...The bins will prevent those infected needles from hanging around where others can be injured by them.<BR/><BR/>As for giving junkies heroin -- please do. It is cheaper and more pleaseant to pay tax than to get burglared or mugged.<BR/><BR/>Besides that, you cannot stop the drrug 'business' from happening, so, the state should take the monopoly on in and remove the large revenue for assorted mafias that stem from it (and OUR homes and cars)<BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, the people who need heroin to die in dignity instead of a rage of agony screams have their relatives go out on the street to score, because you can get a heroin prescription, but can't fill it in the pharmacies.<BR/><BR/>It's a mad mad world!<BR/><BR/>(and please DO research heroin a little bit, you'll see that beneath the hype, there is no big deal at all. Heroin addicts on a legal supply can function normally and hold down jobs and have families, what creates the problem is the impurities mixed in by the gangsters, and that the mafias in the UK have a billion pound market, which then feeds back into Islamist pockets (since the stuff comes from Afghanistan).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158139259905935962006-09-13T10:20:00.000+01:002006-09-13T10:20:00.000+01:00In a recent post on the North Wales Police blogs, ...In a recent post on the North Wales Police blogs, the Deputy Chief Constable showed the high regard he has for his boss, Chief Constable Brunstrom:<BR/><BR/>"Leaving Brunstrom to man the bridge over the weekend, I took the Missus up to the Lake District for a long weekend."<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.north-wales.police.uk/nwp/public/en/blogs/viewblog.asp?UID=2&CID=25" REL="nofollow">North Wales Police blogs</A>The Daily Pundithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10897210727324532431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158137818938065892006-09-13T09:56:00.000+01:002006-09-13T09:56:00.000+01:00"Should we force these people to use dirty needles..."Should we force these people to use dirty needles?"<BR/><BR/>Yes, it might teach them a lesson.<BR/><BR/>Besides, I'm sure taxpayers wouldn't want their money spent on this.<BR/><BR/>For the record I actually favour total drug legalisation. But this use of public money is unacceptable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158137753626975082006-09-13T09:55:00.000+01:002006-09-13T09:55:00.000+01:00The issue is more complex than some of these comme...The issue is more complex than some of these comments, should you provide support structures for drug addicts outside rehab i.e. free needles and safe disposal or make access to such drugs equipment more difficult. Providing needles will not reduce associated crime or put dealers out of business, the addicts will still need to resort to crime to pay for the heroin in their now "free" needles. On balance, we should make life difficult for drug addicts/criminals and not provide needles. This may cause some ancilliary HIV infection, but the addict may already be infected and lives a lifestyle that makes them prone to HIV/Hepititis. Their addiction will be linked to a criminal lifestyle and we should not make it easier for them. Heaven forbid, Brundstrom could try arresting them and perhaps the DPP prosecuting them for their crimes? Isn't that the role of the police. Whatever next, will they be handing out condoms to women so that they can't get pregnant if they are raped. Its basically the same logic.AnyonebutBlairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04904102375327980323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158137188290863452006-09-13T09:46:00.002+01:002006-09-13T09:46:00.002+01:00I too have no problem with the idea of giving need...I too have no problem with the idea of giving needles away, to reduce HIV or other infection. Think how much a free needle costs (pennies), and conversely how much it goes to treat someone with AIDS or another ghastly disease (tens of thousands per year). <BR/><BR/>We need to eliminate English taxpayer funding for the Welsh language, though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158137162713950652006-09-13T09:46:00.000+01:002006-09-13T09:46:00.000+01:00That'll make Colwyn Bay nick a nice friendly place...That'll make Colwyn Bay nick a nice friendly place for the non-smackhead community, won't it?<BR/><BR/>Haven't enough coastal towns have been ruined by turning them into junkie service centres?<BR/><BR/>Oh and why not use all this taxpayers cash to fund the rehab facilities that actually get people off drugs? <BR/><BR/>Actually I know the answer to that one: It's because maintaining a growing population of drug addicts creates more job opportunities for parasites like Brunstrom.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158136898169849052006-09-13T09:41:00.000+01:002006-09-13T09:41:00.000+01:00The policeman sounds like a good guy.Catching spee...The policeman sounds like a good guy.<BR/><BR/>Catching speeding motorists means that the law is enforced. If you don't like being caught speeding, don't speed. Or vote for a political party that will abolish the speed limits.<BR/><BR/>As for the needles, I'm suprised you take such a view Iain. The cost of the needles is minimal but the cost of treating a scumbag who's injected themselves with HIV is a lot higher. And the cost of treating a child who picks up a needle found outside their front door is a lot higher. Needle exchanges work, even if the state aiding drug takers is not so appealing, but the state treats many with self-inflicted problems from alcoholics, the obese. And the police can watch the dopers from their office window and monitor them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1158136279930043142006-09-13T09:31:00.000+01:002006-09-13T09:31:00.000+01:00Just as worrying, the Police Authority, which incl...Just as worrying, the Police Authority, which includes elected councillors of course, must be satisfied with their Chief's strange sense of purpose. One wonders whether the Force's rank and file are content too? CCs can be ejected from their posts; it's just happened in the Devon & Cornwall Force, where Maria Wallace was ditched for losing the rank and file's confidence (and that of the Authority).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com