Poaching

I am sure most people reading this post will recollect the Brinks Matt Robbery. News coverage was widespread and quite rightly to. Just six robbers stole gold bullion, diamonds and cash to the tune of £26m.

So, who has heard of 17 Scottish people being prosecuted in January 2012 for stealing £62m? I confess I didn’t know until I got an email from the Angling Trust. I have copied an extract from the email in an attempt to reach a wider audience:

“Last month’s prosecution in Scotland of 17 skippers found guilty of illegal catches worth over £62 million puts the Brinks Mat robbery into the shade yet those convicted got off with pathetically weak fines of no more than £80,000 each – representing just a fraction of the illegal profits made from robbing a public resource and damaging an important fishery. The same goes for those caught with illegal set lines and nets on freshwater fisheries who really do need to feel the full force of the law if we are to curb what is in some areas a growing menace. Currently it is fair to say that all too often wildlife crime pays in Britain.”

So there you have it. A classic example of a very major crime that was not widely reported. I guess poaching fish is rather less newsworthy than stealing gold. Hope you are as outraged as I am.

Cashless Society – yes please!

Cashless Society

 

What follows is, I believe, a compelling case for the introduction of a cashless society.  On talking to people on the topic, no one has yet come up with a reason why it is a bad idea.  Will you be the first?

 

Cost of implementing

 

OK, I have to admit that there is a significant cost in rolling the scheme out.  However, this should be clawed back within a few weeks of launch.  The cost is giving away a hand held credit card reader to all adults in the county.  Children can apply for one as and when the need arises.

 

Credit cards & “Voucher” cards

 

Everyone will need a bank account.  Money can be paid in electronically i.e. bank to bank.  You buy goods by using a credit card in the normal way.  To cover small items, like newspapers, sweets etc, you can have a “Voucher” card.  You top up with say £10 from time to time and the cost just gets deducted.

 

So it is simple to use and immediately stops the following:

 

Theft

 

There is no point stealing anything as you cannot get cash for the goods.  If you steal and sell on, there is an electronic trail leading back to you.

 

Drug Dealers

 

Again, an electronic trail gives the dealers away.  So simply legalise it and the government can give the drugs away for free.  Users just have to swipe their card for ID purposes.  You now have a central register of users so if you are a driver, policeman, doctor etc you can loose your job through being deemed irresponsible.

 

So, having slashed crime, the police force can be reduced and a few Magistrates and Judges can have an early retirement as well.  Massive cost savings that go against the roll out costs.

 

Black Economy

 

Given that all income and outgoings are now traceable, the black economy is simply eliminated.  The extra income tax and VAT receipts will be enormous.  But the building trade will be in uproar.

 

Lots more accountants will be needed as there will be more work to do each year.

 

Prostitution

 

Again, this is legalised.  All prostitutes now have a clients register.  So HIV carriers and other sexually transmitted diseases can be traced back.  So the health of the nation improves!

 

Immigration

 

Illegal immigration stops as they cannot be paid anything without providing ID to open a bank account.

 

At boarder control you now have to provide your passport and credit card.  Otherwise entry is refused.  If you enter without going through control, you will still need a bank account, so it really ought to be self regulating.

 

Under Age Stuff

 

The electronic card can incorporate your date of birth.  Therefore under age smoking and drinking are easily regulated.  Also Night Clubs and other establishments can easily enforce a minimum age entry.

 

Conclusion

 

Have I convinced you that a cashless society is simply a great idea?  Will it ever happen?  Not a chance. Never.  The reason is simple: MP’s are on the fiddle and do not want to be found out…………