My good friend Woody has a saying, 'No matter who you vote for, the government always gets in.'

It seems a fair comment especially when governments take a high-handed attitude towards policy.

Such high-handedness can be seen in the way the present government are attempting to enforce the Digital Economy Bill.

Rather than have a proper debate, the government are intent on rushing through a bill that is highly controversial, badly thought-out, and 'draconian' during the dirty wash-up phase of parliament. This is when unfinished business, or controversial bills, are shunted through the back door for Royal assent.

Perhaps we only have ourselves to blame, as the general voter has taken little interest in this Bill. Though musician Billy Bragg, writer of Channel 4's 'Father Ted' Graham Linehan and human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell have all signed a letter asking for a proper parliamentary debate, only 48 people, out of a planned 100,000 signatures, have signed an on-line petition against the Bill.

Is this an ironic statement on web users? That we are so distracted from distraction by distraction we fail to see what is going on?

Perhaps Woody is right, though maybe it is fairer to say that no matter who we vote for, through lack of action we always get the government and legislation we deserve.