Knowing when to use the cattle prod

Article Abstract:

The issue of ministerial responsibility has been highlighted once more by recent revelations that calves from the family farm of minister of agriculture William Waldegrave are being exported live to continental Europe. Scandals such as this often lead journalists and voters to call for the resignation of the minister concerned, but in this way the concept of ministerial resignation may be being devalued. Calls for resignation should be reserved only for the most serious issues, as endless cases of minister failing to resign when called upon to do so will only encourage those ministers who really should resign to remain in their post.

Ethical aspects, Cabinet officers, Cabinet officials

---

A media storm of one's own

Article Abstract:

John Birt, director-general of the BBC, recently made a speech in which he warned journalists against blowing up stories out of all proportion and producing a political crisis which does not really exist. However, this attitude indicates that he is unaware of the expectations of viewers and readers, who welcome the fact that politicians are now treated with much less respect and more suspicion that was the case in the past. Observers also point out that the head of the BBC seems also to be one of its strongest critics.

Beliefs, opinions and attitudes, Journalists, Birt, John

---

American justice, Hollywood style

Article Abstract:

The OJ Simpson case is likely to highlight one of the main flaws in the US legal system, that of the tendency for trials to end inconclusively after lengthy and expensive deliberations. The country's legal system seems to have been destroyed by money, by the cult of celebrity and by the exploitation by the media of people's respect for the constitution. The media makes key figures in some cases into celebrities, and this then makes juries very reluctant to convict them.

Analysis, Justice, Administration of, Administration of justice

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: The voice from the crowd. A question of attitude
• Abstracts: When the gene is let out of the bottle. Making some sense of our world
• Abstracts: Singles night at the Norfolk Arms. A case of luggage fetishism
• Abstracts: An investment in the wrong kind of chips. A trio of reasons for public ill temper. If we had no railways, we'd never invent them
• Abstracts: Speaking the same language. She's not one of the boys. Jacks and Jills of all trades

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.