On Wed, 25 May 2005 12:52:12 +0100, "Mary Fisher"
wrote:

"Mark" wrote in message
.. .

I seem to remember from an earier thread (correct me if I am wrong)
that you declined to specify your ethnic origin on a census form. I'm
sure this is not a sign of wrongdoing, so why assume that anyone else
doing the same does have something criminal to hide?

I'm not worried about disclosing that I'm a white Caucasian but on most
forms that information is irrelevant (i.e. I'm making a political objection)
and what's more the options given are not ethnic origins. I don't hide the
information, I clearly state that the information is irrelevant. It's never
been followed up so presumably it IS irrelevant. If I didn't fill in the
'gender' box they'd be back.

I would argue that much of the information that we will be forced to
give for our ID Card will also be irrelevant - but we will _have_ to
give it all the same or face fines or imprisonment. I'm very
uncomfortable about that situation which is one (of many) reasons that
I oppose ID cards.

As an IT consultant myself I can see the whole project going massively
over budget and probably be abandoned eventually because it never
works.

In my opinion, for what it's worth, there's far too much concentration on
race and skin colour. A councillor tried to explain, not convincingly, that
they asked the question on their forms so that they could target services.
My immediate neighbours are Lithuanian/Italian, Caribbean-origin but
England-born, and African-born Indian-origin (never seen India) neighbours
need different dustbins? They've all been in Leeds for many years (the first
since the end of the war) and haven't complained about not having
appropriate services.

Sorry for that rant :-)

No problem ;-)

Mark