About Associations
Originally Published in July 2008.

As the Instigator & ‘Founder’ of the ‘concept’ of the APP, I have been seriously attempting to launch the APP for only about 3 years. Already I have run into the ‘fully expected and pre- perceived’ problem that holds the British Public firmly under the ‘corrupt control’ of its successive ‘flaky’ governments:
Public Apathy and ‘Insularity’ (as in individually isolated from neighbours’, (or isolated from  ‘Reality’) and isolated from the ‘political truth’ (supposing there could be any truth in politics).

The British Public, in general, have an innate ‘dislike’ of the French, which goes back for almost a thousand years, since the invasion of aptly named ‘William the Bastard’, historically known as ‘William the Conqueror’.  Successive governments, more so in recent times, have taken on the ‘Feudal Guise’ of ‘Over Lords’ and act in a similar ‘Bastardly’ manner ‘against’ the general public, when in fact they should be acting as ‘Civil Servants’, not ‘Civil Serpents’.

However, there is a growing ‘admiration’ for the French, that is, for those that can be ‘bothered’ to think about it (Yawn), of how the French Public resolve any government or EEC ‘dodgy’ edicts, by strategically placing a couple of Tractors on the auto-route, or a couple of Trawlers in the harbor entrance.
In two days the French Government capitulates to the Public Demand and life goes back to normal.
So how do they do it???  

Le Secret Francais (Well not so secret really, since every French adult  & youth knows about it!)
The Truth is that the French have a law known as the ‘1901 loi (Law) The Formation of Associations’. This was obviously some dastardly Marxist plot introduced in 1901, which allows the French Public separate Democratic system of 'Self Government' and  complete autonomy to run their own affairs as they feel fit, without government interference or intervention.
Incidentally: French Trade Unions are formed under the 1901 Law.

The French 'Associations' are in fact similar to a Not for Profit, British Company Limited by Guarantee, but with certain legal rights & Tax concessions, to trade and act among their own Association members or with other Associations, provided they act within the law. 
For example donations made to Associations by individuals or Corporate members, are 100% tax deductible. Therefore donations go to exactly the purpose intended and not into the grubby mitts of some money grubbing politician, solicitor or accountant.
 
There are about 700,000 Registered Associations in France, as opposed to about 118,000 British Companies Ltd by Guarantee (mostly as Registered Charities).
Virtually every French adult are Private Members of at least one Association, including the politicians, before they come to government. 

So the Politicians are very aware of the Combined Power of the Associations & the 1901 Law.

It seems obvious that under EEC law, whatever they can do in France, ‘In the Public Interest’, we can also do in Britain.

For example, to form a British version of the 1901 law, with the same legal rights afforded to the French Public and Associations.

Associations, Action Groups & Class Action:

"One man dared to speak out for the rights of an oppressed people... 
He educated the masses to think and act... This man - a hundred years ahead of his time - was: 
Voltaire... The greatest humanitarian of the 18th century."

More about Associations

You are here: >  About Associations: 
The Answer to Political Corruption
Associations: Vive la Difference
APP-Association Schematic
Associations: The Legal Issues