Americans: If the UK had a supreme court..

[Solly]

Police officers and staff could face dismissal if they join the British National Party (BNP) under a new policy agreed by senior officers.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said the policy was unanimously endorsed at a Chief Constables' Council meeting this month.

The policy applied to membership of bodies in conflict with the force's duty to promote race equality, it said.

But the BNP says it is a legal party, and that Acpo's policy is undemocratic.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3930175.stm

Please for the time being ignore whether you or anyone else agrees or disagrees with the BNP's policies. Create a different thread if you wish to discuss those.

But if threatened with the sack for one's political beliefs, surely you Americans could take this issue to a higher and higher court? What would be found?

This just seems anti-democratic, and dare I say it, fascist.

[Sava]

America doesn't like racists, sorry.

[Solly]

It's like being banned from the American police force for voting for Nader..?

[ixnay]

What exactly is the BNP for those of us without a PhD in foreign political acronyms?

[Sava]

Originally posted by Park Avenue
It's like being banned from the American police force for voting for Nader..?

I don't think racism qualifies as "political beliefs"...

ixnay: think neo-nazis

[Solly]

Originally posted by ixnay
What exactly is the BNP for those of us without a PhD in foreign political acronyms?

And you're an Editor...? Look at the first line.

[Imran Siddiqui]

As long as you don't taunt minorities joining a 'racist' political party is no grounds for dismissal from a government job. At least not in the US and it shouldn't be in the UK.

[Whoha]

http://www.bnp.org.uk/policies.html

[Solly]

At least not in the US and it shouldn't be in the UK.

Cheers Imran, I wonder how they reckon they can get away with this.

[Dinner]

The British National Party or BNP is a nationalist political party in the UK which wants to stop immigration (especially of non whites) and with draw the UK from the EU in order to protect the UK's national sovereignty.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I wonder how they reckon they can get away with this.

I've noticed that the US has a much more open idea of what free speech should entail. A lot of European countries (especially Middle European countries) believe the ideas of the US on this matter go too far.

[loinburger]

I could get fired from my job if I give support to a violent overthrow of the United States government. In fact, I had to sign a document stating that I've never attempted a violent overthrow of the United States government. Obviously if I gave money to Al-Qaeda then I'd be in violation of my terms of employment, but AFAIK I'd also be in violation if I gave money to the KKK or attended KKK rallies or whatever, and the BNP is a British analog of the KKK.

[Solly]

The BNP is a legitimate political party, and nowhere near as extreme as your KKK.

[Kuciwalker]

I've noticed that the US has a much more open idea of what free speech should entail. A lot of European countries (especially Middle European countries) believe the ideas of the US on this matter go too far.

Strange it is, that men should admit the validity of the arguments for free discussion, but object to their being "pushed to an extreme;" not seeing that unless the reasons are good for an extreme case, they are not good for any case.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I'd also be in violation if I gave money to the KKK or attended KKK rallies or whatever

Actually you wouldn't. AFAIK, the KKK does not agitate for a violent overthrow of the US Government.

[loinburger]

Originally posted by Park Avenue
The BNP is a legitimate political party, and nowhere near as extreme as your KKK.

The two groups are actually pretty similar nowadays. The KKK lost some court battles a few decades ago, and so they've been trying to whitewash (harr harr harr) their image along the same lines as the BNP -- the KKK "as a group" no longer condones violence, it's just "radical elements within the KKK" that participate in violence.

[GePap]

What the Uk needs is not a supreme court, but a bill of rights. Of course, all British cops are subjects, not citizens, so do as you are told!

[Ramo]

Exactly my thoughts. Y'all need a Bill of Rights.

[Solly]

I think there's something to be said for having a fixed, unmovable list of freedoms - political pressure from liberals these days is leading to all kinds of tyrannical measures.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by GePap
What the Uk needs is not a supreme court, but a bill of rights. Of course, all British cops are subjects, not citizens, so do as you are told!

Canadians are subjects too, but we have the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

[Kuciwalker]

It's exacerbated by your complete lack of checks and balances, too...

[GePap]

Death to Republicans and all enemies of the Monarchy!

[Barinthus]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

I wonder how they reckon they can get away with this.

I've noticed that the US has a much more open idea of what free speech should entail. A lot of European countries (especially Middle European countries) believe the ideas of the US on this matter go too far.

When I worked for the government, I had to sign a piece of paper giving up my right to protest.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
It's exacerbated by your complete lack of checks and balances, too...

Good things from the American system:

The Constitution

Bad things:

Everything else

[St Leo]

Edit: Late for the party.

[Sava]

Originally posted by Park Avenue
I think there's something to be said for having a fixed, unmovable list of freedoms - political pressure from liberals these days is leading to all kinds of tyrannical measures.

liberals leading to tyrannical measures... do you know what "liberal" means?

[Starchild]

Originally posted by Ramo
Exactly my thoughts. Y'all need a Bill of Rights.

We (relatively) recently got the Human Rights Act passed, which is essentially the European Convention on Human Rights incorporated into British law.

It was widely condemned by the right wing press including being described as "the most evil piece of legislation ever".

[mrmitchell]

.

[Imran Siddiqui]

liberals leading to tyrannical measures... do you know what "liberal" means?

Um... I think he's using the term to refer to the Labor Party (the one in power) in Britain at the moment.

[St Leo]

Originally posted by Sava
liberals leading to tyrannical measures... do you know what "liberal" means?

Neo-Liberals are Capitalists with some lip service for Civil Rights.