On March 16th I posted a blog about the BBC’s desire to depress its viewers with a series of “doom and gloom” programmes detailing the terrible economic and social problems that are just around the corner.
Last evening they screened the programme showing how the young will revolt against the financial demands of the aging population. Some BBC genius came up with the chant that went throughout the programme “They play we pay”. Unfortunately the analysis and detail of the debate didn’t rise much above this simplistic level.
We had the mandatory economics Prof (Laurence Kotlikoff, Boston University)
The outspoken, high profile boomer, politically active and still intent on changing the world (Rosie Boycott)
The Young Turk who has formed his own Foundation for the Rights of Future Generations (FRFG). I hope his grandmother locks her bedroom at nights!!
Some “Facts behind the programme” – these look like the result of a junior researcher’s 30 minute session on Google
I am not even going to begin to list the issues and facts that were omitted and the depressing simplistic stereotyping that was used.
I guess the only good thing you can say about the thing was that it at least raised the visibility of the aging population issue, even if it did so in such a distorted way.
OK, if you really want to be depressed have a look at the viewers’ comments. If they represent the sophistication of the average UK television viewer then heaven help us.
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