Prospects for Thursday, 6 March
- 6 Mar 08, 10:45 AM
Dan Kelly is today's programme producer - here is his early email to the team.
Good Morning,
Much of the programme tonight will discuss the British White Working Class - are they the forgotten group in British Society? Have they been marginalised by policy makers and the media? Newsnight has commissioned a poll of the British white working and middle classes with some .
We have interviews with Culture Minister and MP for Barking Margaret Hodge, and Nick Griffin, leader of the BNP. We'll also have a wider discussion about the issue with some strong guests.
Seroxat
The Government are set to announce a major tightening of the law governing drug trials when the Medicines and Healthcare Regulator reports on allegations that GlaxoSmithKline delayed informing the authorities that Seroxat increased the likelihood of suicide among teenagers.
Gaza
A very strong report by human rights groups into the impact of the sanctions.
Other stories include ID cards - how the scheme will be rolled out. What other suggestions do you have?
Dan
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Usual question why is the ID card system preferred by the ±«Óătv Office over a national DNA database that would be far more effective in catching criminals. ID cards of course will allow the Government far more control over the population, isnt this what the ID card system about? not about catching criminals
Bob
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White working class people haven't been represented for decades,Just look at the ±«Óătv they have an Asian network radio station and another for black communities but what do they have for white people? And in this country if you ever speak out about how other communities are being represented more than your own you are branded a racist (if you are white that is, if you are from any other race you are given government hand outs and all the help you want)
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At no point anywhere on the Newsnight website has there been any definition of "working class". Are we merely speaking of those who earn a certain amount? Those who work in certain sectors? Those who identify as working class? All these definitions will lead to a different number of people with probably different survey results.
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Open borders has shifted the balance of power away from the white working class and further towards the employers. If a white working class demands better pay and conditions, then the employer can just replace them with a cheaper, less demanding foreign import worker. Open borders are bad news for the white working class.
Open borders are good news if you are called Jeremy Paxman though, then you will be able to get some Romanian servants in to iron your pants for below minimum wage for 40 hours a week:
Paxo's dirty laundry gets a very public airing
And now your starter for ten: Just how many Romanians are living over Paxman's garage?
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We have a problems in this country with benefit fraud, identity theft, illegal immigration and illegal access to services which hae been paid for by the British public. The government is attempting to solve these problems with the aid of ID cards. If you interview David Davis, or any other Tory, please will you ask them how Tories will solve these problems if not with ID cards.
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Will you have John Dugard on Newsnight tonight?
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I'd have to ask where this proves to be the case, white working class forgotten! is it in the fire service, mm me thinks not, in the police, well certainly not there, The ±«Óătv look at all the bbc channels, nope not there,how about the construction industry, media (including newspapers), law, just where exactly are white working class people being forgotten. perceptions are more dangerous than fact!
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The Unequal Society
The system by which it is possible to
manipulate and maintain an unequal
society in which the majority native
population are made to comply without being threatened but who are coerced
by intimidation and propaganda.It
masquerades under the name of BRITISH
DEMOCRACY
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SYMPTOMATIC
I have little doubt that the "working white" - rather like their teeth - are being let down by those who puport to govern. But is this not, in reality, a symptom of much wider malaise in British (Western) society? I offer the following:
GOOD MEN DOING NOTHING
The newborn is shaped by its experience of life. All experience is retained.
Life’s prizes are seen to be: income, fame, possessions and physical appearance. (O. James)
Childhood lies between gaining basic competence, and puberty’s “animal distraction”.
Modern influences ensure the length of childhood becomes progressively shorter.
Learning is progressively less osmotic and more institutional.
±«Óătv experience is progressively less parental and more media mediated.
Media (and advertising) are progressively more banal and shallow; even when purporting to inform.
Maturity (philosophy, integrity, dignity, honour, rationality) is progressively less evident.
In the 50s and 60s, Eric Berne MD formulated human behaviour in simple terms.
Berne labelled our “Ego States” PARENT (P) ADULT (A) CHILD (C).
If any society is to cohere and thrive, the Adult state must be nurtured and enhanced.
Britain is tearing apart between; authoritarian(P) and licentious(C) (reflecting her Parliament).
Adult is autonomous and constructive; above politicking, media/advertising (and religion).
As a country succumbs to Parent and Child, Adult function is eclipsed.
Westminster government lacks the necessary Adult integrity to address this.
This is Britain’s current plight (reproduced wherever we export our “enlightenment”).
Governments’ obsession with GDP, as pursued, undermines promotion of Adult competence.
Associated devaluation of “archetypal Mother” mediates against Adult emergence.
Without an Adult predominance, bad governance and nihilistic social pursuits are inexorably our lot.
Currently, Britain is LIVING INSIDE THE LIE. (Havel) and good men are doing nothing.
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Limited time on the subject of 'white working class' and you put on a fascist, then citing the defence of 'the bbc allow a wide range of views'
Honestly! Of course they do! However, this is a politician's prevarication Paxo wouldn't struggle to expose.
You lot had to sit down and plan how you would present this topic and some clever Joe decided 'oh, working class. Indeed! BNP!'
Poor, poor, poor, poor, poor editorial decision.
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this debate proved more than the ±«Óătv right wing hidden jornos had bargaind for its the ±«Óătv who are trying to lable whit working class BNP members
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Why was Griffen not on the Live set?
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