Comments on: Now they want us to pay for services we do not receive! http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/ Incisive and topical campaigns and commentary on today's issues and tomorrow's problems Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:18:17 +0000 hourly 1 By: Random Nuclear Strikes » Boobs about the Tubes http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2842 Random Nuclear Strikes » Boobs about the Tubes Fri, 02 May 2008 14:14:43 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2842 [...] I used to get this type of crap from the WA DOL about cars that did not run. Well, everything except for the “inspectors”. When I heard from a constituent complaining of persecution by the TV licensing authority, who not believe him when he told them he did not have a television, I was sympathetic and took up his case. The response I received from the Authority was typical of this government’s revenue arms – inflexible, and determined to raise the maximum cash it can from the long suffering public. As usual I did not take the matter to the press, as the issue came to me in confidence and many constituents do not want their personal details splashed across the local – or sometimes the national – newspapers. [...] [...] I used to get this type of crap from the WA DOL about cars that did not run. Well, everything except for the “inspectors”. When I heard from a constituent complaining of persecution by the TV licensing authority, who not believe him when he told them he did not have a television, I was sympathetic and took up his case. The response I received from the Authority was typical of this government’s revenue arms – inflexible, and determined to raise the maximum cash it can from the long suffering public. As usual I did not take the matter to the press, as the issue came to me in confidence and many constituents do not want their personal details splashed across the local – or sometimes the national – newspapers. [...]

]]> By: Sao Paulo http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2841 Sao Paulo Thu, 01 May 2008 08:03:22 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2841 The BBC is just a liberal/left mouthpiece that should be shoved back in the dark ages with it's fans. <a href="http://www.tvlicenceresistance.info" rel="nofollow">www.tvlicenceresistance.info</a> The BBC is just a liberal/left mouthpiece that should be shoved back in the dark ages with it's fans.
http://www.tvlicenceresistance.info

]]> By: Jon in Southamption http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2840 Jon in Southamption Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:13:50 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2840 Living under the "Boot of Auntie", people are sick to death of it. The entire BBC is made up of socialist cronies...its far too big to be funded by general taxation. PRIVATIZE, the only sensible thing the next goverment could do, simple!! But...I sometimes get the impression that the BBC's a dictatorial entity over and above the elected government, so it'll be tough for the next Conservative Government to carry out the wishes of the electorate and abolish the TV license, forcing the BBC to seek funding from its subscribers, rather than growing fat on taxation. Living under the "Boot of Auntie", people are sick to death of it.
The entire BBC is made up of socialist cronies…its far too big to be funded by general taxation.
PRIVATIZE, the only sensible thing the next goverment could do, simple!!
But…I sometimes get the impression that the BBC's a dictatorial entity over and above the elected government, so it'll be tough for the next
Conservative Government to carry out the wishes of the electorate and abolish the TV license, forcing the BBC to seek funding from its subscribers, rather than growing fat on taxation.

]]> By: Dr Dan H. http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2839 Dr Dan H. Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:49:30 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2839 A solution I have heard of for this sort of thing is to give the TV Licencing people written notification that you have no TV, then when the letters inevitably continue, ask the police to step in. Current law states that you have a right to be free from harassment, and this harassment can come in any form, including threatening letters. What will normally happen is that you tell the police, the letters continue and you complain once more whereupon the police have a quiet word with TVL and the letters stop coming. There's nothing quite as effective in stopping a bullying public body as the prospect of having an even bigger bully come round to see them. A solution I have heard of for this sort of thing is to give the TV Licencing people written notification that you have no TV, then when the letters inevitably continue, ask the police to step in.

Current law states that you have a right to be free from harassment, and this harassment can come in any form, including threatening letters.

What will normally happen is that you tell the police, the letters continue and you complain once more whereupon the police have a quiet word with TVL and the letters stop coming. There's nothing quite as effective in stopping a bullying public body as the prospect of having an even bigger bully come round to see them.

]]> By: Stuart Fairney http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2838 Stuart Fairney Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:34:05 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2838 "shut down the BBC and dismiss its staff on the spot" Oh, please yes, have SKY on hand to cover it. "shut down the BBC and dismiss its staff on the spot"

Oh, please yes, have SKY on hand to cover it.

]]> By: David R http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2837 David R Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:40:03 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2837 John, Great Blog. My thoughts: The BBC is perverting democracy in this country. It should be broken up and privatised. Sell off the radio stations to different buyers. Replace the licence fee with a subscription model and then float the TV division on the stock market. Also sell off C4. Not only would this be good for democracy and broadcasting, but it would surely provide a significant windfall for the Treasury. However I'm no policy expert so I could be completely wrong! John you are an expert, so can you expand your thoughts on the rethink you believe is necessary? John, Great Blog.

My thoughts:

The BBC is perverting democracy in this country. It should be broken up and privatised. Sell off the radio stations to different buyers. Replace the licence fee with a subscription model and then float the TV division on the stock market.

Also sell off C4.

Not only would this be good for democracy and broadcasting, but it would surely provide a significant windfall for the Treasury.

However I'm no policy expert so I could be completely wrong!

John you are an expert, so can you expand your thoughts on the rethink you believe is necessary?

]]> By: David Gillies http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2836 David Gillies Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:56:30 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2836 The BBC is incorrigible. Simply ending the current licensing system would do nothing to root out the systemic infection of transnational progressivism that is its core. No, I am afraid that I must concur with Dr Sean Gabb in this: one of the first actions of an incoming government that is truly committed to liberty and the defence of Enlightenment values must be to simply shut down the BBC and dismiss its staff on the spot. Razing Television Centre, The Mailbox etc. and sowing the ground with salt would probably be unnecessary, but it couldn't hurt. The BBC is incorrigible. Simply ending the current licensing system would do nothing to root out the systemic infection of transnational progressivism that is its core. No, I am afraid that I must concur with Dr Sean Gabb in this: one of the first actions of an incoming government that is truly committed to liberty and the defence of Enlightenment values must be to simply shut down the BBC and dismiss its staff on the spot. Razing Television Centre, The Mailbox etc. and sowing the ground with salt would probably be unnecessary, but it couldn't hurt.

]]> By: Mousecatcher http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2835 Mousecatcher Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:48:14 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2835 I definitely agree with another poster who has said the letters should be binned. They don't mean anything. We've never had a television in our home and have had countless silly letters over the last two or three decades. Only twice in all that time has an inspector come to the door: the first occasion I told him he couldn't come in and he said OK, and the second time he got as far as the hall and then seemed to lose his nerve and left, covered in confusion! Readers may be interested in this site which shows, and comments upon, the various letters the owner of the site has received. Also some interesting stuff about detector vans. <a href="http://www.bbctvlicence.com/index.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbctvlicence.com/index.htm</a> I definitely agree with another poster who has said the letters should be binned. They don't mean anything. We've never had a television in our home and have had countless silly letters over the last two or three decades. Only twice in all that time has an inspector come to the door: the first occasion I told him he couldn't come in and he said OK, and the second time he got as far as the hall and then seemed to lose his nerve and left, covered in confusion!

Readers may be interested in this site which shows, and comments upon, the various letters the owner of the site has received. Also some interesting stuff about detector vans.
http://www.bbctvlicence.com/index.htm

]]> By: Bazman http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2834 Bazman Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:31:18 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2834 Sky TV is the alternative system and you can keep it. Sky TV is the alternative system and you can keep it.

]]> By: harry http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2833 harry Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:55:29 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/27/1028/#comment-2833 John, here's a policy suggestion. Fund the BBC from the National Lottery and end the licence fee. This would be very popular with working people who buy lottery tickets and watch the BBC. Currently lottery money is distributed by the great and good on things like restoring the Royal Opera house. Talk about a regressive tax. Also, perhaps a percentage of Lottery money could go to services for children and young people, related to the number of lottery tickets sold in a region. Again working people and their children would benefit. So: 1/3 BBC and public broadcasting 1/3 Childrens services eg playgroups, youth clubs 1/3 other causes. Sports and Arts. The BBC funding would be less than what it raises now. But surely their could be some savings what with new technology and making lefties redundant. John, here's a policy suggestion.

Fund the BBC from the National Lottery and end the licence fee.

This would be very popular with working people who buy lottery tickets and watch the BBC. Currently lottery money is distributed by the great and good on things like restoring the Royal Opera house. Talk about a regressive tax.

Also, perhaps a percentage of Lottery money could go to services for children and young people, related to the number of lottery tickets sold in a region. Again working people and their children would benefit.

So:
1/3 BBC and public broadcasting
1/3 Childrens services eg playgroups, youth clubs
1/3 other causes. Sports and Arts.

The BBC funding would be less than what it raises now. But surely their could be some savings what with new technology and making lefties redundant.

]]>