Prospects for Friday, 9 May
- 9 May 08, 11:13 AM
Today's programme producer is Dan Kelly - here's his morning e-mail to the production team...
Good morning all.
Lots of strong options today.
Is Lebanon in danger of descending into civil war? Much of the western half of Beirut has been taken over by Hezbollah this morning as battles between the group and government supporters continue. How should we cover this story?
Housing repossession orders are up 17% year on year - is Britain facing a debt crisis? Paul Mason is on the case. Let's discuss how to do this and which guests could work.
Who could we get on the Burma Cyclone to move the story on?
Dan
Comment number 1.
At 9th May 2008, grumpy-jon wrote:It would be remise of me not to mention the media's huge interest in the continuing trivia story of TV show viewers' phone-polls being fabricated, in contrast to the complete lack of interest paid to the BNP's formal complaint of large scale interference with ballot-boxes in the London elections, and suspicions re-the large number of spoilt-ballots. Did I really hear the figure of 400,000 spoilt papers? I must declare my interest of course, but surely this story cuts right to the heart of 'our' democratic system?
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Comment number 2.
At 9th May 2008, barriesingleton wrote:THE WORK OF CHANGE - TO DEMOCRACY
It has long been known that a totally undemocratic differential, in votes-per-seat terms, exists between the parties in Parliament.
One can only infer (from the silence) that the bizarre Westminster Club, in all its sub units (parties) is content for this to continue. But there is no reason why the voters should accept this. There is a simple change that could be enacted tomorrow:
DIVIDE THE TOTAL VOTES POLLED FOR EACH PARTY BY THEIR NUMBER OF SEATS, AND GIVE EACH MP A βCARD VOTEβ ACCORDING TO THE VOTE-VALUE ACCRUING. When they troop pathetically into the archaic lobbies, let them 'swipe' their card to deliver its tally.
The totals could be read out from a display, by the Speaker. A further tweak would make all votes anonymous; putting paid to the vile whip system. This is just a start.
I commend this change to the voters of Britain.
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Comment number 3.
At 9th May 2008, barriesingleton wrote:STICK IT UP YOUR JUNTA
As Miliband, et al, beat their breasts over Burma, their affront at tyrannical governance, whereby desperate, powerless, individuals are treated with contempt, knows no bounds. The terms kettle, black and pot come to mind. Richard Dawkins (the only god I believe in) save us all from caring politicians.
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