This is hardly new .. Max Aitken (Lord Beaverbrook), who's MP nephew later went to prison for perjury, played a major role in Britain entering WW2 and in ousting Chamberlain in favour of Churchill. Robert Maxwell was worse than Murdoch. Not only did his newspapers support an incompetent and corrupt Wilson government, Maxwell and his family stole millions of pounds from his company's pension funds, monies belonging to working people. Other than Murdoch, who owns the UK press?. The Independent and Evening News are owned by Russian 'oligarchs', gentlemen who i am sure have the best interests of the UK electorate at heart... Not. Soft porn impresario Richard Desmond, the recent purchaser of Channel 5 TV now owns the Express Group. As with Maxwell, the secret trusts behind his financing have never and probably never will be open to full scrutiny. Newspapers increasingly are organs of propaganda and sensationalism, opium for the masses, at the expense of 'news', now produced wholesale to saturation levels by TV and radio .. in fact TV and radio are essentially propaganda vehicles as well as the newspapers. We all like a juicy story, an unmasking of the rich and powerful, stories exposing the underbelly of society. The price we pay for this is all powerful but unelected 'barons' controlling the media and what we see, read and hear.
So they control who governs our country do they? Well perhaps if the majority of our under educated population bothered to vote then perhaps WE could have a say in the matter as well. Education, education, education said one of our former puppet prime ministers. Until we include the teaching of the history,values and importance of democracy in the school curriculum, this will continue.
I suspect many more reputations will take a battering now Rupes has taken the stand and is singing like a canary. Neither those in the current government or the last will escape the cringe factor as their cosy relationships with his organisation come to light. Following his description of his interaction with Gordon Brown, others have now weighed in with their less than flattering interactions with our former PM as well and the crowd gathers to deliver a media kicking - not sure the Culture Secretary (amongst others) will survive the shoe-ing he is currently receiving either.
He has gone from being the man that politicians climbed over each other to cosy up to, to the political equivalent of bubonic plague in quite a short time. It took a while, but I am glad that it has finally happened, although who or what will fill the inevitable vacuum is the critical factor here methinks.
Doesn't everyone follow the rule of "Don't believe anything you read in the newspapers"?
The day the shops have no bread or water, the day when the lights don't come on, the day when I cannot do whatever I want to do is the day when I'll get my knickers in a twist about someone like Rupert Murdoch.
I suspect many more reputations will take a battering now Rupes has taken the stand and is singing like a canary. Neither those in the current government or the last will escape the cringe factor as their cosy relationships with his organisation come to light. Following his description of his interaction with Gordon Brown, others have now weighed in with their less than flattering interactions with our former PM as well and the crowd gathers to deliver a media kicking - not sure the Culture Secretary (amongst others) will survive the shoe-ing he is currently receiving either.
He has gone from being the man that politicians climbed over each other to cosy up to, to the political equivalent of bubonic plague in quite a short time. It took a while, but I am glad that it has finally happened, although who or what will fill the inevitable vacuum is the critical factor here methinks.
Murdoch despises Cameron, now there is a surprise. All his old catamites/hussies are gone, Thatcher, Blair, Major, Bush .. I suspect that Rupe awaits an under the table kiss from Miliband before endorsing the silly boy as the best thing since bent pretzels.
Because the royals sell papers silly, what would getting rid of them achieve for Murdoch? It's a controversial subject and therefore sells papers. In Australia he took the point of view that they should ditch Royalty because that is what sold papers there. The man has no scruples or morals, if it makes him money then he'll claim to support it, even if it contradicts something else he said he supported.
Soapy - Schools already have citizenship classes as part of the National Curriculum, introduced by Blunkett in the late 90's. Citizenship included trying to reach an understanding of what democracy actually means, now, historically and within other nations, and exploring a citizens duties within a democracy. I would have liked to see it expanded and strengthened but Michael Gove said last year that he wanted to make the subject optional and not compulsory. He put the matter out for review but I don't know the outcome.
I don't believe the term "***** sells papers" is relevant in the modern world. People either but a paper regulary or they don't. When a big story breaks these days you don't rush out and buy a paper. You put on the News channel on the TV or go to the internet/social media.
Not sure how that was ever implemented then because it pains me to admit my two, 22 and 24 years old respectively have frankly feck all knowledge on the subject in any depth. The fact that I made them vote from the time that they were legally able to, whilst trying to explain WHY it is a right and a privilege, is probably one of the things I am most proud of as a parent.
Political parties court press, big institutions and individuals for backing, and in return press, big institutions and individuals expect some form of assistance to further their commercial interests, be it contracts, regulations etc.
That is the so called democratic world we live in. It has been this way for many, many decades, and it will not change as a result of all this.
There is a huge difference between courting influence and breaking the law!
Doesn't everyone follow the rule of "Don't believe anything you read in the newspapers"?
The day the shops have no bread or water, the day when the lights don't come on, the day when I cannot do whatever I want to do is the day when I'll get my knickers in a twist about someone like Rupert Murdoch.
Doesn't everyone follow the rule of "Don't believe anything you read in the newspapers"?
The day the shops have no bread or water, the day when the lights don't come on, the day when I cannot do whatever I want to do is the day when I'll get my knickers in a twist about someone like Rupert Murdoch.
Won't it be too late then mate?
Well no, for the simple reason that it ain't gonna happen!
Not sure how that was ever implemented then because it pains me to admit my two, 22 and 24 years old respectively have frankly feck all knowledge on the subject in any depth. The fact that I made them vote from the time that they were legally able to, whilst trying to explain WHY it is a right and a privilege, is probably one of the things I am most proud of as a parent.
I've got a lot of sympathy with you on this. The teaching was sketchy to put it mildly and also a lot of the teachers knew nothing about the subject which was less than helpful. I think people generally understand that voting is a 'good thing' but we do now have the deeply worrying problem that vast numbers of people are totally disengaged from any political process, or if they do vote, then their votes appear to be swinging toward more untested opportunistic parties rather than the mainstream ones. And who can blame them for feeling hacked off with mainstream politicians?
Much ado about nothing, except for illustrating in yet more vivid colour (lest there was any doubt) what a bunch of spineless opportunists British politicians from all the major parties have become.
Yeh - this.
Doesn't everyone follow the rule of "Don't believe anything you read in the newspapers"?
The day the shops have no bread or water, the day when the lights don't come on, the day when I cannot do whatever I want to do is the day when I'll get my knickers in a twist about someone like Rupert Murdoch.
Won't it be too late then mate?
Well no, for the simple reason that it ain't gonna happen!
You do know we just went into our second recession in 4 years?
Other than that, the pretence at surprise, shock etc among the commentators leaves me baffled. Didn't we all know this is what they do?
Recession? A recession as defined in the UK is just a matter of statistics. When we go into "recession", nothing happens. It's not as if the whole country closes down. Everything stays the same. I'm not saying things are not grim, they are, very but being just in or out of "recession" is not a as big a deal as the media or the opposistion OF THE TIME make out. For the last 8 years 95% of all economic growth figures have been revised and the majority on the upside. Many economists and business institutions are more and more calling into question the ONS figures and how they reach them. I would not put it past this, or any government, to allow poor figures to be released for some time and then suddenly reveal after revision that the economy has suddenly grown by 5%, just as we approach the countdown to an election!
I suspect many more reputations will take a battering now Rupes has taken the stand and is singing like a canary. Neither those in the current government or the last will escape the cringe factor as their cosy relationships with his organisation come to light. Following his description of his interaction with Gordon Brown, others have now weighed in with their less than flattering interactions with our former PM as well and the crowd gathers to deliver a media kicking - not sure the Culture Secretary (amongst others) will survive the shoe-ing he is currently receiving either.
He has gone from being the man that politicians climbed over each other to cosy up to, to the political equivalent of bubonic plague in quite a short time. It took a while, but I am glad that it has finally happened, although who or what will fill the inevitable vacuum is the critical factor here methinks.
Filling the Vacume is indeed the critical factor, top post.
Not sure how that was ever implemented then because it pains me to admit my two, 22 and 24 years old respectively have frankly feck all knowledge on the subject in any depth. The fact that I made them vote from the time that they were legally able to, whilst trying to explain WHY it is a right and a privilege, is probably one of the things I am most proud of as a parent.
I've got a lot of sympathy with you on this. The teaching was sketchy to put it mildly and also a lot of the teachers knew nothing about the subject which was less than helpful. I think people generally understand that voting is a 'good thing' but we do now have the deeply worrying problem that vast numbers of people are totally disengaged from any political process, or if they do vote, then their votes appear to be swinging toward more untested opportunistic parties rather than the mainstream ones. And who can blame them for feeling hacked off with mainstream politicians?
I am heartend by some of the posts on here today and if I'm honest suprised.
I know the state offers free education but is it not a parents duty to ensure their offspring learn the important things in life?
On another subject i don't know why anybody takes Chirpy Red seriously,the man is a clown and only posts the things he does to get a reaction. He is like a child who misbehaves to get attention.
Maybe we should swap usernames then Mr DICKPLUMP!
Just for the record, as I've said numerous times before, don't take me too seriously. 95% of what I say is rubbish, 1% is true and I just make up the rest. Mind you I post a lot so my 1% should not be disregarded However I do not post to get "reactions", I just tell the truth.
control the media = control the mindset of the population!
he is a very powerfull man in the world. hence the politicians need him onside.
I feel sorry for anyone who allows the media to control their mindset.
it is sad if you are controlled by the media but you know full well that alot of people are.
People read the sun....quite a few of those people don’t get there news from anywhere else, (i know because i have friends and family who do this.) so the biased opinions can become your own if you have no other outlet. If a child is brought up with its parents who are racists, until that child starts finding out from TV, friends, etc that racism is not ok they just have the opinions of their parents cos that’s all they know.
people get suckered in each xmass to buy some shit cover song from some winner of a reality show. influenced by the media.
That’s not really a big deal but it is when we are talking about a political party that can be put into power because the media has made sure of it. When the sun did the headline that they had won the election for i think it was blair, though Murdoch said yesterday he thought it was tasteless and un-true, you have to say that headline did have a point.
its not to say the sun or news corp is that powerful but it can sway a number of votes. so no wonder Gordon Brown was so angry when the sun went against his government in favour of the tories.
Major's goverment in the late 90's was totally and utterly discredited. Sleeze was oozing out of it. Once Blair had taken over and breathed some new life into Labour there was no doubt at all that Labour would win the '97 Election. Very easy for The Sun to jump on the bandwagon and then also claim the credit afterwards.
Comments
Robert Maxwell was worse than Murdoch. Not only did his newspapers support an incompetent and corrupt Wilson government, Maxwell and his family stole millions of pounds from his company's pension funds, monies belonging to working people.
Other than Murdoch, who owns the UK press?. The Independent and Evening News are owned by Russian 'oligarchs', gentlemen who i am sure have the best interests of the UK electorate at heart... Not.
Soft porn impresario Richard Desmond, the recent purchaser of Channel 5 TV now owns the Express Group. As with Maxwell, the secret trusts behind his financing have never and probably never will be open to full scrutiny.
Newspapers increasingly are organs of propaganda and sensationalism, opium for the masses, at the expense of 'news', now produced wholesale to saturation levels by TV and radio .. in fact TV and radio are essentially propaganda vehicles as well as the newspapers.
We all like a juicy story, an unmasking of the rich and powerful, stories exposing the underbelly of society. The price we pay for this is all powerful but unelected 'barons' controlling the media and what we see, read and hear.
He has gone from being the man that politicians climbed over each other to cosy up to, to the political equivalent of bubonic plague in quite a short time. It took a while, but I am glad that it has finally happened, although who or what will fill the inevitable vacuum is the critical factor here methinks.
The day the shops have no bread or water, the day when the lights don't come on, the day when I cannot do whatever I want to do is the day when I'll get my knickers in a twist about someone like Rupert Murdoch.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adamcurtis/2011/01/rupert_murdoch_-_a_portrait_of.html
When a big story breaks these days you don't rush out and buy a paper. You put on the News channel on the TV or go to the internet/social media.
Ah but the BBC are completely fair and objective (not).
Just as corrupt in a different way.
http://www.australianclimatemadness.com/2010/02/bbc-pension-fund-invested-in-climate-companies/
Other than that, the pretence at surprise, shock etc among the commentators leaves me baffled. Didn't we all know this is what they do?
For the last 8 years 95% of all economic growth figures have been revised and the majority on the upside.
Many economists and business institutions are more and more calling into question the ONS figures and how they reach them.
I would not put it past this, or any government, to allow poor figures to be released for some time and then suddenly reveal after revision that the economy has suddenly grown by 5%, just as we approach the countdown to an election!
I know the state offers free education but is it not a parents duty to ensure their offspring learn the important things in life?
Just for the record, as I've said numerous times before, don't take me too seriously. 95% of what I say is rubbish, 1% is true and I just make up the rest. Mind you I post a lot so my 1% should not be disregarded
However I do not post to get "reactions", I just tell the truth.
he is a very powerfull man in the world. hence the politicians need him onside.
it is sad if you are controlled by the media but you know full well that alot of people are.
People read the sun....quite a few of those people don’t get there news from anywhere else, (i know because i have friends and family who do this.) so the biased opinions can become your own if you have no other outlet. If a child is brought up with its parents who are racists, until that child starts finding out from TV, friends, etc that racism is not ok they just have the opinions of their parents cos that’s all they know.
people get suckered in each xmass to buy some shit cover song from some winner of a reality show. influenced by the media.
That’s not really a big deal but it is when we are talking about a political party that can be put into power because the media has made sure of it. When the sun did the headline that they had won the election for i think it was blair, though Murdoch said yesterday he thought it was tasteless and un-true, you have to say that headline did have a point.
its not to say the sun or news corp is that powerful but it can sway a number of votes. so no wonder Gordon Brown was so angry when the sun went against his government in favour of the tories.