Comments
Comments are welcome on this blog. However, they are moderated with good reason: far too many received are not suitable for publication.
For a comment to be published I must be satisfied that:
1. It is legal;
2. It is polite;
3. It includes an argument that adds value to readers;
4. It appears factually accurate;
5. That the commentator is genuine;
6. It is not promoting an opinion usually associated with the far right of the political spectrum (for these purposes the UK Independence Party and beyond);
7. It is not posted by a person I consider to be usually associated with the far right of the political spectrum.
The following are highly likely to be rejected:
1. Abusive and personal comments;
2. Rants;
3. Repetitive commenting from the same person;
4. Comments that duplicate a theme adequately covered by others.
I would stress: agreement with me is not a condition of a comment being accepted, but disagreement must be reasoned. This policy is necessary to make the comments section on each blog useful, meaningful and enjoyable for readers. It is also necessary to stop this site being used to promote far right wing ideas which I believe dangerous to the well-being of the UK and all who live here.
One final observation: if someone posting a comment prefers instead to offer a guest post to make counter argument I am willing to consider appropriately structured draft contributions but as in all matters relating to this blog my decision on whether to publish or not will be final. This is an essential element of editorial freedom – in turn an essential component of the right to free speech.
And if you don’t like my decision, please start your own blog. That’s what this whole blogging thing is all about.
I’m working on a new Comment policy too. And a new Privacy policy given some things that happened last week.
A little less “British” than yours but hopefully as effective in re-raising the bar on the conversation.
Looks good Richard. I’d also suggest adding the proviso “rants and/or abusive personal comments which are so blatantly OTT that they provide amusement value to sane readers of this blog may, in the public interest, be saved from the ‘delete’ button for future use”. You should have a “rogue’s gallery” of the all-time most ludicrous comments somewhere - could be good fun.
best
Howard
Richard,
Your rules sound reasonable (and as you say, it is your blog).
For the sake of constructive and polite disagreements, I just hope your censorship authority will be applied fairly.
Best
Bernard
I think that this is eminently sensible and I wish such a policy was applied more widely. The ‘comments’ attached to so many blogs and even more so ‘thought pieces’ in newspaper sites become so overloaded that they can be of no use to anyone except a poor soul in solitary confinement with only an internet connection to console them. Who else is going to wade through tens or several hundred paragraphs where intelligent responses are seperated by screeds of insults, ideological vomitings if I may term them so, remarks funny only to the writer and petty sqabbles between obsessive posters. Like so many things on the internet, only intelligent and fair editing can let the medium achieve its potential.
I endorse Richard’s statement. This is a blog not a forum & any blogger is at liberty to make judgements about what comments he/she allows to be published on their blog. My personal view is that if people strongly disagree with Richard’s posts they should set up their own blog to put forward their own cherished views that run contradictory to his &/or the mission of TJN.
Often comments on this blog reflect the propensity to shoot the messenger because the message is unacceptable. I know the experience from my own blog & I don’t give ‘the opposition’ a platform to peddle their prejudiced & unconstructive objections to my posts.
Perhaps the time has come for TJN to have its own forum because there is no doubt that it is making a major contribution to the way in which some people are rethinking capitalism as needing to embrace a value system that incorporates fundamental issues of morality, ethics, integrity, social justice, etc. I guess the objectives of such a forum would need to be clearly stated & the activity of the forum well moderated broadly in line with Richard’s own ‘comment rules’.
Perhaps the forum could make a start by inviting discussion on the pros & cons of the mission of TJN, Global Financial Integrity, etc. There could be a topic on the ‘vices’ & ‘virtues’ ‘pros’ & ‘cons’ of offshore financial centres, the integrity & professionalism of agencies such as PWC, E&Y, KPMG, etc..
Such a forum could provide an exciting opportunity for those with a genuine concern for the way capitalism should serve the people of the world and not a tiny majority (5% ?) of the world’s population.
sorry… in last sentence ‘tiny majority’ should read ‘tiny miniority’
This call from the TUC to tax long term empty property should be fully supported. The new powers council’s have to tackle empty property -empty dwelling management orders (EDMO’s) contained in the 2004 Housing Act have had some impact -my own council has gained 5 of these orders but with mixed impact. Far better that owners who are not either repairing their empty property, have it up for sale or rent then after say a year a heavy tax will concentrate the mind of owners.
I have suggested on several occasions that Newsnight do a piece on ideas surrounding a steady state economy. This is clearly an increasingly important strand of economic thought and the BBC has a duty to balance its many articles about the “need to get back to growth”.
Up to now, as far as I am aware, Newsnight have steadfastly ignored my suggestions. I don’t usually like to criticise the BBC because I think most of the time they achieve a reasonable balance. On this topic they seem to have a blind spot.
I know it is not really relevant, but I am so fed up with the treatment of Mr Caulkin I have sent this email below - some hope ???
Dear Mr Rusbridger I have written before about Mr Caulkins sacking; I have asked you to reconsider; Why did not you publish the letter from many influential people. I am only an ex teacher and he was the only business management commentator I took seriously; I asked you for a reply did not get one. I also wrote a letter detailing referring to the articles of his I have read over the years - among few he was one who kept getting it right- in the ‘After Lehmans’ World how can you throw the pilot overboard !!
I was just wondering of any one else is slightly concerned as to the analysis given on the Radio 4 news progs like Today and The World Tonight? For example the piece on Venezuela last night and the sloppy confusion re Greece’s debt/deficit. Also the level of background analysis to really understand what is going on is risible eg Haiti, Greece’s debt?
Also why are the Tories being given n easy ride re their “election commitments”, I can understand the press looking the other way but why the BBC? (Are thyey worried about after the election?)
I suppose my real question os do we het the media we deserve?
BBC is staffed by Tories
Evan Davis
Stephanie Flanders
Both notably biased
However, I was pleased to hear Robert Peston yesterday talking about the failure of the market in energy supply and the fact that we now need to go back to some planning.
Has anyone noticed that Britisg Gas waited for the cold snap to end before reducing its price?
Just had to track you down Mr Murphy….listened to you on Radio 2 and without question you came a very poor second to the chartered financial planner….the nervousness and aggression in your voice depicted a man who has spent too many years reading text books and aligning himself with outmoded financial policies to be applied in recessions/depressions….
Truthfully this recession needs to be a depression ….it will eventually re-establish the real financial status quo …..our own GDP has been structurally damaged….it was mythical it was derived out of little more than fresh air….
I’m spitting feathers that people like you advocate more debt….I thought given your background you would appreciate the necessity of balancing the books whether that’s personal, corporate or government debt ….on all 3 measures we are hugely adrift of France or Germany who have similiar size economies….
The Financial Planner was right ….there is no shortage of fools out there who confused the relationship between prosperity and debt….
Forget full employment… it is not going to happen for another generation….we have damaged our economy so badly….the metaphorical structural engineers have condemned us…
I really hope no media outlet provides you with a vehicle to put forward your thoughts ….which in my humble opinion.. are at best poorly thought out ….at worst reckless…
Odd how I got a call afterwards saying how calm I was, how authoritative I sounded, how I had clearly represented the voice of reason and how crazy and out of control the other participant was
What that person was clearly saying was she agreed with me
What you’re saying was you were out of control at the calm way in which I presented a rational argument - as you imply by ’spitting feathers’ - no doubt making your appraisal less than calm or reasoned
And I note your contempt for your fellow citizens of the UK - ‘forget full employment’ - no I won’t - they’re what matter
Now try telling me how creating mass unemployment so reducing our earning capacity and massively increasing government cost will help us repay debt and I’ll listen
Otherwise seek treatment for that nasty complaint you have of spitting feathers - I’m sure there must be a cure if you seek long enough
Well it’s nice to see you had the courage to reply……however you failed to answer any of the points I raised…
I’m genuinely surprised that they gave you a platform ….i’m pretty neutral but the reality is the chartered financial planner presented a much more compelling argument regarding the state of our finances….
You won’t forget full employment…..neither will I as we won’t see it for many years…..the measures being taken has created asset bubbles everywhere….I look forward to reading your blog when these bubbles burst….you’re arguments and reasons were taken from a text book….you have little grasp of fictional wealth and just advocate more debt….
I genuinely hope your influences are limited….the contrast between you and the financial planner was stark…..but then again no doubt he has genuine application skills….
Underneath this rhetoric you spin ..i’m sure you’re a decent man ….but I thinks your views are poorly thought out ….and anyone with real business experience will blow holes in most of your arguments…
One of the aforementioned feathers could knock over your arguments Richard ….they’re just not very strong…
@michael
Interesting. I’ve been senior partner of a firm of chartered accountants
Director of 10 companies - successful companies - some I created, some I was non exec
Created a couple of charities
Had appointments at three universities
Been employed by the World Bank
Advised the TUC
Been in the Accountancy Age top 50 people in finance for three of the last five years
No real business experience then
No ability to think
Now tell me why I’m wrong that Keynesian economics won’t work
You answer the questions
I’ve done 4,500 posts that tell you why you’re wrong. I have no reason to answer your points. I’ve written explanation after explanation as to why what you’re saying is economic madness
Tell me why I’m wrong - not some blather about spitting feathers
Or very politely take your ill informed and utterly anti-social rant elsewhere
In the first instance …it’s not anti-social to suggest I disagree with your views as in my opinion they are poorly thought out and representative of a by-gone age….you keep referring to keynesian economics…..i’m extremely bearish and for good reason…
Fiscal stimulus, quantitative easing…..it boils down to the same thing ….preventing an out of sync global economy from finding a real floor ….do you not understand this interference has rendered our economic prospects to a zombie like state ….how can we generate new and genuine economic growth without cleansing the mess that has been created by the mythical global growth of the last 10 years….
The Banks were mostly de-regulated and given carte-blanche to create ridiculous derivatives including the appalling mortgage bundles that created the so called credit crunch …If Greenspan had allowed a recession to take place in America post 9/11 …maybe the banks would have still been regulated enough to protect us all…
You cannot stave off the inevitable…..what is going to happen to the housing market for instance when interest rates rise in this country?….our economy is so reliant on the housing market….we no longer save we just consume and eventually we will pay the price for this….
Global Stock Markets have risen by more than 50% in little more than 10 months….in it’s haste of this eagerly awaited V shape recovery ….they will shortly collapse when it becomes obvious that the drag of indebtedness will kill any recovery….
Commodities are also in bubbles …..look at the price of Gold….cheap money flying around inflating all asset prices….factor in the dollar carry trade …..the outlook is grim….
Indebtedness stifles any hope of recovery ….unemployment will rise Mr Murphy for the next 2 maybe 3 years….but our indebtedness will increase ….tell me how we can repair the huge structural GDP deficit that has occurred as a result of this financial meltdown ?….
I’m sorry but Banks should fail…..we should find a method of making things again to add to our GDP….and we should definitely avoid relying on complicated securities that no one understands but every one wants a piece of…we should also accept that financial services will be damaged for a long time in the UK and houses will no longer be the cash cow…134 000 bankruptcies last year is reflective of how we have lived beyond our means for some time ….
It’s a reality check …it is dreadful but it needs to happen to avoid being a pointless Zombie economy like the japanese model in the 90’s…
You have no answers other than to mortgage the prospects of future generations….
For the record your CV is of no interest to me ….it does not validate your words ….I oppose your views in their entirety ….
In essence, a change of government will help but the damage has been done
@Michael
There are people with unmet needs, we have good human and physical capital, but huge and depreciating assets (and I agree house prices are due a massive correction) are held in fewer and fewer hands. Of course there are solutions to all this which don’t mean wasting the factors of production.
Your neo-liberal take on the economy has had its day. The study of economics should have a desire to make things better at its heart. Smith, Marx, George were great economists. We need their like now, not people like you: purveyors of gloom who have no imagination.
@michael
Let me get this right:
1) You love free markets but hate what they did in the banking sector
2) You wanted the world financial system to fail
3) You hate securities and other market mechanisms but want a Tory government
4) You said no with business experience could agree with me but then note my business CV is irrelevant
5) You want a change of government but the Tories are saying they won’t deliver cuts in the first year because they can’t find any - and they’ve never been able to do so in the past either
6) You excuse your own irrationality by the irrationality of your dislike of this government, for which you have no rational explanation
And on the basis of that you hope I’m denied access to the media
I think you’ve got a lot of thinking to do
But not here
Richard