Getting Out.

[mundens]

Well, I've been meaning to renew my British / EU passport as it ran out last year, but after the Lords finally caved in and passed Blair's ID card legislation yesterday, I don't think I want to be a British citizen any longer.

I shall be applying for a New Zealand Passport and (once I can afford the fee) becoming a New Zealand citizen.

It's a meaningless protest, but it makes me feel better. Makes me want to post another Long Quote though :

When a place gets crowded enough to require ID's, social collapse is not far away. It is time to go elsewhere. The best thing about space travel is that it made it possible to go elsewhere.
Lazarus Long, from Time Enough For Love by Robert A Heinlien

Edit : More random stuff via El Reg :

Enigma machine for sale on E-Bay

NZ cops cuff armless 121km/h speed merchant

Comments

[lobelet.livejournal.com]

I've been a NZ citizen for nearly 20 years now and I don't regret a minute of it. My last British passport expired about 12 years ago and I never bothered renewing it; I couldn't see any point. And these days, with the ID card legislation, the surveillance cameras, the racial and class tensions etc, etc, I feel exactly the same way that you do about the whole business. I long since ceased to consider myself English. I haven't been back to the country since my parents died lo! these many years ago, and I can't see myself ever going back again.

All of which means that I think you are doing the right thing!!

[yeldarb-smaillw.livejournal.com]

Don't worry - we're chipping dogs, threatening to chip newborn babies.
It's time to start inserting smart-chips into all NZ citizen wannabe craniums!!!!!! (just kidding - branding and forehead barcodes will be just fine)