Stability Monkeys

Stability Monkeys

>> SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2009

The BBC is a firmly ideological organisation. One way you can see that is that the messages they purvey rarely change, even though they may evolve somewhat.

Take the Iranian election this week. The BBC's John Simpson said when Ahmedinejad was elected in 2005 that Iranian politics was "complex and sophisticated". The invitation to consider his election as an expression of an intelligent electoral system was clear.

Now, following the latest election in which Mahmood strengthened his position with suspicious symbolic perfection outlined by Amir Taheri here, Simpsondescribes Iran as "a relatively sophisticated country". Relative to what he does not say. As I did before, in 2005, I invite you to discover some examples of this "sophistication", all of which documented by Amnesty International (for which I hold no uncritical admiration) since Mr Simpson voiced his view of Iranian "sophistication" in 2005. 

Simpson, now apparently ensconsed in Iran as he used to ensconse himself in Iraq when he befriended Saddam's ministers, makes the case for stability:


"it certainly is not in the outside world's interest to have a long period of disorder in Iran. Political chaos in a leading oil-producing country would do more economic damage to Western countries."

In so doing he makes the case for Ahmadinejad's continuing in office, and breaches the code for impartiality. But that is more or less a stable state with the BBC, isn't it?

SAINT VINCE

Listening to Saint Vince Cable on the Politics Show being allowed to get awaywith murder claiming that his Party did well in the local Council elections. The interviewer gently pointed out the loss of Devon and Somerset but Vince simply mentioned Bristol and all was then well. There is no doubt in my mind that the BBC itself is comfortably at ease with the extreme leftism that permeates Lib-Dem policies and this explains why Cable is afforded near God-like status and given such an easy ride.

PAYING THE PRICE FOR STATIST BROADCASTING...

Wonder what you makes of the news that BBC will be forced to give up some of its £3.6 billion public funding in a massive shake-up of the licence fee, it was claimed today.

Technology minister Lord Carter is to propose "top slicing" the BBC's budget by up to £130 million to help under-pressure ITV and other programme makers, the Sunday Telegraph said. His White Paper - to be presented to Cabinet on Tuesday - could also call for Channel 4 to receive financial support through a partnership with BBC Worldwide, the corporation's lucrative commercial arm.

My thoughts are that this news is designed to give the appearance of doing something about the obscene license tax but in reality it perpetuates it. It's not the top-slicing of it that matters much to me, it is the very existence of it.

Meanwhile, isn't it nice to know that some of our favourite BBC star broadcasters are able to rake in a few extra pounds?

Sarah Montague, a presenter on Radio 4’s Today programme, Radio 5 Live political reporter John Pienaar and Newsnight anchor Gavin Esler have received up to £5,000 to appear at the events for politicians, civil servants and NHS bosses

Ah yes - the NHS, the envy of the world (The third world, that is) .