Do you think that the UK is better now that its run by the newspapers and the news media I didnt vote for them?

provided news media are reflecting rather than leading/misdirecting public opinion..I am uneasy with the 'fourth estate' usurping parliamentary democracy...but currently it seems to be doing a good job of informing public opinion. As to the question of the banality of 'fiddling expenses'..in the case of business people at large or journalists in particular it is lamentable..but in the case of our public servants in whom we trust and who are currently presiding over a recession in which our jobs are at risk while facing repossessions and high food/fuel bills..their conduct is exceeding execrable

A free press is one of the foundation stones of a free society.

They can bring matters to the attention of the people (you know, the 'demos' in democracy), but only the people can take action on that information.

If you truly believe that the press can run the country by manipulating the people, then maybe we should stop the people voting or make the press in the image of Pravda in the 1950s and 60s.

You do vote for the press, on a daily basis, because you buy the papers, listen to or read the news. If you don't like what they say, then you switch site or channel or paper. A far more democratic practise than the 4, 5, 6 year wait you have to elect you representatives in Congress or Parliament or Knesset or National Assembly.

What is it the those who want ID Cards say: 'If you have done nothing wrong then you have nothing to fear'.

Reporters who have been caught fiddling their expenses face the police and the sack, a bit more than those who are in the UK spotlight at the moment seem to be getting.

To limit the ability of a free press to tell the truth is to destroy democracy.

Madnob:

I didn't say that newspapers print the truth, I said 'To limit the ability of a free press to tell the truth is to destroy democracy'

There is a difference.

If you feel that the press is lying or spinning the truth, you have the ultimate democratic sanction of not buying, listening or watching it, or switching to an alternative.

The words of Stanly Baldwin in March 1931 directed at Lords Rothermore and Beaverbroke - owners of the Daily Mail and Express.

"What the proprietorship of these papers is aiming at is power, and power without responsibility — the prerogative of the harlot through the ages."

And nothing has changed - the owners and their editors want power, and will use all means possible - from supporting political parties and then selling them out when a better offer comes along to the use of cheque book journalism in the case of the Telegraph handing over hundreds of thousands of pounds to a criminal who had stolen from their employer and then manipulating the information for its own political purpose.

Baldwin was right - they are all whores.

As JFK once said -

"For we are opposed, around the world, by a

monolithic and ruthless conspiracy, that relies

primarily on covet means for expanding it's fear

of influence,

On infiltration insted of invasion,

On subversion insted of elections,

On intimidation, insted of free choice,

On guerrillas by night, insted of armies by day,

It is a system which has conscripted, vast

material and human resources into the building of a

tightly knit, highly efficient machine that

combines military, diplomatic, intelligence,

economic, scientific and political operations.

Its preperations are concealed, not published.

Its mistakes are buried, not headlined.

Its dissenters silence, not praised.

No expenditure is questioned.

No rumour is printed.

No secret is revealed."

I don't know why I said that though - I just wanted too :D.

The banking system is being looked into by most governments globally I think the bankers are not very keen on the idea of being regulated and own the press.

We need a General Election immediately. Anything that stops this demented Government in its tracks is fine by me.

Let's concentrate on getting rid of the MPs, rather than journalists. If it hadn't been for The Independent, we wouldn't have known what has been happening!

The UK has always been run by the the media.

'our attempts at noncompliance will be futile'