Monbiot BBC2 today.

[Giles1]

His writings are always studiously referenced???. His TV articles are clearly not.He misled by omission,the whole tenanted section in this case,as the only subs dished out are to the nasty landowners,who get subs to chop down trees and rip up hedges,I'd love some of those.Currently most subs I get have a raft of green agenda attached,Mr Monbiot needs to read up some recent subsidy material,not something dredged from his imagination or a 1970's copy of John Nix's subsidy section.He also needs to take a very careful look at how much money is doled out by the EEC and our various more local political bodies in the name of Ag subs, and specifically how much ,I was going to say is diverted,but is left is better,after all the Gov depts. have claimed their share to "administer",to actually pay producers.But he won't do that because it's too difficult to get accurate figures and the recipient Gov employees are probably all Guardian readers.(Yeah I know,generalisation a la George Monbiot).He has also completely failed to get to grips with what happens to the bit of sub that does end up in a farmers bank account.We don't all subscribe to the three R's,Range Rover,Racehorses and Robinson,(helicopter for those of you subsidyless tenant farmers who could never afford one).Mine goes to the bank,Council,feed merchant,insures,vets,fert manufacturer,fuel suppliers and machinery dealers in the main,with smaller bits going to the local shops,and trades who do clever things with wire ,pipes and wood that are beyond me.
Monbiot publishes every last item of income and benefit in kind online. He can therefore slay vested interests from a position of moral authority.[/QUOTE]No he doesn't,he says himself it is not net income he shares with us. Can someone spouting half truths and misinformation actually hold a position of moral authority?

 

[JP1]

No he doesn't,he says himself it is not net income he shares with us. Can someone spouting half truths and misinformation actually hold a position of moral authority?

It is his income. What do you mean about his net income?

I'm not saying he's right , I'm saying by publishing his entire income, interests and any BIK, he is setting himself up as being on the moral high ground when he is pitted against a spokesperson with clear vested interests.

 

[PSQ]

I've just seen the bit above where he says that he is on a £67,000 retainer from the Guardian!!!!

For that kind of money I'd gladly take an outspoken viewpoint on any subject of your choosing, and pick it to bits in a monthly 1000 word hatchet article.

"I can do that, Gies A Job!"

'kin ell, no wonder he has (ahem) 'principles': Kerching!

 

[JP1]

I've just seen the bit above where he says that he is on a £67,000 retainer from the Guardian!!!!

For that kind of money I'd gladly take an outspoken viewpoint on any subject of your choosing, and pick it to bits in a monthly 1000 word hatchet article.

"I can do that, Gies A Job!"

'kin ell, no wonder he has (ahem) 'principles': Kerching!

That's cheap (I'm being ironic but in London / Meeja , it's cheap)

£67k and pay your own bills is not that fab a payment in London.

This was all debated a while ago on here

 

[PSQ]

That's cheap (I'm being ironic but in London / Meeja , it's cheap)

£67k and pay your own bills is not that fab a payment in London.

This was all debated a while ago on here

"pay all your own bills" -

I have one other regular source of income: the rent paid to me by the co-operative that leases my house, which currently amounts to £9,480 a year.

Plus lots of dosh for speaking and a tiny bit for book royalties...

 

[JP1]

"pay all your own bills" -


Plus lots of dosh for speaking and a tiny bit for book royalties...

Look I'm not here to defend the guy but if you're paid £67k but then pay your own costs for 'phones, computers, broadband, NI stamp, insurances, car etc, he is paying his own bills compared with being a PAYE journo for a newspaper and having it all provided, that's all I'm saying

 

[Cowabunga]

It is his income. What do you mean about his net income?

I'm not saying he's right , I'm saying by publishing his entire income, interests and any BIK, he is setting himself up as being on the moral high ground when he is pitted against a spokesperson with clear vested interests.

What If I itemised all my milk cheques less costs, which would show that I made less than him last year and will almost certainly pay the bank £50k plus as a net cash loss in this current year even after subsidy? I'm not going to, but the summary is likely to be accurate. Although since I must compare like with like [last year to this], since there are four partners, my loss will only be a quarter of the total. For the ignorant, that may not sound too bad, but to me it makes no difference and to the bank manager it makes no difference either.

 

[JP1]

What If I itemised all my milk cheques less costs, which would show that I made less than him last year and will almost certainly pay the bank £50k plus as a net cash loss in this current year even after subsidy? I'm not going to, but the summary is likely to be accurate. Although since I must compare like with like [last year to this], since there are four partners, my loss will only be a quarter of the total. For the ignorant, that may not sound too bad, but to me it makes no difference and to the bank manager it makes no difference either.

Not sure I follow

I think Monbiot has just published his gross milk cheques - or have I read that wrong ?