Readers of Sunday newspapers have favourite columnists to whom they turn to first, even prior to reading the news. Depending on the newspaper some turn to Matthew Parris (Times), Peter Hitchens (Mail) or Matthew d'Ancona (Telegraph) but if one is seeking good, investigative journalism there is only one port of call: Christopher Booker of the Sunday Telegraph. Tomorrow he turns his attention to the carbon trading scam and the EU's Galileo satellite system with. as usual, telling effect.
Now if anything demonstrated the illogical thinking of our EU elite it must be the idea of introducing a satellite guidance system, the use of which would be chargeable to its users, when an alternative, reliable system was available and which was also free to the user. The word "Doh" springs to mind.
More importantly, it is worth bearing in mind that if the user can be told where he is, it is not impossible for the provider to know where the user is - and it is such concerns about personal privacy, which have never been denied, that must raise questions amongst those concerned about that subject. The point also needs to be made that the introduction of "road pricing" would also be that much easier to introduce and manage.
A more important question arises with the introduction of Galileo, which is: were we ever asked if we wanted such a system introduced and were we in agreement that we would fund it? The answer to both questions is in the negative and further demonstrates the undemocratic nature of the European Union.
3 comments:
No pure satellite guidance system (whether U/S funded GPS, the USSR's GLONAS, or Galileo can send individual users locations back to the authorities. All they do is provide a series of highly accurate, synchronised time signals which the receiver uses to calculate its position by simple trigonometry.
However modern devices such as smart phones which incorporate a GPS receiver can use the mobile network to relay this information.
Having said that, it appears to be the French who wanted independence from the American system, so this begs the question why the hell should WE pay for it???
A more important question arises with the introduction of Galileo, which is: were we ever asked if we wanted such a system introduced and were we in agreement that we would fund it?
Again and again and again, we keep coming back to the same question - the democratic deficit. Certain people are appropriating our money to pursue certain projects of their own.
The black box idea where people can vote instantly on such things is not a bad one.
m/dave: I bow to your superior 'techie' knowledge, but being a
cynic I trust them not an inch - any thing is possible if a mind is put to it! Your comment re the French is known and noted.
JH: Unfortunately the democratic deficit is not just confined to the EU but is becoming even more prevalent in the UK!
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