PS on the Slavery.

I just want to say I’m only against State Sponsored Slavery. Doing things for fun, for heart, enthusiasm and compassion instead of money is still fine by me. That’s if the state allow you to and you can afford the state’s tax on doing so. CRB checks come in at £26 standard and £36 enhanced every 3 years, and from November 2010 the VBS, Vetting and Barring Scheme, will come in at £64. Of course if you’ve ever touched a child or vulnerable adult you’d be barred, though I’d imagine there’s a special “Reapplication under dubious circumstance” test you could take for a mere £127.50 plus VAT. This in a sense is state legislated bribery. Not in England the grubby outstretched hand waiting to be filled, we have a form to fill in and a bill in Parliament. And then there’s the state sponsorship of the volunteer sector. That’s where individuals eager to make a valuable contribution to their community spend most of their time and energy filling in forms to get a grant and worrying when it will be cut off. If you’re unsuccessful in your chosen pursuit your grant will be cut and if you are successful you won’t have time to fill in the forms, and your grant will be cut. If you fondle your grant administrator in pursuit of a better relationship you will fail your CRB check, and your grant will be cut. The whole system is organised to provide maximum depression to those with the outlandish desire to be useful. Then there’s un-sponsored volunteering where pirate radio and DJs, union reps, rave organisers and civic protesters doing their bit for the community are closed down. I get the feeling government doesn’t actually know the meaning of community other than it’s something scary because it’s outside their control. And volunteering, well that’s just stupid. Why can’t they be like normal people and just fiddle their expenses like we do.