Political repression in the UK
Good piece in the Brussels Journal about the 'New McCarthyism'. http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/3430

This kind of reaction applies to many subjects. I've had someone scream at me after I expressed my scepticism that climate change is entirely man-made. I've had similar reactions when I've told people that multiculturalism was a bad idea that's had a detrimental effect on British society. The pro-EU lobby can be quite intolerant, too.

Have you ever been sacked from your job or smeared in the media because of your beliefs?

No, never sacked, although "smeared" by association with certain individuals, perhaps. However, I know where this is going to lead and I think that we've been here before. Aren't there jobs where being a self-confessed racist could lead to problems in carrying out your duties? I once employed one young lad, a school-leaver, a few years back who turned out to be an out-and-out racist. As most of our clients are companies, many foreign owned, in the City and West End of London, we have to deal with many foreigners from a variety of different countries, on a daily basis. His outlook on life got in the way of him carrying out his job to the best of his abilities. His constant stream of racist banter annoyed and demoralised those around him. We don't run our business as a charity and I wasn't going to let him spoil the team that we'd built up. After a week in the job it was obvious to everyone around him that he simply couldn't operate in our environment and we had to bid him farewell during his probationary period. Having mentioned this, I'd be against getting rid of someone who was doing his/her job perfectly well because I discovered that they were a member of a political party that I didn't like much. It takes all sorts and I prefer to treat people on an individual basis rather than lumping people all together.

The core problem here is that public opinion is being covertly shaped into desired behaviouralism: increasingly, people respond to certain stimuli in a prototypical Pavlovian reaction. Criticise Israel and you are labelled Anti-Semitist; despite the duopoly of meaning therefore implying Anti-Arab, too! Critique mass uncontrolled immigration: you're a racist. Demand reasonable sanctions against miscreants and you are a Fascist. Declare membership of the BNP and ditto. Etc................ British society is rapidly heading towards the tipping point of irrationalism where quite soon, public book burnings a la National Socialist movement will become normal. Perhaps it is high time to recall the hallowed words attributed to Voltaire: "Monsieur l'abbé, je dé-*test*-('")e ce que vous écrivez, mais je donnerai ma vie pour que vous puissiez continuer à écrire." ("Monsieur l'abbé, I de-*test*-('") what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write")