Economist and journalist Tim Harford blends insights on technology, business, and, economic history into accessible and engaging posts on a wide range of topics, from inequality to social media.
via Tim Harford: The Undercover Economist — Discover
A reader has brought to the attention of streetdogs.blog the word on the street, an issue concerning their being in a taxi, where the driver had a CCTV camera facing into the interior of the taxi, taking in a full view of the driver and his passengers. Now the reader states that they were surprised by this, as they had never seen themselves being on video in a taxi before, or been aware of any taxi driver having internal video cameras operating in any other taxi.
Streetdogs.blog the word on the street, have inquired about this subject with both some members of the public and several taxi drivers and surprisingly the driver referred to by our reader, is not unique, in that many taxis do actually have internal facing cameras, some covert and some overt! Apparently, it is not a problem if there are notices on the taxi in clear view stating that CCTV is operating in the taxi.
streetdogs.blog the word on the street would welcome readers comments on this subject, have you been in a taxi where you were aware that internal CCTV, was operating in the taxi? How did you feel about your experience? Do you think taxi drivers should be allowed to or not allowed to operate internal CCTV cameras in their taxis? As a taxi driver, do you feel this is a question concerning your safety and security?
Apparently, at one stage the then Taxi Regulator proposed making it mandatory, as a matter of passenger safety, for all taxis to be fitted with an internal viewing CCTV, of a standard type relayed to a central monitoring station, but for some reason, this was never followed through on, by the then Taxi Regulator!
A brilliant judgment By the British Supreme Court at a hearing in Belfast, Thursday, August 30th. 2018 has determined that an unmarried mother, living with her partner and father of her children, is entitled to access widowed parents allowance for bereaved children, after the death of her partner.
In this morning Irish Independent, it is reported that Independent Senator Louise O’Donnell says people trying to canvass for consensus on getting 20 Oireachtas nominations for the Presidency should ” mind their own business ” particularly targeting Independent TD Micheal Fitzmaurice, apparently somewhat peeved that he has had the cheek to have written to her on the issue! Senator Louise O’ Donnell’s somewhat glib comments, leads one to wonder exactly what her beliefs are, concerning what she thinks a public representative’s business and functions are in the democratic process! This certainly gives an insight into the contemptuous disregard in which a large number of supposed public representatives hold the general electorate!
Interesting times are gathering pace, TD Micheal Fitzmaurice, an independent, is asking TDs and Senators to lend their ears to the task of listening to potential Presidential candidates and subsequently giving somebody the required signatures to be placed on the ballot!
The important aspect of these endeavors by Micheal Fitzmaurice, and not for the first time, is the expression in a true belief of what constitutes Democracy in action! Micheal Fitzmaurice states, ” I think it’s shameful that the political parties have tried to stagnate the whole thing. You don’t have to be backing or supporting someone just give them the opportunity to go,”
It would be nice if more Public Representatives had a broader definition of Democracy! We need a broader base of those entitled to nominate potential Presidential Candidates as also Constitutionally obligatory Presidential elections. Just to mention some desirable enhancements of our Democratic processes!
The potential presidential election is certainly heating up, with more contenders stepping forward and the range of commentary concerning the functions and conduct of the Office of President and the holders of the highest office in the State.
Latest surprise potential Candidate to emerge is journalist Gemma O’Doherty. Gemma O’Doherty’s opening salvo is stirring stuff, referring to Ireland as a broken State, continuously and repeatedly allowing the same mistakes to be made over and over again, over consecutive decades, commenting on unimaginable suffering and chaos that so many people are subject to on a daily basis.
Quite interestingly Gemma O’Doherty contends that It is the duty of the Head of State to protect the Constitution and the rights of Citizens enshrined in it, especially in times of national crisis! Regretfully no explanation of what exactly this would involve is expounded by Gemma O’Doherty.
May you live in interesting times, is a supposed Chinese curse. Well, these are certainly interesting times here in this supposed Democratic Irish Republic! To start with, much to the discomfort of The New Ascendancy Barons discomfort and displeasure, it seems we may be yet having a Presidental election, not of the shoe-in type for the Establishment nominee but an actual contest of candidates of various talents, representative viewpoints, and social and political ambitions and objectives with their nominations, supported by those whom the Establishment considered suitably blinkered and muzzled!
Notice how new insights and commentary are being put forward as to how to be improving the way political and social access should be developing in this state! Such as limiting the tenure of the President to a single term and thereby requiring a compulsory Presidental election at the end of each Presidental term, as also to reducing the number of nominations required for a candidate, as also the nature and qualification sources of the nominations to widened the democratic mandate to the citizenry! Interesting times indeed.
Potential candidates, Gavin Duffy and Joan Freeman, Have both indicated that a single term of five years should be the ideal term of office for a President, as Joan Freeman so aptly stated ” each President respects the Ireland of its time” perhaps she might also add the President also reflects the aspirations of the Ireland of its time! Gavin Duffy hits a very important aspect of the conduct of the Presidential Office, in that there is no public accountability as to the personal expenditure at the cost of the public purse and states his intention to render his to public scrutiny, should he be successful in his candidacy !
How interesting these ideas would be if applied to our TD’s.
