Silent Majority Speaks

Rescuing Democracy in the United Kingdom from our current Elected Dictatorship

Spin, not face-to-face confrontations with the voters, is the Government's chosen method of communication. Ordinary people are dangerous. Ordinary people might ask a question which throws a politician 'off message'; the Cabinet member might reveal himself or herself to be a human being like us, and not a programmed android. Worse still, he or she might tell the truth. Ann Leslie - Daily Mail, September 16, 2004 Blair wants to leave his mark on history - looks more like a stain to me. Peter Thorndyke, Diss, Norfolk - Daily Mail, May 23, 2005 I know I'm me - why do I need an ID card? "Sorry, officers, I don't have an ID card. I never applied for one. It seemed a bit steep at 300 quid. I do have my free passport, my driving licence and my London freedom travel pass, each with my photograph. I have my NHS medical card, with its lengthy number, given me at birth, my RAF service book with my Armed Forces number, and a chit authorising me to wear a few gongs -including a General Service Medal with Malaya bar, for fighting communist terrorists on behalf of my country, or so they told me. "I've also got various credit cards and store cards, all with my signature on the back, generally good for buying the everyday requrements for life as well as the odd luxury. If you decide to arrest me, I suppose I'll have to be photographed and given another number, besides my PINs. "I'm afraid I haven't got a pension book; it was taken away." "By thieves, sir?" "No ... well, not exactly. By the Government. By the way, may I see your warrant cards please, gentlemen?" Oh dear, they've disappeared. E. Harry Gumer, Romford, ESSEX - Daily Mail, June 1, 2005 NO means NO When does NO mean MAYBE? When it's not the answer the EU wants. With the courageous French NON resounding in their ears, shabby, undemocratic self-interested leaders of Europe propose ignoring the part of their precious constitution that requires ratification by all members and continuing without one of the biggest founder members to prevent derailing the gravy train. As in Ireland, they refuse to accept any NO votes, ignoring the will of the people, and re-stage votes until they can engineer the 'correct' answer. Sadly, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw dances to their tune like a puppet on a string. With tactics such as these, how can anyone really believe the EU has our interests at heart. Letter from Steve Penny, Kingsnorth, Kent - Daily Mail, June1, 2005 Surely the French result makes the £1million the EU recently spent on a treaty signing ceremony seem a trifle premature and extravagant. Letter from Keith Wiseman, Bury, Lancs. - Daily Mail, June1, 2005

May 11, 2005 (741 days since war ended)

Death Toll: 1,610 US - 88 UK - >6,164? Iraqi - >17,300 civilians - 25 media 

May 31, 2005 (761 days since war ended)

Death Toll: 1,657 US - 89 UK - >6,164? Iraqi - >17,300 civilians - 25 media

June 3 , 2005 (765 days since war ended)

Death Toll: 1,670 US - 89 UK - >6,164? Iraqi - >17,300 civilians - 25 media

June 17, 2005 (779 days since war ended)

Death Toll: 1,716 US - 89 UK - >6,164? Iraqi - >17,300? civilians - 25 media

June 26, 2005 (788 days since war ended)

Death Toll: 1,737 US - 89 UK - >6,164? Iraqi - >17,300? civilians - 25 media

WWW silentmajorityspeaks.com

Britain has traditionally been one of the biggest net contributors to the EU because we do not get as much money back from Brussels in farm and regional subsidies as our rivals. According to Treasury figures, between 1995-2002, Britain's average contribution taking the rebate into account, was £2.6billion, or £43.55 per head of population. The French - the biggest recipient of farm subsidies - contributed £1billion a year or £16.08 per head of their population.

STOP PRESS

Dentists in revolt over cash for shake-up of NHS dentistry

By Julie Wheldon - Science Correspondent - Daily Mail, July 5, 2005

Ministers were last night facing a mass revolt over plans for a shake-up of Health Service dentistry. Six thousand dentists have sent letters to the Government warning that without proper funding the biggest changes to dentistry for 50 years will fail.

They said the NHS spent 4.1% of its budget on dentistry in 1997, but this has now fallen to 2.5%. Dentists also accused the Government of dragging its feet over plans to reform contracts for NHS dentists. At the same time, it emerged that patients are facing a sharp increase in dental charges.

Prices for routine check-ups and fillings could double under a proposed new charging structure, prompting warnings that patients may be deterred from going to the dentist and that their teeth could suffer.

A new contract for dentists was due to be introduced in April, but was delayed until October and now looks set to start in April next year. The British Dental Association has mounted a campaign outlining its frustration at the lack of progress and detail about the new deal. Lester Ellman, chairman of the British Dental Association's general dental practice committee, said: "Our patience is beginning to wear thin. Dentists want to move towards a more preventive approach to oral health and to be able to provide the high-quality care that patients expect. What we do know is that these reforms will not succeed without proper funding and organisation."

The current crisis in dentistry has left millions of people unable to register with an NHS practice. Ministers are hoping the reforms, finally expected to be published on Thursday, will encourage more dentists to stay within the NHS, but it has emerged that the proposals could also mean a steep rise in the amount patients will have to pay for routine NHS check-ups.

John Lister (London Health Emergency) said: "This seems a very odd way of doing health promotion. All of these charges discriminate against the low-paid, who as we know are the least able to pay and probably need more treatment."

There are almost 26,000 dentists of whom around half work for the NHS. The BDA said dentists working for the NHS receive £65,000 to £68,000 annual pay - about the same as those in private practice. However, they see 50 patients a day, twice as many as dentists in private practice.

A Department of Health spokesman said the reforms had been developed with consumer groups, dentists and charities. "Currently there are 400 separate charges and people do not always know what bill they will come out with," she said. "These changes are what people have been asking for."

She said the Government was giving £360 million of new investment to improve NHS dental services. The equivalent of 1,000 dentists will be recruited by October.

How charges could soar

	Now	Planned
Routine check-up	£5.84	£12
Filling	£6.20 to £18.24	£40
Scale and Polish	£9.20 to £22.24	£40
Check-up, one filling, scale and polish	£21.24 to £46.32	£92

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