Thursday 4 February 2010

Blackout

It appears that Douglas Carwell had the same 'shout at the tv' moment as me last night:
Last night's 10 O'clock News saw another classic illustration of BBC bias.

Reporting on the looming energy crisis Britain faces, the BBC kept referring to the "failure of the markets" to provide energy. The idea that we are not producing enough energy because of "the markets" is absurd.

The energy sector is one of the most heavily regulated parts of our economy. Energy producers need the permission of officials at almost every turn. Suppliers are unable to supply enough energy precisely because of the rules that force them to shut down power plant, purchase renewables, and jump through all manner of regulatory hurdles.

At no point did the BBC mention that one of the reasons energy bills are rising is because householders are being forced to pay hidden levies - which are then put on to the balance sheets of big corporations.

It is not the free market that is failing to supply us with energy, but a corporatist con trick.

The BBC invited a comment from the regulator OFGEM - who called for more regulation. The BBC invited comment from a government minister - who called for more government. At no point did the BBC consider the view that perhaps it is the regulator and the government that have got us into the sorry mess - and they are the last people we should be depending on to get us out of it.

Although Douglas doesn't mention the EU, it's what he means. He concludes:
No doubt the producer of last night's BBC News is unaware that they were even being biased. That is what is so disturbing.
Indeed.

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