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Posts Tagged ‘Politics’

Inevitably and as is the way of all ill considered media stories “It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. ” starts to inevitably fade away, the newspapers and politicians who fancied that there was blood in the water and tried to be seen as “leading the charge”, have become strangely quiet. Rather like sulky children, try to change their emphasis without apologising for their previous stupidity. This Editorial from the Independent is a prime example:

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-the-dangers-of-ranging-too-widely-2318297.html

To start with and instead of the “hacking” being a News International only phenomena, it appears that many other newspapers have “been at it too” which rather changes the game completely from the “Get Murdoch” and “Get Cameron” to the “Oh dear we have shot ourselves in the foot…” reality as if the symbiotic relationships between the Media, Politicians and Celebrities was ever newsworthy.

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I would not claim to be the greatest intellectual and “deep thinker” on this planet and therefore have no view that says that my opinions are inevitably correct because for sure, they won’t always be so. But that said, is it only me that sees that all the current hoopla over the “Phonegate Scandal” in the media as total tosh, what planet are these people on ?

That the “poorer parts” of the Media that are losing money which means everyone apart from News International and the BBC want to “Have a go at Murdoch” is obvious but what I find totally bemusing is why the constant attempts to entangle and mire David Cameron in a “story” and series of events that happened some years before he even entered Downing Street. I will start with a “The Story So Far…”

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Having been away from the UK for the best part of a month and although I did browse the news from “back home” over the web, I don’t think that I felt that much engaged any more than I did with the Tracy Anthony trial taking place in the US whilst I was there. However since my return a week ago, you soon get involved even though as with myself, I haven’t turned the TV on even.

Does this give me extra objectivity in looking at the News International/News of the World Scandal ? I don’t know but I do find it a curious spectacle that speaks all too loudly of “Tears before bedtime” all round…

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I have just spent almost 4 weeks away from home visiting my 86 year old Uncle who lives in Washington State on the West Coast of the USA. Because his most convenient airport is Portland just across the Columbia River, it means using a connecting flight from Heathrow and that all adds up to a long day going both ways.

But that said, I had a great time and some interesting ideas came out of it all which I will continue to explore and bring to fruition over the next few months but there is one realisation that I thought I might nail down right now…

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We have a scandal involving the now, former Managing Director of the international Monitory Fund Dominique Strauss Khan being accused of the rape of a Chamber Maid in an upmarket New York hotel. For a whole number of reasons, it really is a quite extraordinary tale that at this stage of events, raises far more questions than it provides answers.

There are a couple of very well written articles in the Economist on this which are worth reading: http://www.economist.com/node/18712833 and http://www.economist.com/node/18712515

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In its own way, it is quite amusing that the ‘junior leader’ of the Coalition Government is attracting far more column inches in the Press than David Cameron himself but, one suspects that following the Local Election and Referendum results, journalists hope they smell ‘blood in the water’. I feel that providing Clegg and his Party keep their wits about them, they will come through fine.

One of the key things he must avoid is the “Do Something” approach and in a interesting article today in the Independent Mary Ann Sieghart focuses in on Clegg’s desire to “Reform the Lords” which she strongly advises him against doing, a view I certainly agree with. http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/mary-ann-sieghart/mary-ann-sieghart-if-it-aint-broken-nick-dont-try-to-fix-it-2284679.html

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Although to be expected from a left leaning newspaper written by and for the “Chattering Metropolitan Classes”, there was an interesting Editorial in the Independent on whether capturing Osama Bin Laden would have been better than shooting him and then burying him at sea. Whilst I think that the Americans were correct, it is a valid question to raise: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-the-nagging-questions-that-refuse-to-go-away-2278947.html

If you read the article, do read the comments from readers, we seem to have our fair share of ‘conspiracy theorists’ here in the UK today.

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The reality is that the National Health Service, rather like Education, has become a ‘Sacred Cow’ in British Politics and that ‘connection’ truly does need to be broken asap, it clouds all rational debate and discussion.

This is a truly “Difficult Area” for any Government of any political colour and the practical realities have been shrouded in pointless emotion for far too long. Yes, it is good for the present Government to have to “Present and Sell” their proposals to us the public/electorate in some detail but it is also a chance for serious debate.

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It will take your ‘average journalist’ at least 6 months to wake up to what the ‘real story’ is about today, frankly most of them don’t have a clue and as proof, consider the following : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/charlesmoore/8319768/If-Strasbourg-has-its-way-we-will-all-end-up-as-prisoners.html

All jolly good stuff but all, rather irrelevant given what currently drives the World of which the Egyptian Revolution was but a ‘taste’, the BIG ISSUE this day is Youth Unemployment combined with a ‘mature’ Commercial Sector that couldn’t think their way out of a wet paper bag on their best days which clearly, are long past. We need to engage with our unemployed youth, right across the Western economies, now…

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There was a report published the other day by a Right of Centre, Think Tank called Policy Exchange ( http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/ ). Read it for yourself, I am sure that there will be those that ‘object’ but the truth is that this organisation is no ‘Fascist Outfit’ and is in most things, intelligently directed and driven by thinking people.

The report in essence, suggests that the UK should involve itself in a renegotiation of the way this Court works over some two years and failing any reasonable progress, withdraw from its jurisdiction, make the UK Supreme Court the ultimate arbiter whilst “noting any suitable judgements made by the ECHR” along the way and over future years: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/8307782/UK-should-withdraw-from-European-Court-of-Human-Rights.html

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