How Much More?

See these pics? They'll be illegal next month.

Hat-tip to 'Not A Sheep' for this spot.

So on 16 February, the Counter-Terrorist Act 2008 comes into law.

The new set of rules, under section 76 of the 2008 Act and section 58A of the Terrorism Act 2000 , will target anyone who 'elicits or attempts to elicit information about [members of armed forces] … which is of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism'.

Only it won't just target terrorists. It will target US. The British Journal of Photography has already seen how the current law is [ab]used to stop people - even legitimate journalists - from photographing Police officers. No doubt the next amendment will make it illegal to photograph politicians. The one after that - well, just don't go plane-spotting.

This is, for me, the final, final straw.

I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it - the United Kingdom is becoming a totalitarian state (if it's not already). I've banged on and on about CCTV, ID Cards, Communications Data Monitoring and restrictions on the freedom of the Press. Even politically-motivated arrests of Opposition MPs.

How much is enough, Britain? Are you so inured, so dulled, so satisfied with the Government of this country? Are your daily rations of reality TV from Pravda, constant mentions of Diana in the Daily Express, a pair of 21-year-old tits in the Beano and house prices in the Mail enough to blind you to what is happening?

As Mark Knopfler put it, "they give you 'Rule Britannia', gassy beer, Page Three, two weeks in Espana and Sunday striptease". More simply, the Roman phrase was 'panem et circenses' - trivialities and frivolities to distract you from the destruction of your society.

Since this Regime came to power, our country has changed, yet you've not noticed.

Now, your every action is monitored from the moment you step out of your door. Smile, you're on CCTV. Monitored, logged, tracked. Your emails and phone calls are no longer private. Your DNA and biometrics no longer yours, but held [in]secure on yet another database. Your information sources are either lowest-common-denominator excrement, or spin-doctored shills for the Regime.

Now you won't even be able to photograph the Fingermen as they carry out the Regime's wishes.

It makes you wonder about the Regime announcement that the UK is to have universal broadband. It makes you wonder what they'll use it for.

I've given up expecting a General Election. The Regime don't want it. They want power and control, and now they have it there's no chance of them releasing their grip. If you want a vision of the future, imagine a Government-funded Quango legislating your life - forever.

I'm off out to photograph some coppers, flip my local CCTV cameras the bird, have cyber-sex with my partner by email, and openly call Gordoom McBrown, Jacqui Beria and the rest of the Politburo scum-sucking weasels in public. Then I'm going to drink 10 units of alcohol, allow my 11-year-old son to have a spritzer, eat a steak and chips with plenty of salt, and read right-wing Blogs. All things that are either illegal, harmful or banned.

I urge you all to do the same. This country is OURS, not theirs. Let's take it back.