We live, we are told, in a society where free speech is a right. That means that anyone can express their views, but as Voltaire would testify, those views can be challenged. So, you would think when it comes to the big issues of the day that there would be a debate with both sides of the argument being put forward. Not so.
Back in October I was asked to appear on Radio 5 to discuss the Chancellor’s Comprehensive Spending Review announcement. This announcement in essence put half a million public service jobs in threat, a further half a million in the private sector and would greatly reduce many of the services that the public take for granted. All three political parties have their own cuts agenda, and so any debate amongst politicians would simply be “how many”, “how deep” and “how fast” rather than looking into any alternatives.
Anyhow, on arriving at St Stephen’s Green outside Parliament, I was advised that there had been a mistake and I wasn’t required. I’d even put a suit on! So, my colleagues and I took the opportunity to try and get into the media through other means. We started by handing out leaflets explaining the PCS’ Alternative. We were horrified when we were told by a BBC employee that whilst he personally supported our stance, he and his colleagues had been told not to speak to the Trade Unions or give us any airtime. This was because as a publicly funded broadcaster the cuts to the BBC could be that much worse for them if they did!
So here we have a case of the Government attempting to gag the free press. What else is out there that the public do not know or are not being told? How many taxpayers actually know about the £132bn tax gap? How many newspapers have put this scandal into the public domain? Very few, and certainly none of the tabloids or “right wing” media. Isn’t it an offence that whilst they will let the EDL and BNP on their mainstream news programmes, they would not give the TUC a voice?
We are constantly told we are all in this together. Clearly we are not. The actions of UK Uncut have attempted to put the argument into minds of the public, but their actions are usually dismissed by the press who prefer to vilify those who take direct action than explore why they are forced to do so. Another example of the public not being told the truth. Even the March For The Alternative on 26th March was deflected from by the actions of a very small minority who chose to cause trouble in London.
Things are now taking a more sinister stance. Many employers now habitually check our Facebook pages, Tweets and blogs to see what their employees are saying about them. That may be fine if you work in your local shop and slag off customers, but is it right that they start involving themselves in union activities and those who highlight errors in the organisation that would be in the public interest? I’d suggest not. You’ll notice I never identify who I work for.
Then we get the murky involvement in Government itself. The on-going Hackingate scandal (you’ve got to suffix it with “gate” or its not really a scandal) is starting to highlight some very dubious activities between the Police, the Government and News International. One must question whether it is right that news outlets have such access to and control over the mechanisms of both government and the law. Even if everything is above board (and it seems its not) it doesn’t give the right impression.
Generally people will believe what they are told, especially if they are told that there are no alternatives. It is a trick used by dictators from our very earliest civilizations, and we can all site examples where dissenters have been silenced by any means possible. We are not at that stage, I hope. Though isn’t it weird that Dr David Kelly died mysteriously during the Iraq WMD debate and now Sean Hoare, one of the main protagonists in Hackingate has done likewise…..
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