T O T K a t

Road tax has been being called car tax for a little while now. Which, though a little irritating, does indicate the desire by the government to be seen to be punishing polluters and encouraging the use of public transport (regardless of whether there is sufficient provision of affordable and reasonably speedy public transport to and from the relevant places). But here is a new example of stupidity, under-handedness or plain carelessness in the running of things. I recieved a form (as will most people in England) asking me to make sure that all (exactly all and no more than that) of the eligible voters in my household are registered to vote in the relevant constituency, but there is a new (or at least revised) column to indicate nationality, and thus eligibility to vote I guess. But the indicator is not listed as 'nationality' but asks you to specify what passport you hold. So, now you need a passport to vote. Apparently. It has long been the case that you really do need either a driving licence or passport to open a bank account with a new bank, which is a bit of a bugger for blind people who have never felt the desire to travel abroad, for example. OK, I'm guessing that you don't actually have to have a passport to get (or stay) on the electoral roll and that the new form is just badly designed, but the implication is there. Is this the government pushing, albeit unsubtlely, the National ID card? Or is it just general lack of care and thought on the part of the authorities?