The newspapers really are desperate these days and given the height of the cliff over which their advertising revenues have plunged it is hardly surprising. This very recent chart (courtesy of The Passive Voice) is based on American figures but I'm sure the same applies 'over here' :
Consequently, it seems the newspapers are diving lower and lower to highlight stories that might catch the attention of the pig ignorant and the great unwashed. Well, it's a market and if it is true that in a democracy we get the politicians we deserve then it is also true that with a free press we get the newspapers we deserve.
I raise this, of course, in the light of the current SHLOCK-HORROR (non-)story concerning a few thousand 'youfs' and 'youfettes', most of whom were not even alive when 'that woman' was in power, who have contrived to use electronic media to vote the old Disney song, "Ding Dong the witch is dead", into the top-of-the-pops song chart. Lashed by The Daily Mail, the poor old BBC is turning in ever decreasing circles like a destroyer with a jammed rudder whilst shouting contradictory orders to its lower deck minions as to whether or not the record should be played prior to the lady's funeral. Needless to say, as sure as night follows day, another record, of which I had never heard, called "I love Maggie Thatcher" is now rapidly climbing the charts and one waits with, er, well, hardly bated breath but certainly with considerable sardonic amusement to see whether it gets higher than "Ding Dong".
Everyone, except me it seems, is 'shocked, I tell you, shocked'. I am not because the day we start to fall into regimented lines and under orders from government loud-speakers parade on the streets wailing and gnashing our teeth in time to sombre military music at the passing of a prime minister is the time that I shall emigrate to North Korea where they do that sort of thing so much better than we could ever manage. I have always followed the spirit of the late Auberon Waugh who urged us, upon sight of any politician, to shout out loud and clear, "Show us your willie!" Of course, as this has all arisen because of the forthcoming funeral for a former and very distinguished prime minister it is all in very bad taste but then again, 'that woman' left a very bad taste in a lot of mouths. The fact that I, personally, was then and remain today deeply contented that those particular mouths were forced to eat shit does not alter my opinion that they should feel free to splutter it out as best they can now that she is dead. After all, when she was alive she was too smart, too intelligent and too tough for them to lay a finger on her. Let the record be played, and in full, too, whilst sundry BBC types masturbate with pleasure and their eager young listeners drool and dribble. It says so much about them - and so much about the lady who will forever stand head and shoulders above the lot of them.
Just to let you know that I bought the Tory song! Imagine the uproar amongst the great unwashed if it comes out higher! Worth 79p any day. In fact I see it as a new of gauging public opinion. You could price the tracks in question at £50, thus eliminating the great unwashed.
Posted by: Backofanenvelope | Saturday, 13 April 2013 at 10:29
I admire your attitude, DD. The whole thing just pisses me off. Regardless of one's position on the political spectrum, what kind of a country are we that people take delight in the death of an elderly lady?
Your comment about North Korea made me laugh, though!
Posted by: Whyaxye | Saturday, 13 April 2013 at 11:31
Only 79p, BOE! Good value for money, she would have approved!
Yes, 'W', it mildly pisses me off, too, as bad behaviour and ill manners always do but rather the freedom to be oafish towards politicians than not.
Posted by: David Duff | Saturday, 13 April 2013 at 12:23
Talking of the decline of the rags, we have just cancelled our regular order for the weekend edition of the FT. Its writing has declined to something like the stuff in Time magazine of 1964 - earnest, intellectually frivolous, predictable, grey. I dare say it's some marketing man's idea of what its American readership will enjoy. About fifty years wrong, I'd say.
Though come to think of it, the NYT carries the same sort of dreary stuff it did fifty years ago.
Posted by: dearieme | Saturday, 13 April 2013 at 17:50
Stick to D&N, that's my advice, DM, either that or G&T!
Posted by: David Duff | Saturday, 13 April 2013 at 17:59
Well. A song, Thatcher, the fight against government spending ... I think it makes sense to bring this great old song up. It harks back to our own days, under FDR, and the WPA, or Works Progress Administration, the government agency that employed people to do ... Well, nothing at all. Here's the song. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfIXFIImw7g
Posted by: Dom | Saturday, 13 April 2013 at 20:39
Nice one, Dom.
Posted by: dearieme | Sunday, 14 April 2013 at 11:47
A corker!
Posted by: David Duff | Sunday, 14 April 2013 at 13:15