VERSION|0.5.1|NAME|SimonJ|DATE|1365684639|CONTENT|This covers &quot;the past is another country&quot; territory.  Polititians have always been hostage to what they said/did in the past.  It&#039;s just far easier nowadays to find the dirt!  But I would no more regard me at 17 being as the same person as I am now.  Every cell in my body (brain excepted?? help with the biology required please) has been replaced, so I AM a different person - literally.
We need a polititian to stand up and just say &quot;yes, I was a bit of a shit, but so were most people at that age. Luckily I wasn&#039;t seeking election then!&quot; or something similar.
I have to confess I&#039;ve always been concerned about convictions for crimes way, way after the event for similar reasons - you&#039;re punishing a different person! But then again, if they are now a good person, then they should take resonsibility for who they were then.
Ok, I&#039;m eating my tail here, I think I&#039;d better stop.|EMAIL|s.p.johnson@btinternet.com|IP-ADDRESS|20.133.0.13|MODERATIONFLAG|