T
timbartlett
Guest
Maybe I'm very late on the uptake, but I'm afraid the idea that the Dutch have "apologized" for prosecuting British boat-owners for having red diesel in their tanks makes me hopping mad.
What happened is that representatives of the dutch government coerced people into handing over money to which it was not entitled. The power of any state is such that their victims had no real choice in the matter, so I see no substantive difference between this incident and a gang of knife-wielding thugs demanding money.
The idea that they "didn't know" that it was OK for UK boats to run on red diesel is a joke -- we've been doing it for years, and they've never complained before. And anyway, officialdom is always quick to point out that ignorance of the law is no excuse. And the idea that they were acting in an official capacity shouldn't make any difference, either: that's the Auschwitz excuse ("only obeying orders")
So why should an "apology" be enough? I'd like to see the officials concerned behind bars -- along with those higher up the scale who condoned their actions. And they should repay the fines and pay compensation out of their own pockets.
Maybe if THAT went into EU law, then the flat-hats and bureaucrats might treat us with a bit more respect, and receive a bit more respect in return.
Grumpy of Southampton
What happened is that representatives of the dutch government coerced people into handing over money to which it was not entitled. The power of any state is such that their victims had no real choice in the matter, so I see no substantive difference between this incident and a gang of knife-wielding thugs demanding money.
The idea that they "didn't know" that it was OK for UK boats to run on red diesel is a joke -- we've been doing it for years, and they've never complained before. And anyway, officialdom is always quick to point out that ignorance of the law is no excuse. And the idea that they were acting in an official capacity shouldn't make any difference, either: that's the Auschwitz excuse ("only obeying orders")
So why should an "apology" be enough? I'd like to see the officials concerned behind bars -- along with those higher up the scale who condoned their actions. And they should repay the fines and pay compensation out of their own pockets.
Maybe if THAT went into EU law, then the flat-hats and bureaucrats might treat us with a bit more respect, and receive a bit more respect in return.
Grumpy of Southampton