Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer...
I am sick of reading newspaper headlines.
Over the past couple of years I have become convinced that all journalists are bottom-feeding scum who are incapable of actually researching a topic any further than typing a question into Google (yes, I think they are even too stupid and/or lazy to use keywords). Every newspaper and television report just seems so sensationalised and over-simplified that I can feel my blood-pressure rising at the mere sight of a headline and I'm not just talking about the tabloid rags, all of broadsheets are just as bad.
The worst thing is that people seem to be so stupid as to take all of this crap at face value.
Take MPs expenses. Apparently all MPs are untrustworthy and shouldn't even be able to claim the price of a train-fare into work because a few people took advantage of the system and apparently "most people" don't get the chance to take advantage of expenses (although apparently even if "ordinary businessmen" defraud their company it's not as bad because even though it is exactly the same crime it is not PUBLIC MONEY, except, you know for the members of the public connected to that businesses in anyway who lose out as a result). Incidentally, you know who else spends a lot of "public money" on expenses? BBC executives, journalists and producers (I once worked in the transport department, I know where they have lunch and for how long and it is not cheap).
Personally, I don't actually resent any legal claims made by (any) MPs. Why? Because as far as I can see, being an MP, as long as you actually believe in representing your constituents, is actually a pretty crappy job. The hours are long, it is often very frustrating and no-one is ever grateful even when you have done your best for them but they will never hesitate to criticise your mistakes.
In addition, I see people take advantage of systems every day. Far from making MPs seem out of touch with reality, I think it makes them seem all too human (it's just a shame that the average human is scum). Also I am aware how expensive working in London can be, especially if your job may involve meeting people over lunch or dinner. Unlike some I don't expect my MP to bring a packed lunch in to work every day, any more than I expect him to stand on the train during rush-hour because "normal people" don't have first-class seats (except, you know, all the ones who do). I admit that I am slightly disappointed that members of the Labour party have behaved like the average Tory but as most of the real disgraces have come from people that so clearly have no party loyalty and only joined the side they thought would bring them to power the blow is softened a little (thank God for Hilary Benn).
Whilst all of the newspapers crow on about senior politicians jumping ship or being pushed from Gordon Brown's cabinet, I am pleased as most of the fallen have been people I am ashamed to associate with the Labour Party. And whilst I dislike Nu-Labour, I dislike the moronic drones who have been parroting "What have New-Labour done for us?" all over the place as if it makes them seem clever. Especially as, like the question they are misquoting from "The Life of Brian", they have done quite a lot. I remember what life was like under the last Conservative government and public services (the ones which weren't damned all to hell by Thatcher's privatisation) are a lot better then they used to be. Anyone who isn't rich and wants to live in a country run by David Cameron is so stupid that they almost deserve what's coming to them and anyone who calls themselves an "apathist" and boasts about not bothering to vote (after ranting about corrupt politicians for a month) should just be locked in a box and left to starve because they won't care, right?
Screw you guys, I'm moving to Cuba.
Over the past couple of years I have become convinced that all journalists are bottom-feeding scum who are incapable of actually researching a topic any further than typing a question into Google (yes, I think they are even too stupid and/or lazy to use keywords). Every newspaper and television report just seems so sensationalised and over-simplified that I can feel my blood-pressure rising at the mere sight of a headline and I'm not just talking about the tabloid rags, all of broadsheets are just as bad.
The worst thing is that people seem to be so stupid as to take all of this crap at face value.
Take MPs expenses. Apparently all MPs are untrustworthy and shouldn't even be able to claim the price of a train-fare into work because a few people took advantage of the system and apparently "most people" don't get the chance to take advantage of expenses (although apparently even if "ordinary businessmen" defraud their company it's not as bad because even though it is exactly the same crime it is not PUBLIC MONEY, except, you know for the members of the public connected to that businesses in anyway who lose out as a result). Incidentally, you know who else spends a lot of "public money" on expenses? BBC executives, journalists and producers (I once worked in the transport department, I know where they have lunch and for how long and it is not cheap).
Personally, I don't actually resent any legal claims made by (any) MPs. Why? Because as far as I can see, being an MP, as long as you actually believe in representing your constituents, is actually a pretty crappy job. The hours are long, it is often very frustrating and no-one is ever grateful even when you have done your best for them but they will never hesitate to criticise your mistakes.
In addition, I see people take advantage of systems every day. Far from making MPs seem out of touch with reality, I think it makes them seem all too human (it's just a shame that the average human is scum). Also I am aware how expensive working in London can be, especially if your job may involve meeting people over lunch or dinner. Unlike some I don't expect my MP to bring a packed lunch in to work every day, any more than I expect him to stand on the train during rush-hour because "normal people" don't have first-class seats (except, you know, all the ones who do). I admit that I am slightly disappointed that members of the Labour party have behaved like the average Tory but as most of the real disgraces have come from people that so clearly have no party loyalty and only joined the side they thought would bring them to power the blow is softened a little (thank God for Hilary Benn).
Whilst all of the newspapers crow on about senior politicians jumping ship or being pushed from Gordon Brown's cabinet, I am pleased as most of the fallen have been people I am ashamed to associate with the Labour Party. And whilst I dislike Nu-Labour, I dislike the moronic drones who have been parroting "What have New-Labour done for us?" all over the place as if it makes them seem clever. Especially as, like the question they are misquoting from "The Life of Brian", they have done quite a lot. I remember what life was like under the last Conservative government and public services (the ones which weren't damned all to hell by Thatcher's privatisation) are a lot better then they used to be. Anyone who isn't rich and wants to live in a country run by David Cameron is so stupid that they almost deserve what's coming to them and anyone who calls themselves an "apathist" and boasts about not bothering to vote (after ranting about corrupt politicians for a month) should just be locked in a box and left to starve because they won't care, right?
Screw you guys, I'm moving to Cuba.