Comments on: Obama, health, bankruptcy and the BBC http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/08/12/obama-health-bankruptcy-and-the-bbc/ Incisive and topical campaigns and commentary on today's issues and tomorrow's problems Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:05:58 +0000 hourly 1 By: James Sutherland http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/08/12/obama-health-bankruptcy-and-the-bbc/#comment-20677 James Sutherland Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:41:06 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4237#comment-20677 Bazman: It's certainly less rigidly biased than the BBC, making more of an effort to give both sides - but more importantly, nobody is forced to fund it, unlike the BBC. I don't give any money to Fox News - but I do fund the BBC's "news" output, despite having no interest in it, because the alternative is prosecution. To answer your question, yes, I would be delighted to see the BBC rise to Sky's level, providing far more channels for the same monthly subscription fee, rather than self-serving propoganda and a handful of channels, at least one of which achieved the dubious record of hitting zero viewers - yet, unlike any commercially-accountable channel, didn't face any repercussions even for that extreme failure. I'd also be happy to see sports move to dedicated sports channels, funded by and accountable to their own audiences, leaving me free to subscribe to the other channels I actually want. Bazman: It’s certainly less rigidly biased than the BBC, making more of an effort to give both sides – but more importantly, nobody is forced to fund it, unlike the BBC. I don’t give any money to Fox News – but I do fund the BBC’s “news” output, despite having no interest in it, because the alternative is prosecution.

To answer your question, yes, I would be delighted to see the BBC rise to Sky’s level, providing far more channels for the same monthly subscription fee, rather than self-serving propoganda and a handful of channels, at least one of which achieved the dubious record of hitting zero viewers – yet, unlike any commercially-accountable channel, didn’t face any repercussions even for that extreme failure. I’d also be happy to see sports move to dedicated sports channels, funded by and accountable to their own audiences, leaving me free to subscribe to the other channels I actually want.

]]> By: Bazman http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/08/12/obama-health-bankruptcy-and-the-bbc/#comment-20676 Bazman Sat, 15 Aug 2009 07:43:03 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4237#comment-20676 Why don't you all just watch Fox news? Have you any problems with their bias? I think not as it panders to right wing nonsense which is what most of you want. Not fair comment on often very complicated and interlinked issues where many people are told what they do not want to hear. The issue of drugs being a leading cause of world poverty as an example. As long as the programme pandered to your right wing puritan bias you would be happy. As I have said many times on this site. Would you all be happy to see the BBC turn into another version of SKY funded by advertising and expensive subscription to watch these advertisements? I do not hear many complaints about this subscription and its price. That will be because its 'voluntary'. Yeah right! Lets get every bit of Sport on pay per view then as I'm not interested in sport using that logic. Great changes are afoot with the all media and as a teenage boy said, few of his age has any money for i Tunes most just download from the net. My money is that subscription of TV and newspapers is for the birds. The TV licence should be seen as a tax and if it is a little bit left wing and elite all the better. The peasants need educating. Murdoch thinks different. He would as he think there is no peasants in Britain as everyone of them has a sky dish. Can't be said of the programming which is for peasants. Why don’t you all just watch Fox news? Have you any problems with their bias? I think not as it panders to right wing nonsense which is what most of you want. Not fair comment on often very complicated and interlinked issues where many people are told what they do not want to hear. The issue of drugs being a leading cause of world poverty as an example. As long as the programme pandered to your right wing puritan bias you would be happy.
As I have said many times on this site. Would you all be happy to see the BBC turn into another version of SKY funded by advertising and expensive subscription to watch these advertisements? I do not hear many complaints about this subscription and its price. That will be because its ‘voluntary’. Yeah right! Lets get every bit of Sport on pay per view then as I’m not interested in sport using that logic.
Great changes are afoot with the all media and as a teenage boy said, few of his age has any money for i Tunes most just download from the net. My money is that subscription of TV and newspapers is for the birds. The TV licence should be seen as a tax and if it is a little bit left wing and elite all the better. The peasants need educating. Murdoch thinks different. He would as he think there is no peasants in Britain as everyone of them has a sky dish. Can’t be said of the programming which is for peasants.

]]> By: Guy Bailey http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/08/12/obama-health-bankruptcy-and-the-bbc/#comment-20675 Guy Bailey Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:55:44 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4237#comment-20675 "I hear from my American contacts that the opposition to the Obama health plans is deep, spontaneous and strong." I assume your American contacts are Fox "news"? and as for attacking the NHS and the BBC, you are all as (wrong headed -ed) as Redwood. Reply: I do not attack the NHS. My American contacts are non political people who are strongly against these proposals, as many who attend the meetings including some Democrats seem to be. “I hear from my American contacts that the opposition to the Obama health plans is deep, spontaneous and strong.”

I assume your American contacts are Fox “news”?

and as for attacking the NHS and the BBC, you are all as (wrong headed -ed) as Redwood.

Reply: I do not attack the NHS. My American contacts are non political people who are strongly against these proposals, as many who attend the meetings including some Democrats seem to be.

]]> By: Adrian Windisch http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/08/12/obama-health-bankruptcy-and-the-bbc/#comment-20674 Adrian Windisch Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:31:49 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4237#comment-20674 By discussing the BBC your commentators are missing the real storey. The USA right is fighting Obamas health plans, and some Tories agree with them (Dan Hannan MEP). Sure there are problems with the NHS, it needs work. But going the the USA system where hospitals turn away people who dont have insurance is not the answer. By discussing the BBC your commentators are missing the real storey. The USA right is fighting Obamas health plans, and some Tories agree with them (Dan Hannan MEP).

Sure there are problems with the NHS, it needs work. But going the the USA system where hospitals turn away people who dont have insurance is not the answer.

]]> By: Lola http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/08/12/obama-health-bankruptcy-and-the-bbc/#comment-20673 Lola Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:38:16 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4237#comment-20673 The BBC do not do political or economic journalism. They do lefty propaganda. The BBC do not do political or economic journalism. They do lefty propaganda.

]]> By: Steve http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/08/12/obama-health-bankruptcy-and-the-bbc/#comment-20672 Steve Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:21:37 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4237#comment-20672 Do you recall what happened to the RUC when it ceased to serve its public objectively? As for the RUC, so for the BBC. Do you recall what happened to the RUC when it ceased to serve its public objectively? As for the RUC, so for the BBC.

]]> By: Matthieu http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/08/12/obama-health-bankruptcy-and-the-bbc/#comment-20671 Matthieu Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:54:44 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4237#comment-20671 Some of this stuff is gold guys. Honestly, write it down. You're on to something. Some of this stuff is gold guys. Honestly, write it down. You’re on to something.

]]> By: the man from UNCLE http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/08/12/obama-health-bankruptcy-and-the-bbc/#comment-20670 the man from UNCLE Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:13:43 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4237#comment-20670 I agree, the BBC is hopelessly biased. Global warming is stated as fact, never a contrary scientific opinion aired. As to the EU, the 'impartial' BBC seldom airs views against the project. Sadly, I do not think Dave will challenge it. I agree, the BBC is hopelessly biased. Global warming is stated as fact, never a contrary scientific opinion aired. As to the EU, the ‘impartial’ BBC seldom airs views against the project.

Sadly, I do not think Dave will challenge it.

]]> By: D McGregor http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/08/12/obama-health-bankruptcy-and-the-bbc/#comment-20669 D McGregor Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:59:32 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4237#comment-20669 Totally agree with this , BBC World is the worst English language station ever. Unwatchable , repetitive pap produced by the Righteous. Totally agree with this , BBC World is the worst English language station ever. Unwatchable , repetitive pap produced by the Righteous.

]]> By: Deborah http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/08/12/obama-health-bankruptcy-and-the-bbc/#comment-20668 Deborah Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:18:00 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=4237#comment-20668 Having lived abroad in Europe and America, I have had many discussions about the pros and cons of the NHS system. The significant downsides that people outside the UK always raise is - "but I want to be able to choose my doctor" and "doesn't that mean that I will be told what treatment I can have - what happens if I want a second opinion?" The trouble is, in England most people have forgotten that such things are possible Having lived abroad in Europe and America, I have had many discussions about the pros and cons of the NHS system.
The significant downsides that people outside the UK always raise is – “but I want to be able to choose my doctor” and “doesn’t that mean that I will be told what treatment I can have – what happens if I want a second opinion?”

The trouble is, in England most people have forgotten that such things are possible

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