Spying

Have just been reading the recently released notes from the National Archives. They include the MI5 notes on photographers and actresses from the 1950/60s. They note their friends, what they have been reading, membership of groups - whether their is any suspicion of whether they are communist.

How little has changed. Last week it was revealed that over 3000 workers were labelled 'trouble makers' 'communist' or had brought up 'health and safety concerns'. The company supplying the data to the top 20 construction firms (run by someone previously involved in the 'Economic League' another information gathering service for industry) illegally prevented many from getting any work whatsoever.

It was also revealed that the police are keeping detailed info on any of us involved in peace and environmental activism - much of it on video.

Sadly, the state seems still intent of squashing any form challenge or subversion it may face. Business and government join hand in hand as they destroy freedom of association and belief. We do not suffer the extremes of a 'police state' - Torture; disappearances; systematic us of terror against the individual - but that does not mean that we live in either freedom, or a democratic society. Making suppression more subtle and less obvious, does not make it less suppressive. I am free to type this - but only as long as my actions have no chance in changing the nature of our militaristic and Capitalistic regime.

Whether a communist in the 50's or a peace activist 50 years later, they are still making sure that we stay exactly where we belong.