What's wrong with having your name on a list?

[almostwitty]

So... the membership list for the British National Party (a far-right fascist party advocating the consensual repatriation for non-Europeans from British soil ... oh, and giving the 2012 London Olympics back to Greece) has been leaked all over the Internet, and British geeks have been soiling themselves all day mashing the list.

So now I can see that my area of London (which also happens to encompass the BBC's Television Centre) has 7 members - more than any other West London postcode. Other websites have managed to pinpoint with far greater accuracy the data, despite the learned frownings and warnings from many a political/tech geek.

My question is: what's all the fuss about? Surely if you're going to donate money to be a member of a political party or lobby group, you are de facto agreeing to most of that political organisation's aims and ideals, and therefore you should also be proud to identify with them? Give £200 to a political party, and your name is publically registered against that donation. If I were a member of any political organisation, I'd expect my name to be listed against it, and presume that it's published somewhere.

Whether Labour, the Conservatives, No2ID, Plaid Cymru or any other group publish their membership list publically or not, I don't know. But I can't see why they shouldn't, in the interest of transparency. And the same would go for the BNP. Or the Communist Party. If nothing else, it'd stop those "Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist Party?"-type questions.

Now, tell me why I'm wrong.

Comments

[waltzingalong.livejournal.com]

You're not wrong. I vote Green, and would be happy to be on a list telling people that's what I do.

There must be some level of embarrassment involved with standing up for good ol' British pride being a freaking racist.

[shove-this-job.livejournal.com]

The only thing I could think of is the fact that anytime a person is 'outed' for belonging to a specific societal group (gay vs straight, Christian vs Athiest, etc), there is a fear that they could be discrimated against based on that label (Athiests can't get job with a company with 'strong moral values', etc). That being said, I think it hilarious that a group built on stereotyping and discrimination would be worried that people might think badly of them. Fact is, anonimity enables 'bravery', horrific or otherwise.

[grahamwest.livejournal.com]

Publishing the list might have chilling effects. People shouldn't be dissuaded from participating in the political process because their choices could cause strife with their family, their employer, etc.

Otherwise I completely agree and transparency is definitely a good thing. Note that in the USA part of the rules are that all donations over a certain amount have to be declared by the recipient. I forget offhand what that limit is.

[madmosh-uk.livejournal.com]

The only reason for them to be "worried" is that they're members of a party which will quite happily shove shit through someone's letterbox because their skin isn't the right colour.

This is all fair and well when said person has no means of gaining their revenge, but good grief! What happens if said cowardly pathetic piece of shit perpetrator gets named and shamed in public?

My only quibble? I don't have enough shit in my alimentary canal to fill the letterboxes of every one of the racist bastards on that list.

Though I'm prepared to make a start.

Mr Dale Abbott,
1 Pontey Caravan Site,
Meltham Road, Honley
Huddersfield

You are the first on my (and their) list. Prepare the pooper-scoopers.