A liberdade a esvair-se em fumo

Parece que a febre legisladora anti-tabagista também atacou o nosso mais antigo aliado. Por lá também há quem se queixe.
Num artigo entitulado "With all these laws, our precious liberty is going up in smoke", publicado no Telegraph, o autor queixa-se do ataque à sacro-santa liberdade e independência de cada um dos súbditos de sua Majestade.

It is said, though less often now than it used to be, that the basis of
English liberty is the rule of law, under which everything is allowed unless specifically prohibited.

Effectively, this principle limited the scope of the state to intervene in people's lives. Law set the boundaries of personal action but did not dictate the course of such action.

The announcement yesterday that smoking in most public places is to be made an offence, presumably punishable by a fine, is the latest addition to a lengthening list of things that were once allowed but are now to be criminalised.

Depois de elencar muitas das recentes intervenções reguladoras em Inglaterra, refere por último o mais "grave" atentado à liberdade individual.

Until now, at least it has not been an offence simply to exist; but the Identity Card Bill in next week's Queen's Speech will mean that, from 2007, everyone renewing a passport will be issued with a compulsory ID document and their details entered on a national register.

Como é que eles sobreviveram até agora sem um BI, é o que me faz espécie...