Log In | Subscribe
Columns

If I ruled the world

  27th August 2009  —  Issue 162
I’m not interested in what the public thinks. Nobody is—not even the public. So enough of their inane feedback on radio and television

Imagine this. You are driving along following a reasonably successful holiday—or at least a not-wholly-disastrous change of scene. To your unfolding amazement, the road is clear: no road “works” and no congestion. You have put aside your macro anxieties—war, climate change, Katie Price; and you are likewise enjoying rare psychological respite from those of a more personal nature—hair, weight, the staggering tedium of your life thus far. You are not required to make any decisions, there are no strangers in view whom you find attractive and there is nothing to spend your money on or to remind you that you haven’t got any. In other words, you are happy.

Thus, foolishly buoyed, you reach for the radio hoping for a programme worth a sentient adult’s time and the very first thing you hear is the presenter’s voice saying: “With regard to the global economy, Andy from Cheadle has emailed the programme to say he thinks that…” Blocking the irritation you switch stations. Another presenter with a different accent seems to be finishing a discussion about Israel and Palestine but, just as you settle back, she says: “Lindsey from Wrexham has texted in to say…”

This article is available to subscribers only

Subscribing to Prospect is the most reliable and convenient way to receive the magazine every month, and offers the best value.

Subscription Types:

Print

As a print edition subscriber you can get over 20 per cent discounted from our cover price. Have the magazine delivered straight to your door each month, starting at just £16 for six months. All print subscriptions now come with a free online subscription which includes complete access to our searchable archive. Buy a subscription now »

Online

An online subscription offers you complete and unlimited access to the entire website, including our searchable archive of every back issue of Prospect, and a PDF edition of each new issue: all this for just £20 per year. Purchase an online subscription »

Renewal

Renew an existing subscription »

Institutional access

If you are a library, business organisation or any other large institution that needs a multi-user licence, you can obtain institutional access.
  • Comment Subscribe to post comments

Comments (1):

  1. DANIEL_SEXTON says:

    Mr Docx,

    Daniel from Dundalk, Ireland here, getting in touch with some positive feedback – I LOVED this!