Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
When did we, as a nation, become compliant sheep?
Bureaucracy is a hungry wolf that demands constant feeding to keep its’ hunger slated and help it grow. The wolf doesn’t use this extra nutrition to build up strength and fitness to increase its’ efficiency. The more it eats, the fatter it gets, and as it slumps in its’ comfy chair waiting to be fed, it uses its’ size to bully its’ sheep.
Once upon a time, a wolf was a hungry, threatening predator that blew down houses until one little pig, learning from others misfortune, decided to stand up to the beast. As scared sheep, we just let the bloated monster grow and grow, fearful of its ultimate power.
I have just received a “tax” demand. However, this is not in relation to my income. This is from the DVLA demanding £20 to update the photograph on my licence as I have held a photographic licence for 10 years. If I do not comply with this demand which is headed very pleasantly, “Just a little reminder”, I advised in bold that I will be breaking the law. The nice letter is signed by the “Head of the Central Capture Unit”. Think what you will.
Over the last 10 years, I may have got older and uglier, but my photo is clearly recognisable and I have made no dramatic alterations to my appearance. My signature has been almost illegible for the last decade but that doesn’t seem to matter. I am not aware that the legislation requires men who grow beards or women who change their hair colour or style to constantly update their photographs, so why is my age a factor?
This appears to be another bureaucratic theft that we have willingly signed up to. As I need my car, I need my licence so I have no alternative but to comply. I wonder how many of our financial gifts are spent on the real reason that the DVLA exists, ensuring road safety, and how much is spent on the faceless bureaucrats that bully and punish the innocent motorist.
However, rather than fighting back, we will cogitate and munch grass waiting for the shearing and exploitation, whilst the bloated DVLA wolf will keep growing as more “sheep” prostrate themselves at its feet and feed its ever-growing appetite.
Michael Poynton
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It’s done so that the national facial recognition database can be kept up to date. Why do you think you must look straight ahead, not smile, not wear glasses, not have hair over your eyes or covering the bottom of your ears?
Do as I did: grow a walrus moustache that covers your mouth before you get the photo taken. Wait till the photo’s approved before shaving it off (or keep it, you might like like it!).
They say ‘pay up’ we say ‘fight back’? Nothing will change unless people start making a fuss.
I’ve talked to snoemoe who works on ATMs and similar kind of machines. If I remember correctly the ATM may well check for a valid strip on the card before allowing a PIN to be entered but for arcane security reasons doesn’t read the card until it’s seen the PIN (it proves a thief has actually gained access to a card and whether he knows the correct PIN).Of course the PIN isn’t stored on the card, and there is limited space on there, so they’re always reluctant to add extra data, even though it might only be 2 bytes or maybe 5 bytes for en-GB’. You would also have to store a default language. If I use an ATM in France, it probably wouldn’t offer Welsh, but I would not want French either so would choose English. Others may well be happy with French or some other language that particular ATM can offer.Also cards are linked to accounts not people so stored preferences create problems in case of joint accounts or company cards.Because of the wide variety of ATM capabilities across the world and the strict, conservative standards that banks and card systems use, I think it’s a much more consistent interface to choose the language with a single click on the first screen.
It happens more and more.I am currently involved in getting a probate for a deceased close relative. The estate is not exempt and it is a legal required to obtain this so the will can be registered and become public record. For this compulsory requirement I have to pay £105.00 + extra for probate copies. If I don’t get probate then I am breaking the law, extortion anybody?
I too had difficulty fnniidg this mysterious form. Eventually I went to my friendly village post office (about to be closed by the great and the good?)and they gave me an envelope with everything to do with vehicle licencing – including the infamous INF1D. It is a pamphlet,”How to fill in your driving licence application form”.
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Where does that leave Muslim women who cover their face? Could we not temporarily join their religion?