Setting the scene … debating on our own terms.

Considering we live in a world with unprecedented scope for independent media, it never ceases to amaze me how lazy the conventional media can be in its interpretations. I am picking on the Guardian here not because they are the worst offenders but because their ownership structure and editorial ethos (“… facts are sacred“)  should make them a little sceptical about reproducing press releases from large companies without thought or challenge.

Let’s take for example this piece by Dan Milmo: Ryanair adds €2 levy to cover EU rules on compensation

No no no Dan! Please don’t let the protagonists (Ryanair here) set the terms of the debate in a misleading way.

Let’s rewrite that headline.

Ryanair increases fares by a flat €2 per flight, claims it is necessary to offset the costs of consumer protection.

There, that’s better. It is a fare increase and they are trying to distract from that, and my version doesn’t thoughtlessly accept the “claim”. Look at the fare increase supposedly to cover wheelchair use, how much it brings in, how well hidden it is, and so on. Ryanair have a history of confusing the customer with misleading add-ons.

It isn’t an unreasonable thing to do in many ways – they have potential additional costs. But let’s call it what it is.

Be honest to godlessness – let’s get the census right

http://www.facebook.com/HonestToGodless?v=wall

This is important. The census figures are used to justify extensive – and many of us believe out of proportion to the real numbers – involvement of religious organisations in all aspects of Irish life from education to healthcare to the development of social policy. For example, if you tick “catholic” you are in effect voting …to maintain the privileged position of that organisation – not the religious belief – in schools.
The question is deliberately set to be misleading: it asks “what is your religion” which already presumes you have one, and the “no religion” option is last on the list below the write-in, meaning that on a quick glance it doesn’t even appear to be related to the question.
Please please please THINK about the question, don’t tick a box out of habit – even more, don’t let anyone else tick a box for you that doesn’t represent your real views.

So this is turmoil, is it?

Yesterday’s Irish Times tells me (Fresh euro turmoil …)or at least implies that the euro is in crisis and backs it up with figures: the European single currency hit its lowest level since the 2nd March.

So it is at the lowest against the dollar that it has been for 8 whole days, and buys a whole u$s0.01 less than it did yesterday. While the euro was weak, the dollar was rising against the yen as well (and presumably, for far more unfortunate reasons, will do so further now).

Hang on a minute, do I hear the banging and hammering of a jerry-built story being hurriedly and misleadingly constructed here? Yes, of course. The reality is that nothing of interest happened on the currency markets on Wednesday and that Arthur Beesley has managed to spin normal fluctuations into a couple of extra column inches. Such is journalism.

Thursday 3rd March

Here in Ireland coalition talks are progressing slowly we are told, and the news from government buildings is that the situation is worse than they had thought. This good news for coalition building, it means the framework of excuses for an abrupt change in policy is on firm foundations.

Whether it be Fine Gael agreeing to extend their timescale for balancing the budget, or Labour shrinking theirs, we can be pretty sure that the unexpectedly bad situation will be the justification.

Meanwhile the phrase lots more cricket later on Morning Ireland was heard, probably for the first time on that radio programme. Beating England at anything is still sweet.