Entertaining piece in my newspaper titled: “The party stooge planted by Labour on Question time “.
This refers seductively to a ‘mole’, aka Amy Rutland, politics graduate and ‘diehard Labour activist’ who used the left wing, BBC flagship, Question Time to accuse UKIP of ‘scaremongering’ about the numbers of Romanians and Bulgarians likely to arrive in this ‘sceptred isle’ sometime in the near future. The charming and personable Amy, according to the media report, referred to the UKIP candidate as ‘disgusting’. How that must have hurt !
Dozens of complaints arrived following Amy’s scintillating attack. Amy is a forward thinker evidenced by her ‘tweet’ before the program was seen, urging viewers: “Don’t miss out on Question Time tonight, you’ll see me rip into the disgusting UKIP woman”.
BBC audience selection asks questions such as: which party they would vote for if there was an election tomorrow? what their views are on the EU? are they members of a political party, if so, which one? And, what is your ethnic background?
All questions fairly typical of the kind of loaded information you would want if ensuring that Question time is packed with the ‘right’ – or, should that be ‘left’ – audience.
There are no surprises for anyone who has followed the angst ridden progress of QT through the years. The only surprise that would surprise, is if suddenly, there were no stooges or moles planted in a predominantly left wing audience.
Question for forum members: I’m thinking of opening a ‘book’ for anyone to place a bet as to when the BBC will start operating a policy of fairplay and balance. Any ideas on odds to quote?
By: Derekf - 15th March 2013 at 22:15
Making people dependent on handouts isn’t doing anything for the common good! Survival of the fittest is natures way (an indisputable fact) and we would do well to remember this. Also, the equal distribution of wealth around the world would result in a MUCH lower living standard than we are used to in the UK.
Does that mean you are not in favour of the state pension and the NHS then?
State control destroyed most of the UK manufacturing industry.
Lack of investment, the chasing of short-term profits to appease shareholders and cheaper imports from abroad had a fairly large impact on industry as well.
By: trumper - 15th March 2013 at 22:09
I wonder if the people on here were absolutely at rock bottom through no fault of their own and relying on help would they still see it that way.
It is ok to say the have and have nots if you are one of the lucky haves.
Neither system works well on it’s own but when mixed sensibly alot more people can be winners.
By: j_jza80 - 15th March 2013 at 21:57
The danger with this is that the weaker or less able in our society would be left behind. Human nature is surely to try and help each other and work together for the common good. There are countless examples of what humans can achieve when they work together.
Making people dependent on handouts isn’t doing anything for the common good! Survival of the fittest is natures way (an indisputable fact) and we would do well to remember this. Also, the equal distribution of wealth around the world would result in a MUCH lower living standard than we are used to in the UK.
Capitalism is also flawed, but is definitely a much fairer and sustainable system than socialism. It’s human nature that is the achilles heel of capitalism, but this equally applies to socialism.
Well, it’s just nonsense isn’t it. China has the fastest growing economy in the world. Seems at odds for the repository of hopelessness and the abode of failure.
Unbridled capitalism almost bankrupted the world. State control of those parts of industry that require it mixed with free enterprise is the best way forward. Combine that with enough taxation to protect the most vulnerable in society and that is what we should strive towards.
A small point. What does “The mole’s role in a hole” actually mean?
China is just as capitalist as the West. The wealth divide in China is huge! And Chinas current wealth is a direct result of western capitalism and free market economics.
State control destroyed most of the UK manufacturing industry. However, I do believe that there should be state owned, non profit utilities and fuel providers.
By: Derekf - 15th March 2013 at 21:43
Life is unfair, people aren’t born equal and some will do better than others. This is natures way, and it encourages us as a species to push our boundaries.
The danger with this is that the weaker or less able in our society would be left behind. Human nature is surely to try and help each other and work together for the common good. There are countless examples of what humans can achieve when they work together.
And this?
It does not elevate. It does nothing to encourage ambition, responsibility, attainment and progress – in any direction. Competition is stifled. Elitism is regarded as beneath contempt. Under socialism, all must have prizes regardless of ability. Incompetance (sic) is rewarded, ability derided.
Well, it’s just nonsense isn’t it. China has the fastest growing economy in the world. Seems at odds for the repository of hopelessness and the abode of failure.
Unbridled capitalism almost bankrupted the world. State control of those parts of industry that require it mixed with free enterprise is the best way forward. Combine that with enough taxation to protect the most vulnerable in society and that is what we should strive towards.
A small point. What does “The mole’s role is a hole” actually mean?
By: j_jza80 - 15th March 2013 at 21:04
Re 10
Andy,
I fear nothing and no one – not even Derekf, and he’s pretty fearsome!
My personal view of socialism, is one that regards it as the most pernicious collection of impoverished ideas ever to to be imposed on the people of the world.
It does not elevate. It does nothing to encourage ambition, responsibility, attainment and progress – in any direction. Competition is stifled. Elitism is regarded as beneath contempt. Under socialism, all must have prizes regardless of ability. Incompetance is rewarded, ability derided.
Socialism is the repository of hopelessness and the abode of failure.
That’s how I see it.
And I second that.
Socialism is deeply flawed, and ultimately a self defeating ideology. It is just as much about greed as capitalism is.
Life is unfair, people aren’t born equal and some will do better than others. This is natures way, and it encourages us as a species to push our boundaries.
Societys obsession with handouts could well be the doom of our species.
By: John Green - 15th March 2013 at 20:53
Re 10
Andy,
I fear nothing and no one – not even Derekf, and he’s pretty fearsome!
My personal view of socialism, is one that regards it as the most pernicious collection of impoverished ideas ever to to be imposed on the people of the world.
It does not elevate. It does nothing to encourage ambition, responsibility, attainment and progress – in any direction. Competition is stifled. Elitism is regarded as beneath contempt. Under socialism, all must have prizes regardless of ability. Incompetance is rewarded, ability derided.
Socialism is the repository of hopelessness and the abode of failure.
That’s how I see it.
By: Andy in Beds - 15th March 2013 at 19:19
There are plenty of reds and not just under the bed – take it from me !
John.
Why do you seem to fear them so..?
Is there anyone out there really trying to do you harm–do you think..?
I can’t say I see any side of the argument is hugely scary–or particularly dangerous.
By: Derekf - 15th March 2013 at 19:04
Why would the BBC apparently collude in planting left wing stooges on the notoriously partisan Question Time, in order to try to discredit a very viable political party ?
Paranoia? Oh yes.
How is that tin foil hat coming along?
TonyT. Personally, I can’t see how anyone could vote for that oaf Farage. The real reason he didn’t run in Eastleigh is because he would have to get off the EU gravy train. A bit too lucrative.
The truth starting to show through the thin veneer?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/mar/07/ukip-leader-nigel-farage-accused-threats
By: John Green - 15th March 2013 at 18:40
Re 6
Tony T
No, I can’t figure it our either.
By: John Green - 15th March 2013 at 18:39
Re 3 & 4
Snafu352
There are plenty of reds and not just under the bed – take it from me !
Derekf
Why would the BBC apparently collude in planting left wing stooges on the notoriously partisan Question Time, in order to try to discredit a very viable political party ? Just a cottonpickin’ minute, I’ve answered my own question !
By: TonyT - 15th March 2013 at 18:02
Myself I could not figure how anyone would even entertain voting labour, they left this country destitute and broke having squandered the assets the country had and the gold reserves, and then the cronies still in the party blame everyone else from the Conservatives down for the state the Country is in, true the Conservatives haven’t exactly been over enamouring themselves to the Country but they didnt exactly create the problems they are trying to fix, and one gets the feeling the Lib Dems in the equation are just distracting from the issues, Clegg is fighting far above his weight when one looks at the votes they recieved.
UKIP, well I think the way labour was trying to discredit them was simply Labour are running scared and they do not have a policy to address the UKIP ones so rather than have a credible response they come out with all this to distract from the issues that they have no answer…
Who would I vote for? Well UKIP and the Conservatives are at the top of my list. Mind you I did vote once for the Referendum Party.
As for the BNP, they are just delusional
By: Andy in Beds - 15th March 2013 at 17:08
I’ve often wondered though if anyone here (or elsewhere) is sponsored in some small way by a political organisation to make comment. I know that some years ago a right wing political organisation associated I think with the young Conservatives (at best a highly disreputable bunch of farmers spawn and other undesirables) were paying people to ring into radio phone ins to slew arguments. I believe at the time the Jimmy Young show was demonstrated to have been a victim. Local radio had also been targeted.
To be fair, I suspect the left have tried it too, they’ve just not been caught.
I wrote the above on the 21st February on another thread.
See, they all do it.
They’re all scum together as far as I’m concerned.
A.
By: Derekf - 15th March 2013 at 16:50
More anti-BBC pro-Daily Mail guff. Sadly becoming standard fare for this forum.
I would have thought that entering debate was exactly what the programme was about or are UKIP frightened of having their policies discussed? Perhaps they will be rumbled at last?
What were they thinking? Planting supporters of a political party in a political debating type programme. Outrageous!
By: Arabella-Cox - 15th March 2013 at 16:38
Put the daily fail down John and back away from it.
Nobodies going to get hurt if you just take a breath and calm down.
There never were any reds under the beds Joe.
(and still aren’t)
(Unless you want to count the Philbys etc. :eek:!)
By: AlanR - 15th March 2013 at 16:32
I think you’d be lucky to find a bookie who would take any money.
Their biggest mistake was inviting the BNP’s Nick Griffin onto the panel.
In the attempt to rubbish him, it showed the programme up for what it is.
Sign In
March 15, 2013 at 12:34 pm