Showing posts with label scam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scam. Show all posts

Thursday, 4 July 2024

Why I Won't Be Voting: A Personal Stand Against a False Democracy.


As the nation gears up for another round of elections, I find myself increasingly disillusioned with the entire process. Today, I am making the conscious decision not to vote. For some, this might seem like an abdication of civic duty, but for me, it is a protest against a political system that feels more like an illusion than a democracy.


Monarchy


Labour and Tory: Two Sides of the Same Coin.


In the grand theatre of British politics, the main actors are the Labour Party and the Conservative Party (Tories). To many, these parties offer distinct visions for the country's future. However, when you peel back the layers of rhetoric and campaign promises, a stark reality emerges: both parties ultimately serve the same master. They are, in essence, the two buttocks of The King.


This metaphor may sound crude, but it accurately captures the essence of our political landscape. No matter who is in power, Labour or Tory, the fundamental structures of power remain unchanged. These parties, despite their ideological differences, are deeply entrenched in a system designed to uphold the status quo. They play their roles, but the script remains the same.


The Monarchy's Shadow.


At the heart of this disillusionment is the realisation that we do not live in a true democracy. Our system is, in fact, a monarchy. The Monarchy is not just a ceremonial relic of the past but a living institution that represents continuity and tradition in British society. While the King doesn't officially interfere in the daily workings of government, the existence of the monarchy casts a long shadow over our political system.


The monarchy symbolises an entrenched hierarchy and a concentration of power that contradicts the very essence of democracy. Our elections, then, are not about choosing leaders who will bring about real change but rather about selecting which "slave master" will carry out the bidding of the “Plantation Owner”. This realisation makes the act of voting feel like participating in a charade designed to give us the illusion of choice.


A Personal Stand.


By choosing not to vote, I am taking a stand against this false democracy. This decision is not about apathy or disengagement; it is about refusing to legitimize a system that perpetuates inequality and masks true power dynamics. It is a call for a deeper reflection on the nature of our political system and a demand for a genuine shift towards a more egalitarian and transparent form of governance.


In a true democracy, power flows from the people and is exercised in their interest. However, in our current system, power remains concentrated at the top, and elections serve as a mechanism to maintain this structure. By not voting, I am rejecting the notion that a mere change of faces at the helm can address the fundamental issues at the heart of our society.


A Call to Others.


I do not urge others to abstain from voting lightly. Each person must make their own decision based on their beliefs and values. However, I do encourage everyone to look beyond the surface and critically examine the structures of power that shape our political system. Engage in conversations about what true democracy looks like and explore ways to bring about meaningful change.


In conclusion, my decision not to vote is a protest against a system that I believe fails to represent the true interests of the people. It is a stand against the illusion of choice and a call for a more authentic and equitable form of governance. Until we achieve a system where power truly resides with the people, I will continue to question the validity of our so-called democracy.



Sourced from Merlin's Missives...




Friday, 21 April 2023

When is a Scam not a Scam?


Paying more for something than you think it's worth isn't the same as being scammed. Usually, a scam will involve theft or fraud. However, not every situation where someone is asking for money or personal information is a scam. It is important to be aware of the common characteristics of online scammers, such as requests for wire transfers, gift cards, and cryptocurrency. Additionally, there are signs of a scam that you can look out for, such as scammers pretending to be from an organisation you know. It is important to challenge yourself with common scam examples and to be able to spot the signs of a scam when you see them. If you are unsure whether something is a scam or not, it is always better to err on the side of caution and seek advice from a trusted source.


The difference between a scam and a bad deal is that a scam almost always involves theft or fraud, while a bad deal may simply involve paying more for something than it is worth. Scams are often difficult to recognize, but there are signs to look out for, such as offers that seem too good to be true or requests for personal information like passwords or PINs. In contrast, a bad deal may simply be a case of overpaying for a product or service. It is important to trust your instincts and be cautious when dealing with offers that seem suspicious or too good to be true. While it may be difficult to spot a scam or con artist, scammers know how to get around our defences, so it is important to be vigilant and seek advice from trusted sources if you are unsure about a deal or offer.


There are many types of scams that people should be aware of. Some of the most common types of scams include imposter scams, where someone pretends to be a government official, a family member, or a business to trick you into giving them money or personal information. Advance fee fraud is another common type of scam, where someone asks you to pay a fee upfront in order to receive a larger sum of money later on. Lottery, sweepstakes, and competition scams are also common, where scammers claim that you have won a prize but need to pay a fee to claim it. Other common types of scams include dating and romance scams, computer hacking scams, charity scams, debt collection scams, and business email compromise scams. It is important to be aware of these scams and to take steps to protect yourself, such as being cautious when giving out personal information, verifying the identity of people who contact you, and being sceptical of offers that seem too good to be true.


There are many types of online scams that people should be aware of. Some of the most common online scams include phishing scams, where scammers send fraudulent emails or messages that appear to be from a legitimate source in order to trick people into giving away personal information. Another common scam is the fake lottery scam, where scammers claim that the victim has won a prize but needs to pay a fee to claim it. Business email compromise (BEC) is another financially damaging online crime, where scammers exploit the fact that many people rely on email to conduct business. Other common online scams include fake antivirus software, make money easy and fast scams, fake shopping websites, and charity fraud scams. It is important to be aware of these scams and to take steps to protect yourself, such as being cautious when giving out personal information, verifying the identity of people who contact you, and being sceptical of offers that seem too good to be true.


The statement "when there are no victims, there is no crime" is a legal principle that is often used to argue against the criminalization of certain activities. The principle is based on the idea that for a crime to exist, there must be an injured party or Corpus Delicti. However, there are some crimes that are considered victimless crimes, such as drug use or prostitution, where there is no identifiable victim. While these activities may not directly harm others, they are still considered illegal in many jurisdictions. Some argue that victimless crimes should not be criminalised because they do not harm others and the government should not be involved in regulating private behaviour. Others argue that these activities can have negative social consequences and should be regulated in order to protect public health and safety. Ultimately, the question of whether victimless crimes should be criminalised is a complex legal and ethical issue that requires careful consideration of the potential harms and benefits of criminalization.


Wednesday, 2 July 2014

MICHAEL DOHERTY UNCOVERS MAJOR MOTORWAY SCAM.

Michael Doherty, anti-paedophile crusader, law expert and general hero, has unearthed an insidious scam which our caring and sharing government are perpetrating against the UK's motorist.

He said on his Facebook status;

If anyone wishes to read about the latest HIGHWAY robbery scam to extract 'gold' from the British motorist please read the following document.

Share around because undoubtedly the use of these 'variable speed' cameras on the British Motorways is a scam.

The cheeky bastards have even named the system MIDAS - hidden in plain sight - turning the travelling public into GOLD.

Having “uncovered an amazing scam against motorists,” he puts the smile back on motorists face with the welcome news to “expect millions to be handed back very soon...”

Having written it all up and with a journalist ready to publish, Michael Doherty blows the whistle on the greatest scam against motorists ever.

“They're such Bastards.”

MIDAS TOUCH BY MICHAEL DOHERTY

The most famous King Midas is popularly remembered in Greek mythology for his ability to turn everything he touched with his hand into gold"

MIDAS - Motorway Incident Detection and Automatic Signalling

Throughout the UK motorways have had variable speed sections placed to restrict motorway speed limits at times of congestion or incidents. Notification is by way of overhead gantry signage and enforcement is by way of GATSO cameras also installed into the motorway gantries. It would appear MIDAS has most certainly turned the British motorist into pure gold for the operators of this system. [I certainly think motorists will find the acronym offensive]

M1 Junction 10 to 11

The M1 motorway in Bedfordshire has been the focus of my examination, after I noticed the signals being switched on when traffic was free flowing. As a result I decided to examine the matter Freedom of information requests for number of PCN's issued by bedfordshire police controlled sections of M1 (roughly from m25 thorough to Milton Keynes)

As you will see from above table (source - https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/205743/response/513455/attach/html/2/Response%20Letter%202014%2000646.doc.html )

there have been 10,005 PCN's issued on the northbound carriageway of the M1 between March 2012 (when system switched on) to Dec 2013.

Staggeringly there have only been 107 tickets issued for the southbound carriageway, the disparity in itself must be a serious cause for alarm bells to ring...

Junction 10 to 11 M1

But when you dig further, it appears virtually ALL these PCN's have been issued for Junction 10 to 11 travelling northbound !


As you will see comparing above figures with the figures for the whole of the Bedfordshire police control sections of M1 bar the odd one or two, all PCN's were issued northbound for junctions 10 through to 11

MIDAS control data

When I discovered this information, I sought out information on the MIDAS control system (for junction 10 to 11) including the data for the exact time the PCN was issued for my alleged speeding offence. I was staggered to see the system data showed continual FAULT signals from the system data and continual fluctuations, over short time periods between the system settings of CONGESTION, INCIDENT or CLEAR. It would appear this system simply doesn't work. (data attached for MIDAS readings in spreadsheet)


As you will see from above it signalling has gone from CLEAR to INCIDENT and back to CLEAR in a matter of seconds, with 40 mph signals set....

LOOPY

The MIDAS system itself is it would appear a system of 'loops' embedded into the motorway which aim to monitor the flow of traffic over them. The MIDAS system then passes this information automatically to change the speeds on the motorway. It would appear the system itself is loopy from the data feeds being received. Indeed, from driving on the M1 through these sections, the system often restricts the traffic despite the flow being absolutely fine. Indeed, personally I think it causes slow ups and bottlenecks in the traffic as drivers try to slow to the indications displayed. (I have video of one such occasion, signals set a reduced speed yet no traffic or incident)

Whatever happened to the JUDGEMENT of the drivers to drive with due care and attention and with regard to the prevailing road and traffic conditions?

Plainly the 70mph limit on the motorways is not a target but a limit, surely drivers should be able to exercise their own skills in judging how fast they should travel keeping a safe distance as required from the driver in front.

HOME OFFICE APPROVAL

As you will undoubtedly be aware, traffic enforcement devices require Home Office Approval as they are revenue earning. You may be staggered to learn that the MIDAS system has NO approval. The home office claim that: In MIDAS controlled sections of the motorway, the MIDAS system is not an integral part of the system...

Source -


This clear oxymoron seems to suggest the MIDAS system that actually controls the setting of a restricted speed is not part of the system...

Highway agency

The Highway agency claim that 'compliance' is achieved as a result of them installing the system, as per the manufacturers guidance. So the motorist is at the behest of the manufacturer of the MIDAS gold grabbing system, developed by the system manufacturer, no doubt sold on the basis of 'return' that the exchequer will obtain.

Source -


*Note TR2177H is the manufacturers design documentation

Highway robbery

The area of Junction 10 is close to Dunstable, an area frequented in history by the notorious DICK TURPIN (highway robber). It would seem that those travelling the same path are being met with the modern day equivalent of Highway robbery. The cost to the motorist of those 10,000 PCN's would be in the region of £1 million minimum. Add to that the added ongoing insurance costs following points to the licence and you're running into many millions for just one junction on the M1

I trust you find the information of use to evidence the sham of these variable speed sections that have rolled out across the country, plainly extorting more easy money from the already overburdened motorist.

Motorists should use this information to challenge current and historic PCN's issued on junction 10 and 11 of the M1. No doubt the same applies to other areas of the country where this MIDAS system is operational.

FURTHER FULL FOI LINKS:


[Bedfordshire police issue of PCNS M1 - whole M1 section]


[Bedfordshire police issue of PCNS M1 - just Junction 10 to 11]

MIDAS system info


[technical data on system]

Home office approval response

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