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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

morality police

173 replies

Mariez · 28/03/2011 13:52

I find it quite ironic how the police arrest and prosecute protested for smashing up windows on marches against massive companies not paying tax, but do they go in and arrest chairmen of these giant companies when they too are breaking the law?

No.

it seems the police are picking and choosing what law breakers they arrest....

stinks.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mariez · 28/03/2011 14:08

bloofer what the fuck are you on about?

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 28/03/2011 14:08

So you're aware of different specialisms? So you understand that the police support units that go along to ensure the protection of people on marches will be arresting people who cause criminal damage and endanger others? They're not 'picking and choosing' according to some skewed moral code.

I'm still not sure what you're talking about. People avoid paying certain taxes through legal loopholes. They break no law. You want the police to do what exactly?

BlooferLady · 28/03/2011 14:09

Incidentally you do know that when 'morality' issues are enforced by the state chaos ensues, don't you? Google Iran. I don't want to be rude but it's very hard not to when you're being so....so...so...see I want to say 'stupid' but it doesn't seem ever so polite some'ow...

Original poster
Mariez · 28/03/2011 14:09

the ritz is a hotel. no someones home.

the ritz was targeted because of what it stands for.

OP posts:
Chil1234 · 28/03/2011 14:10

"why would i give them an extra 100?" Because morally you don't think we pay enough tax. So start the ball rolling and show us the way forward. And if you think you don't have to pay more than what is worked out through your tax-code then you're accepting that your tax bill is not a question of morality but of paying the exact amount requested. QED

BlooferLady · 28/03/2011 14:10

I'm not sure there's any need to swear, dear. I was making an (admittedly not hilarious) jest along the lines of, Has the OP been on a recent protest and found themselves restricted by the police from accessing adequate lavatorial facilities. HTH.

Original poster
Mariez · 28/03/2011 14:10

why hold back you are obviously so so so not ever so polite anyway.

Is there an eye rolling emotion at all?

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 28/03/2011 14:11

It's not disagreeing with you per se, more struggling to understand what the beggary feck you're trying to say.

You're annoyed that large corporations are immoral? I'm with you.

You think that wrong/right isn't as simple as the law? Well yes again, fair point.

You want the police to do something or other, arrest ex-PrimeMinisters maybe? You're annoyed at people being arrested for smashing windows? Nope, lost me.

Chil1234 · 28/03/2011 14:11

"the ritz is a hotel. no someones home." It's private property and therefore protected by the law, just the same as your home. What does it stand for? That some people have money?..... not a crime in 2011 UK.

Original poster
Mariez · 28/03/2011 14:11

who said that i dont think we pay enough tax?

OP posts:
AbsDuCroissant · 28/03/2011 14:11

Tax avoidance = legal. It's not rocket science FFS. Do you have an ISA? That's tax avoidance. And it's legal - would you like to be arrested?

smashing up windows = criminal damage = illegal. Therefore they get arrested.

Agree with Coalition - the police aren't here to enforce morality, or even your version of morality. If that's what they start doing, it's get super problematic. Do you think that telling your DCs about Father Christmas, a deliberate lie is immoral? Should the police enforce this? Some people consider living together before marriage immoral, so should the police be running around enforching this particular moral viewpoint all the time?

MitchiestInge · 28/03/2011 14:12

Would be pretty immoral for the police to turn a blind eye to public safety, do you agree? It isn't a case of 'either we do something about criminal damage and public order offended that threaten public safety OR we address corporate tax evasion'.

MitchiestInge · 28/03/2011 14:12

offences not offended, autocorrect strikes again

mayorquimby · 28/03/2011 14:13

Well this seems like a well balanced view point.
You want the police to arrest people for doing something legal but let the ones who are breaking the law by smashing up the place continue to do so because you agree with their cause?

Original poster
Mariez · 28/03/2011 14:13

chil, if you think that. would you argue that those in middle east who smashed up qadaffis private property were also wrong?

OP posts:
meditrina · 28/03/2011 14:14

Here is a link to wiki about the activities of the Morality Police in Saudi Arabia. In 2002 they prevented schoolgirls leaving a burning building because they were not wearing headscarves and abayas and were not accompanied by a male guardian. 15 died.

A bit different from arresting hooligans who were in the act of committing criminal damage.

ShowOfHands · 28/03/2011 14:14

Hello? What is it you want the police to do? I'm still confused.

TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 28/03/2011 14:15

Would you like each Police officer to enforce their own Moral code or to enforce the law as legislated by Parliament?

Chil1234 · 28/03/2011 14:15

You said that companies don't pay enough tax because they are immoral. If the tax bill agreed with HMRC is £1m and they pay £1m then they are not behaving immorally or illegally. If you think companies should pay more tax than is requested then you presumably think individuals should do the same.

Morality applies to charitable donations, not tax.

Original poster
Mariez · 28/03/2011 14:16

I feel that this gov is doing ruining this country and since there dousnt seem to be any way that gets attention to the cause i think a few smashed up building along the way should be accepted as part of the course.

if we didnt march protest and riot, if no one ever had this world would look very different.

OP posts:
merrywidow · 28/03/2011 14:17

How many people do these large companies employ?

How much VAT do they collect?

How many suppliers do they buy from who employ people?

How much office and shop space do they use and pay rent and business rates on?

and so on...

The government allows 'loopholes' in the law to get people incentivised to get up off their arses and create business therefore creating the above; its called capitalist society. lets take a look around the world see what other countries are doing and come up with an alternative model if you don't like it.

engage brain before opening mouth

BlooferLady · 28/03/2011 14:18

judging by the quality of Mariez's posting, both from a coherence and an expression perspective, we should at least all be protesting about the state of the education system.

MitchiestInge · 28/03/2011 14:18

so you'd be happy for people to set fire to abortion clinics and that sort of thing, if the idea of women having any measure of control over their own reproductive functions offended someone else's moral sensibilities? Those people shouldn't be arrested?

Original poster
Mariez · 28/03/2011 14:18

thats a bit cheap chil. how many of us have lovely tax accountants to hide our money?

OP posts:
Chil1234 · 28/03/2011 14:19

"chil, if you think that. would you argue that those in middle east who smashed up qadaffis private property were also wrong?"

Yes, violence is rarely justifiable or effective. Mahatma Ghandi and others like him showed that ultimately, peaceful protest and force of persuasion can be more effective than violent insurrection. The Egyptians demonstrated that also.

Fortunately, we in the UK are lucky enough to live in a democracy where, if we disagree with those in charge, we can protest peacefully, make our views known via the ballot box and effect change. Mob rule is not acceptable.