The Murdoch family has given us so many useful insights into harmonious family living that I feel almost inadequate in trying to add my own thoughts. That said, just like Newscorp, I can't keep my mouth shut so I will add my ten pence worth (although that won't buy you a copy of the Sun these days!).
First, never mind the ides of March, beware the aspiring younger glamourous wife with Hermes Birkin handbag at the ready, much more dangerous than the infamous metal handbag of the Iron Lady - these girls really do pack a punch, just think what she might have done to an aspiring Argentinian dictator!
Second, global investors in Newscorp SELL your shares asap. Rupert is clearly asleep most of the day so can't be running the business any more, his wife seems more fleet of foot and decisive in anticipating trouble than he is. His best defence these days would be to throw the wife at your attackers (pretty and effective first line of defence in his case) followed by falling asleep to make them think you're too senile to be capable of bugging mobile phones. So much for the global media titan constantly running the slide rule of analysis over an ever growing global media business. Kind of worrying for a Newscorp shareholder.
Third, nepotism has clearly gone beyond a joke here. Who was really fooled by the performance of James "that's a very important point, I'll come back to you on it" Murdoch. Well, if he's the rising star destined to run the "evil empire" then SELL! You can't be a CEO and then try to avoid any responsibility for the acts of your subordinates, if you don't know what they're up to then how can you be sure your company is being run properly? It's not as if you're running one of the most politically sensitive corporations in the world with the machinery of the US government watching over you at all times to wait for a slip up is it? Hang on a second, isn't this the same Newscorp that owns Fox News that is pretty much the mouth piece of Satan according to the US Democratic party? Next you'll be telling us that you're not benefitting from the economies of scale of phone hacking globally. Yet another reason to SELL Newscorp - if you think the US government is good at limey bashing (witness BP), just wait to see what happens when they get their teeth into the heart of the mouthpiece of the right wing.....
Fourth, Rupert there's no fool like an old fool. Rupert, the red head fawning all over you for the last few years didn't find you that dynamic and handsome at all - she was using you to climb the ladder and make herself famous whilst screwing the rest of us with her wire-taps. Cameron, Osborne and the rest of the fawning UK politicians had better be careful - of course you all know more than you're saying and are up to your own necks on this one. If the Metropolitan Chiefs did the honourable thing by resigning due to guilt by association what does this say about Cameron and Osborne with their appointment of Andy Coulson. Simple, they have no honour or they would have resigned - but then they are politicians and obviously have the interests of the people at heart. Yeah, right...... Again, SELL Newscorp shares.
Anyway, this rant is getting too political and isn't really helping us to save the world. So what lessons, other than SELL Newscorp or old men think with the small head not the big head have we learnt from this debacle?
Global media empires run by an old bloke (unless you are Warren Buffet), his son and the babes doesn't really cut it in any more. Never mind banks being too big to fail, this shows that corporations are now too big to be controlled by one person or a board of the family and "yes men/babes". So I'll add to my list of recommendations that we need a size criterion to keep corporations smaller and less out of control or powerful over the defenders of of our economies (that would be the politicians if they knew what they were supposed to be doing). It's simple demergers and increased shareholder power would solve this. If it's too big for you to control, monitor and be accountable for (James Murdoch) then it's simply too big!
So what lessons for t0 and saving the world? Maybe the evil empires trying to control our minds and brainwash us with false information really do exist! Never thought I'd hear myself agreeing with the conspiracy theorists on this one, but maybe they have a point. Applying this line of thought to bankers/politicians/media moguls/so called philanthropists etc. - I can see how they've all managed to survive for so long spinning us the BS they want us to hear. We only get to hear of what's going on when it all comes tumbling down. Why is this, seems to me that the media is about as free in the Western world as it is in Russia or China the only difference is the glossy wrapper and views of those that own it.
For what it's worth, I see this as another t0 time to start again lesson. If we want to know what the truth is then we need a "free press" (not state controlled or media mogul controlled). How is this achieved? Real regulation applied by honest people seems the way forward - this means we have to take collective responsibility for regulation and prevent the media thought police from being too powerful - economies of scale doesn't work for such an important sector if it really is to be used as a policeman for information and honesty (which is what we could all do with a little more of). Journalists will rail against this crying "freedom of speech", well tell me how that works when you are playing with the minds of the parents of murdered children? Journalists and politicians - way to cozy with each other and in need of separation. They must be kept apart and realize that they are not meant to be symbiotic - newspaper columns written by politicians doesn't exactly make me think they are looking after the interests of the wider economy. The media has become way too important in the so-called "free world".
Finally, James Murdoch loves his business school (geek) speak so let's have a re-think about whether globalisation and economies of scale have had a good week given the performances of Rupert and James Murdoch. Not! Pretty obvious really, businesses need to be well controlled and focused else it will all come tumbling down. The conglomerates of the 1980's all fell for precisely these reasons - if we're going to start again and get it right then we need to heed the lessons of the past (and not just the last ten years). Our parents taught us to save and only spend what you've earned - they had a point. Again, SELL Newscorp.
That's it for now, the Eurozone and it's answers for saving the tax dodgers and idle of Europe will get it next!
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