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Mahon: A question about red tape we don't ask

One might suspect we talk about red tape in the same way we talk about luck

We use adhesive tape to hold our worldly possessions together, some 55 billion square meters of it a year. Yes, someone does actually keep track of this.

Some of it is supposedly red, and nasty.

Mahon: A question about red tape we don't ask Back to video

What is red tape, anyway? It is excessive rules and restrictions, usually foisted upon us by government.

It is talked about often these days. Governments say they are going to find it and cut it. Lobby groups are so willing to identify the tape that needs to be cut, as opposed to the tape that is so necessary. Advisory committees of MPs sit through brief after brief (and they never are) of red tape reduction advice, empathizing like the bartender at a pub who listens and nods even though he has no sway on anything.

There are supposedly millions of dollars of savings to be had if we can just wrestle the red tape monster to ground. Billions, there for the shears to set free.

And what of the common citizen? Do we see the indignity of red tape too in the day to day? Do we........

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