Loss of Privacy

If you have a pension in Ireland, you’ve probably already paid taxes on it. That doesn’t matter because the Irish government are set to take some more taxes from you.

Without the ability sell debt due to soaring interest rates, and with severe spending rules in place due to its EU-IMF bailout, Ireland has few ways of spending to stimulate the economy. Today’s jobs program includes specific tax increases, including the tax on pensions, aimed at keeping government jobs spending from adding to the national debt.

The tax on private pensions will be 0.6%, and last for four years, according to the report.

But, don’t worry folks. It’s only a temporary measure.

Unwilling to budge on the country’s low corporate tax rate, Enda Kenny’s Irish government has chosen to target pensioners for funds to grow the economy. Whether it turns out to be an example to other countries seeking alternative ways to raise revenues with aging populations is yet unknown.

Hey, look at that. Ireland is just like the USA. We can’t possibly raise the corporate tax, so we’re going to screw the little guy just a bit more.

After spending several hours searching for which airports are using full body scanners and what the rules are, the list below details my results. The fact is, most airport websites are useless when giving the information. Schiphol airport has a nice brochure outlining what they’re doing, but most of the information I found comes from various news sites.  Many EU states appear to be waiting for a concise response from the EU Parliament and then issue a united answer.

It appears that nearly everyone is thinking of or already has installed full body scanners. The differences is the type of scanner and whether it’s compulsory or not. Nearly all countries state that they are only doing this on flights to the United States.

The United States has also installed full body scanners at most of their major airports, though, under US law, everyone is supposed to have the option of a pat down as well.

Australia – body scanners will be introduced by early 2011
Belgium – waiting for EU decision
Canada – all airports to get scanners, in Vancouver, US bound passengers are to be targeted first, but have the option of a pat down; suspicious domestic or international travelers will be required to have a full body scan Winnipeg also offers the option of a pat down
China – hasn’t ruled them out, hasn’t decided whether to use them or not
France Charles de Gaulle airport – passengers may request a manual check
Germany – summer 2010 will begin testing
Ireland – seem to be still debating on whether they even want scanners, cost appears to be an issue; nothing noted on the Dublin airport website
Italy – all passengers traveling to the United States would be scanned.  I could not find if this is mandatory or not.
Japan – still deciding if they want them
The Netherlands – at Schiphol you can choose a body scan or pat down. You can download a pdf brochure from Schiphol outlining the details
Nigeria – will be installing them; From the tone of the article, I’d guess they’d be compulsory when it happens.
Russia – body scanners in use in Moscow since 2007, can request a pat down
South Africa – not considering full body scanners at this time
Spain – waiting for EU decision
United Kingdom – all airports mandatory or you do not fly

Starting today, the Irish blasphemy law will be enforced. As part of the law, it is now a crime to publish or speak any matter that is considered overly abusive or insulting to matters that are sacred by any religion. The crime is punishable by a €25,000 fine. In honor of the new law, Atheist Ireland has published 25 blasphemous quotes for you to enjoy, including quotes said by or attributed to Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Mark Twain, Tom Lehrer, Randy Newman, James Kirkup, Monty Python, Rev Ian Paisley, Conor Cruise O’Brien, Frank Zappa, Salman Rushdie, Bjork, Amanda Donohoe, George Carlin, Paul Woodfull, Jerry Springer the Opera, Tim Minchin, Richard Dawkins, Pope Benedict XVI, Christopher Hitchens, PZ Myers, Ian O’Doherty, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor and Dermot Ahern.

My question is this; if the Koran is blasphemous to Christians and the Bible is blasphemous to Muslims, aren’t these books now illegal in Ireland?

This is precisely why such a law is inherently stupid. Even within different sects there are differences. Sunnis and Shiites cannot agree on everything. Catholics and Evangelicals find what one another do to be reprehensible. Blasphemy laws are doomed to fail because they are painted with too broad a stroke to be taken seriously.

This is an absolutely brilliant video for supporting MarriagEquality‘s campaign for same-sex marriage in Ireland.  I dare say it even got me a little misty-eyed.