Dale Farm Cleared Tomorrow?

You have never intentionally driven at all over the speed limit? I like bringing this one up because most people have. It's a good example of where a law is regularly flouted by the majority of people subject to it. I like to think independently as much as I can, and as such if I don't think a law is just or reasonable I will not follow it. The vast majority of the time my own thinking is in step with the law (for probably complex reasons that we needn't explore now).I find your post quite ironic.



The law on speeding is still enforced however and if you get caught you are still subject to it.

So your example really doesn't amount to much, only to suggest that you feel you are above the law as you decide which laws are in keeping with your personal morality and which do not and by your own admission you only follow those that you agree with.

Why do you feel that you are not subject to the same rules in society as everyone else? What gives you the right to disregard laws arbitrarily when the rest of society has to abide by them or use their democratic rights to change those laws legally?

What gives you the moral high ground to decide for the rest of us what should be considered fair?
 
I have driven over the speed limit, if I get caught I will pay up and take it on the chin, not whine about it. ;)
I am quite sure you will whine about it, whether you pay it or not. I've not come across anyone that has been really pleased and felt that it's a really justified punishment for the crime. After all, there's not much point seriously arguing over a speeding ticket when the consequence is just a few points and a fine, rather than something more serious, say your forced eviction.
However we are talking about planning law, they used the right of law to fight their eviction and lost, they should now abide by the law. After all if they won they would be championing the law. ;)
Yes, planning law, a set of laws that are accepted to be in need of reform, and were not really developed with traveller communities in mind.
The law on speeding is still enforced however and if you get caught you are still subject to it.

So your example really doesn't amount to much, only to suggest that you feel you are above the law as you decide which laws are in keeping with your personal morality and which do not and by your own admission you only follow those that you agree with.

Why do you feel that you are not subject to the same rules in society as everyone else? What gives you the right to disregard laws arbitrarily when the rest of society has to abide by them or use their democratic rights to change those laws legally?

What gives you the moral high ground to decide for the rest of us what should be considered fair?
Not entirely true. When you are 'caught' speeding somebody can and often does make an assessment of the situation and can decide not to charge you. If this were a public event played out on TV I am sure it would be enforced more strictly, but when it's more personal and intimate and flexibility is available, it's often overlooked. This discretion is available to and executed by the officer at the time.

You have your assessment correct, yes I feel I am above the law. I know I am subject to it by the use of force, but I don't have an innate sense of subordinace to it. After all, it's a human construct, and as such I try to subject it to as much scrutiny as I can, whether that's enough or not.

I feel I am subject to the same rules as everybody else; effectively, none. We are all free to make our own individual choices and some may choose to follow the established law to the letter. I would offer that most don't, but actually operate on a sort of wavy line near it, much like I do, it's just I happen to openly accept that fact. I don't feel I need a right to disregard laws as I don't feel the law has a right to impose them upon me. The only right it has is one it has established itself. I am happy to play ball fairly and squarely as I'm a peaceful person and don't want to cause any problems while I go about my business, but I rarely turn to the law for guidance as to how I should behave. It's just something that's there in the background that I occasionally should make sure I don't break to ensure I can keep living freely, and should be aware that I am breaking when I choose to do so when I think it's safe to do so.

You see, your last point is where you misinterpret me. I don't want to decide what is right or wrong for anyone else, I'd much rather they decided that themselves. I just wish to not have everyone else's morality imposed on me.
 
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Sometimes, depending on my mood, I'm all for a bit of ethnic cleansing (joke ... sort off), but I must admit that all my interactions with travelers have been pleasant and I've been treated with nothing but respect. They get a bad rap but personally I haven't seen anything that justifies the criticism.
 
Sometimes, depending on my mood, I'm all for a bit of ethnic cleansing (joke ... sort off), but I must admit that all my interactions with travelers have been pleasant and I've been treated with nothing but respect. They get a bad rap but personally I haven't seen anything that justifies the criticism.

***** LOVER!!!

burn him!
burn him!
 
and were not really developed with traveller communities in mind.
Why should they be? Planning laws were not developed to 'fairly' consider (read: grant me rights by default because I am a minority) with my needs for a castle in the Peak District, but I'm not doing it anyway. I'm not even allowed to reach a compromise, and stick a turret on my already existing house.

Why can't they just live up to their name and travel to (and/or buy) another non-green belt piece of commons?

I have no sympathy. They knew they weren't supposed to build on the land (before and after buying it) and they seem to think that 'constantly being refused planning permission' is some kind of reason to build anyway. They have had years to get their affairs in order. They have been offered regular accommodation by the council even though housing is incredibly tight.

However, it isn't 'culturally acceptable' accommodation, apparently. Since when do we have an obligation to fund the pathetic whims of a tiny minority who want to live, essentially, abnormally?

Like I said, back to my castle...
 
I am quite sure you will whine about it, whether you pay it or not. I've not come across anyone that has been really pleased and felt that it's a really justified punishment for the crime. After all, there's not much point seriously arguing over a speeding ticket when the consequence is just a few points and a fine, rather than something more serious, say your forced eviction.Yes, planning law, a set of laws that are accepted to be in need of reform, and were not really developed with traveller communities in mind.

See, I won't whine about it, I know the limits and if I choose to break them that is my fault. ;)
 
Sometimes, depending on my mood, I'm all for a bit of ethnic cleansing (joke ... sort off), but I must admit that all my interactions with travelers have been pleasant and I've been treated with nothing but respect. They get a bad rap but personally I haven't seen anything that justifies the criticism.

Let me list my dealings with ******

Burgled our house 3 times
Smacked our Labrador over the head with a metal end walking stick
Nicked our chainsaw
Found one set in the typical white transit on our lawn having a look what they can nick
Stole a ULD LD3 from our yard and scrapped it in ten minutes
When I was working in a garage whilst at college a pair jumped into my car and ripped out my Alpine whilst I literally went out back to get something, only because I fronted them up did I find it under the front seat of their RS Turbo
I worked in a petrol station also whilst at college, they would constantly drive in fill up and drive off or come in the shop and fill their pockets
One turned up in the same petrol station with a rucksack full of car stereos trying to sell them, must have been 10 high end stereos all with cut ends and screwdriver marks
We constantly get our construction sites robbed, our CCTV picks up transit tippers ramming gates or cutting the locks off then just helping themselves to whatever they can load up on site

The only comeuppance I've seen was the local 'hard *****' taking a full beating by the local dealer in the middle of a club, the bouncers just let it finish

Scum !
 
Why should they be?
Because whether we like it or not, specifically with regards to planning regulation, the ever on-going issues with the traveller community is, to me, an indication that we have a problem.
Why can't they just live up to their name and travel to (and/or buy) another non-green belt piece of commons?
I don't know. This particular community were semi-settled, and would have had work or informal employment, children in schools etc. which makes it harder to move than normal. If they had only just set down then maybe that would be more easily possible but the situation we are in now is that they have been there for around 10 years. You can argue that this is a result of their actions, which is true, but unfortunately it doesn't change the situation we are in now. There were no other sites in the Basildon area made available to them.
I have no sympathy. They knew they weren't supposed to build on the land (before and after buying it) and they seem to think that 'constantly being refused planning permission' is some kind of reason to build anyway. They have had years to get their affairs in order. They have been offered regular accommodation by the council even though housing is incredibly tight.

However, it isn't 'culturally acceptable' accommodation, apparently. Since when do we have an obligation to fund the pathetic whims of a tiny minority who want to live, essentially, abnormally?

Like I said, back to my castle...
I'm also not sure on the alternative accommodation thing. I think in this case 'culturally acceptable' is a reasonable request in that area. I know Basildon and it's not a nice place. I would not want to be a few Irish travellers beamed from space in to a Basildon council estate.
 
I think in this case 'culturally acceptable' is a reasonable request in that area. I know Basildon and it's not a nice place. I would not want to be a few Irish travellers beamed from space in to a Basildon council estate.
They're not objecting to the areas - they're objecting to (and I quote their spokesperson) 'brick walls' as their reason for the proposals not being 'culturally acceptable' (also quoted). They don't want to live in flats (even ones next to each other) - they want a field and these porta-houses.
 
They're not objecting to the areas - they're objecting to (and I quote their spokesperson) 'brick walls' as their reason for the proposals not being 'culturally acceptable' (also quoted). They don't want to live in flats (even ones next to each other) - they want a field and these porta-houses.
I don't purport to be an expert on traveller culture, but it seems a reasonable request being as that way of living, at least outwardly so, a key part of their lifestyle. I can't imagine living like they do and the council would probably not attempt to house me that way. It's these sorts of things where I think we have a disconnect that will never go away if we just carry on the way that we are. I don't know what the answer is, but I don't think what's happening is.
 
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I don't purport to be an expert on traveller culture, but it seems a reasonable request being as it's, at least outwardly so, a key part of their lifestyle.

Not exactly sure how staying in one place for 10 years is part of traveller culture...
 
I don't purport to be an expert on traveller culture, but it seems a reasonable request being as it's, at least outwardly so, a key part of their lifestyle.
Nor do I, but I don't feel I need to.

There are various key parts of my lifestyle I am not able to achieve in certain places (and some not allowed anywhere ;)).

I do not want my government and my money to go to pandering to the whims of minorities who choose (and have entire control over) to live abnormally. More specifically, I also don't want them to build and ruin the green belt that I pay to maintain and protect and occasionally enjoy. More generally, I don't want their stubbornness to be rewarded.

They have and have always had complete choice and control over their situation and the predicament they are now in. Nothing - absolutely nothing - has come as a surprise to them.
 
I don't purport to be an expert on traveller culture, but it seems a reasonable request being as that way of living, at least outwardly so, a key part of their lifestyle. I can't imagine living like they do and the council would probably not attempt to house me that way. It's these sorts of things where I think we have a disconnect that will never go away if we just carry on the way that we are. I don't know what the answer is, but I don't think what's happening is.

They get offered far more than anyone else is. Why do they move to an illegal site in the first place. Why stick up for them?
They have had years to sort it out but haven't. They survive by taking the pee and causing more hassle than it's worth. The only way to solve this is by getting tough, rather than the way you suggest. They have no intention of sorting themselves out or moving. They are just trying to justify themselves to the masses.
 
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