We live in the most opinionated age mankind has ever known. Is the result fair? Or just noisy? How does government manage when everyone wants their share of the action – and shouts and agitates for it? (You may enjoy our archive site, www.direct-action.info)
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Why we posted this: It’s a commonplace that the pro-Palestinian activists who sailed in a convoy toward Gaza really were on a humanitarian mission. But it is almost self-evident that they were nothing of the kind. More »
Themes: Campaigning / Interrogating the Media / Media / Politics / Rights. Posted by Richard D North on September 14th, 2010
Why we posted this: The BBC is brilliant at defending its unique £3bn+ a year of licence fee, and its commercial income. It has just announced £600m-worth of budget changes which were cleverly allowed to be presented both as cuts (ie: here’s a slimmer BBC) and a shift to quality (ie: we’re going to be an even better public service broadcaster). Thing is, has the move really kept the BBC safe from criticism? More »
Themes: Media / Money / Politics. Posted by Richard D North on March 8th, 2010
Why we posted this: Prince Charles has intervened once again, but this time for real. Lord Rogers is right to say it’s a constitutional disgrace. The Telegraph should know better than to cheer Charles on. More »
Themes: Campaigning / Media / Politics / Rights. Posted by Richard D North on June 17th, 2009
Why we posted this: The dust is settling on a major political and economic ruction in the UK. So far, the evidence is that our democratic process and economic management will change a little, and for the better. Most people won’t notice or care. More »
Themes: Media / Money / Politics / Rights. Posted by Richard D North on June 13th, 2009
Why we posted this: People have forgotten how badly they need to be governed by an elite. The exposure of MP’s allowances in the Daily Telegraph shows just how far we have gone in misunderstanding the problem of public service. The paper of the professions has descended into tabloid destructiveness. More »
Themes: Interrogating the Media / Politics / Society / Truth & Trust. Posted by Richard D North on May 9th, 2009
Why we posted this: It’s official: the Israeli military did not – as widely reported at the time – shell a United Nations school in Gaza, killing 43 in its grounds. Time for an apology by the reporters? More »
Themes: Campaigning / Green / Interrogating the Media / Media / Politics. Posted by Richard D North on February 4th, 2009
Why we posted this: The idea that protest is almost always good and being strict with it almost always bad is not necessarily sensible. So why shouldn’t the UK government consider blocking a legal loophole used by lawyers and juries to let protesters off? More »
Themes: Campaigning / Food / Green / Politics / Rights. Posted by Richard D North on December 31st, 2008
Why we posted this: It really matters that there’s no point hammering the rich. It doesn’t hurt them and may hurt the poor. More »
Themes: Money / Politics / Society. Posted by Richard D North on November 29th, 2008
Why we posted this: What’s the right response to the financial crisis? Are commentors and politicians speaking their minds or are some spouting conveniently compassionate guff? More »
Themes: Interrogating the Media / Media / Money / Politics / Rights. Posted by Richard D North on November 25th, 2008
Why we posted this: The media has mostly accepted as reasonable the idea common amongst blacks that until Obama it wasn’t worth voting. This is worth challenging. More »
Themes: Interrogating the Media / Politics / Rights / Truth & Trust. Posted by Richard D North on November 5th, 2008