S4C

I will no doubt return to my dislike of state sponsored culture, but this piece regarding S4C is a fantastic example of the problem.

Firstly I note, that virtually all calls to protect state funded culture seem to come from wealthy government or in this case ex-government employees. This is only relevant because when the wealthy call for areas of government expenditure to be protected it is usually rounded upon by the press as a poor use of government funds. However culture spending is seemingly excluded in the press from being classified as middle class expenditure.

The article states that

Lord Morris said the likelihood of big funding cuts, coupled with recent disclosures in the Western Mail about low viewing figures for some of the channel’s programs, made it all the more important for responsibility for S4C to be transferred to the Assembly’s hands

Lord Morris is obviously aware then that S4C does not entertain the majority of even the Welsh population, and I doubt even the Welsh speaking population, and yet goes on to say

“I can’t understand why there isn’t unanimity on the subject. S4C should be part of the Assembly’s responsibilities – I can’t understand how the Assembly can run roads and housing, but not such an essential part of Welsh life.”

well, I am sorry but roads and housing are issues which affect every single person in Wales and to suggest that S4C has the same gravity as these issues shows how disconnected this man is from issues that effect most people.

In the 'age of austerity' and with government spending cuts planned, surely it is the most important policy areas which should be protected and to have to watch wealthy bureaucrats running around trying to protect their pet projects paid for by the taxpayer should be attracting more criticism from the press than it does.

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