As a libertarian I find it mind-bogglingly astounding that we should have reached a point in “democratic” history when we are so conditioned that we think nothing of letting our own government poke its nose into those places where it so obviously doesn’t belong.

From September 1st 2009 it will be illegal for British retailers to sell conventional Light Bulbs.

If that isn’t hard enough to believe then how about this…

“The public have been asked to ‘snoop’ on shopkeepers who continue to sell traditional light bulbs banned by Europe.” (Telegraph newspaper)

Nigel Farrage, the leader of UKIP, said the public should not be encouraged to Snoop. He said:

“Under this Government we begin to resemble East Germany in the 1980s where we snoop and report on local businesses,” he said. “No doubt the next move will be to snoop on your parents if they continue to use old fashioned light Bulbs.”

As an atheist I can say “there is no god” but as a British Subject I have to admit that I’m wrong. To all intents and purposes the European Parliament is God.

See:
“Public told to snoop on lightbulb law breakers” (Telegraph 24.08.09)
“Lock up your lightbulbs” (Telegraph 24.09.09 – Comment by Janet Daley)