I just did a double take at my own writing. In my response to JK's Louis Theroux thread I exclaimed " perhaps the government wouldn't allow it here?...". Is it just me? Or has this government instilled such an Orwellian regime on us all, that we no longer have the faith in anyone giving it to us the way it is? Surely Louis doaesn't reside and make films in the US because of restrictions he may face here? Am I paranoid? Or are US prisons just more interesting than British ones?


Confused. Monday afternoon. 2pm.

On the subject of having to go abroad to make a film about the UK, I recall something I saw on BBC3. The presenter was talking about the British government's banning of protests and reducing free speech. In order to make the final part of his film he travelled to Albania to organise and film a peaceful protest against the British government's policies, because he was not permitted to do it here.

The Major of Tirana explained to him how in Albania they valued such freedoms because they had theirs taken away from them for so long. Nobody really appreciates freedom until they lose it. The mayor seemed quite alarmed that we in Britain haven't learned from all that happened in the world during last century.

Controversial maybe but Margaret Thatcher gave the country some spine. She promoted self reliance and responsibility for one's own actions. She actively encouraged those who wanted to better themselves without being propped up by the state. I didn't like the way she treated the miners, it was abhorrent, but I would sooner have her in power than this lot of nanny controlling police state obsessed bedwetters!!

I was never a fan of Thatcher, however, I totally agree with you that as a world leader, we did have a bit of backbone and I seem to remember we told USA what to do when she was in charge. Nowadays I wonder if we are another State in USA.