The UK is at war in Afghanistan and Libya. The nuclear problem persists in Japan. Christchurch New Zealand has barely started to recover from its earthquakes. Our economic situation remains gloomy as we start to pay for years of Blair and Brown borrow and spend. So what has the UK been reading most about over its breakfast, in commuter trains or on its IPads?
Well, the big issues of course. It's nearly summer. Sex. Never mind the rest. Fred-the-Shred, now rebranded as Fred-the -Bed's extra marital activities for one. Shock, horror,-he was at it while RBS was heading down the plug. Should that worry us? Did it diminish or even enhance his performance on the (day) job? Who knows or cares? And yet that became the number one world headline for our press and TV news bulletins. Then there was the IMF man whose interpretation of Room Service seems to have got way out of hand as does the almost uncommented upon very heavy treatment of untried defendents by the US "Justice" services. The concept of being innocent until proved guilty is not on display there .Not the greatest shop window for a country bent on telling the world how to run itself, but the media has ignored that question in favour of persuing the more salacious. Finally there has been the non-affair of UK Justice Secretary, Ken Clarke, who dared to say that there are several forms of rape which means that a sentancing policy which treats all the same might not be appropriate. A good point worth stating and debating sensibly. The contorted expressions on the faces of even some of the normally well balanced lady TV reporters said it all. Rational discussion on the subject simply isn't possible, just as it isn't about ever widening collection of other issues where the self proclaimed occupiers of the moral high ground pour boiling oil down upon any who might question them.
The portents for interesting reading, listening and viewing this summer are not good,- and it's only May.
