I find most New Years somewhat depressing, especially when the 1st of January has all the appeal of a wet weekend. That said, this New Year is worse than most for me.
I open the paper to find that Brown is now declaring that unless you are "fit", you may lose access to NHS treatment. Doesn't matter if you've been paying for it for years. He's just looking for a way to cut down the amount of patients it needs to treat. Another great money saving scheme.
Then, of course, there are no less than 13 health/medicine-related stories in this morning's paper. You know, all the latest such-and-such linked to disease type claims. We are becoming a body-worshipping society. I have no problems with people wanting to be fit, of course, but going to the gym every minute does not make you a good person per se. Caring for others, giving time to your loved ones and family are just as important, if not more so. But, coffin-dodging at all costs is the watchword for 2008. I reckon Brown is considering making dying illegal.
Then of course, I see in the same paper the fact that Norwich City Council are going to penalise drivers of long cars (i.e Vectras and above). They claim this is for environmental reasons. I don't live in Norwich, but other councils are watching it with interest. We all know it's another stealth tax.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=2XRYR2INSZ02FQFIQMFCFFWAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2008/01/01/npark101.xmlSo, all in all, I reckon 2008 is going to be the same as, or worse than, 2007. Another year of Great Britain being sent down the tubes by an idiotic administration.

Happy New Year
Rant over.
