ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ

Oh, can I squeeze in an extra one for discussion?

The coverage of the Tories' report about pest control in the NHS.

I get the impression that the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ is having trouble being balanced over this report, going by the editorial presentation of pictures of rats (cute ones, actually) maggots etc over dramatic voice reads.

And even though, deeper into various reports it is conceded that this may be a little more complicated, they are hardly taking the Tories to task over this.

A reporter on ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Oxford (TV) seem to be the most balanced when he pointed out that in his local hospital, 90% of the incidents had been in the vast grounds, and there had only been a handful of ward incidents in the last two years. That is rather different from the way it is being headlined.

A representative from Rentakill pointed out that hospitals are warm, full of people and overflowing with food as they would be. So, having to control pests would be expected, not a surprise. (Pity those comments were later edited out)

The reason there are so many incidents (though many of those are also false alarms) is because Hospitals are very active in controlling pests.

It is impossible in an area of several acres, loads of buildings, thousands of people, catering, rubbish collection and the rest to avoid pests - but you can control them, and our Hospitals seem to be doing an admirable job.

So, come on Newsnight - how about showing up the Conservative party for a change? Because they have got this one completely wrong.

PS: I am waiting for the opposition to go into fits of apoplexy when they see maggots thriving in wounds! Hope they realise that that is good medicine.

INFORMING IS NOT ENTERTAINING

Gurubear (#1) Much which passes as reporting these days seems to be rather more akin to very brief Third World soap dramas, i.e. lots of emotion, hyperbole, smiles and mock seriousness when called for, all to keep viewers entertained rather than informed. I seriously doubt whether many working in the media really know or care about impartiality anymore. The China 'special' was another example of how the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ appears to be deteriorating, as was special on the Uzbek 'exploitation' of child labour.

Re #2. JadedJean.
This we find to be true! And wasn't that the twice, or was it thrice reprised, Uzbek special?

Lest passing folk should be fooled as Searchlight says:

"We reveal the nazi and terrorist links of the BNP leadership and we explain, in the "Us and Them" section, just why the BNP does not stand in the great British tradition of tolerance, equality and compassion."

Wolves in sheep's clothing.

Has that odious party ever thought of renaming itself Goosesteppers'R'US I wonder.

Part of the makeover plan I would guess.

"So what has been achieved by the Military Commission system? Does anyone outside the United States really believe that detainees are subject to the due process of law? And what does the future hold for Guantanamo Bay?"

Due process of Law ?

Are we talking about civil or military law ?

I say they are two distinctive things !

Just my personal view Gavin !

HASHAR

grumpy-jon (#3) That's the one (or two). I saw it all in the context of the 1930s Stalinist constitution which is what the the current Chinese 1982 constitution was based on - i.e. essentially a contract where the state provides for the people and the people have a DUTY to the state which works as elected representatives of the people in the interests of the people.

Whilst it may be alien to many today, back in the 1960s and 1970s it was like that in the UK under Old Labour, but Thatcher and Blair (and Militant) made sure all that became history, and today we're constantly told by Newsnight etc how 'oppressive' that sort of system is (unless it's in China of course, as China could seriuously hurt us).

/blogs/newsnight/2007/10/tuesday_30_october_2007.html
/blogs/newsnight/2008/01/newsnight_report_leads_to_cotton_ban.html

Sometimes you can read peoples thoughts and you find gems.

Sometimes its just the noise of a few solitary jackboots on the cobbles hoping they will be joined by others.

They so won't.

SEEING THE LIGHT

thegangofone (#4) You've got it right there. Hayek said all this in 'The Road To Serfdom'. All those anti the free-market and freedom, i.e. any advocate of the 'nanny-state' is just a 'goosestepping' Nazi. Thatcher thought Hayek a shining light, and who in their right mind wouldn't? Who wants all that regulation and red-tape? Who wants to be told what to do and what to think? We want choice and freedom to do whatever we want. Speak our own language even.

It all begins in childhood.... but for some.. childhood never ends. It's called arrested development.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Ahh ..the back bone of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ bends only to the left. I should have known better.

P:S..Hammertime was a reference to MC Hammer; 80s US singer with silly dance routines. I often see confused faces with the nonsense i trot out.. but it pays well.

A NEO-CONSERVATIVE BY ANY OTHER NAME

thecookieducker (#10) The problem with the concept of 'left' is that it's all things to all people, as is the term which as many will (or should) know, had little to do with Democratic Centralism (or Old Labourite/Webbian Clause Four notions) after 'goose-stepper' Stalin's demise in the 1950s as he was as anti-Cosmopolitan as he was anti-Comintern. Instead, in the West, anti-fascist Trotskyites became the natural bed-fellows of Hayekian/Friedmanite free-marketeers led by anarcho-capitalists like Keith Joseph, Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair, now widely referred to as Neo-Conservatives. Anyone still wondering why so little is heard of the far-left just needs to be told that those of the New-Left are now kings, have a mandate, but like all anarchists/children, make very poor rulers.

Military Commission system, Guantanamo Bay.

β€œBin Laden ex-driver found guilty”. ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News

Isn’t that rather like charging the man who left the Dallas book depository door open with the death of JFK?