Simon Cowell considers X Factor Style Referendum Show...

[Northern Munkee]

... You couldn't make it up could you.

But according to Cowell on BBC 6 O'Clock News, he's interested in a "referendum style" political style X Factor show!

Oh dear me... That kind of simpleton populism would be seriously worrying.

Apparently the full interview is on Newsnight.

[Skywalker]

Isn't that what a General Election actually is?

[Jalopnik]

Happened already hasn't it, we got Gordon the Moron!

[J500ANT]

A government doing what the people want? Nope, it'll never catch on.

[Talksteer]

Guam said:

Skywalker said:

Isn't that what a General Election actually is?

Actually I think he might have a point, X Factor meets General Election we only vote for those MP's who entertain us, at least we would accept they were talentless no-hopers from the outset

Actually I can't help but wonder if he got the idea off Frank Skinner

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnist...

Its a fair point that the voting public on X-factor actually have a far better researched and understood position on the contestants than most people do on parties in a general election.

However the idea that you can simplify the business of running a large nation state down to an ITV entertainment show is pure bks. What it will effectively do is give the producers of that show massive power as they can manipulate the "information" given to the generally ill informed public and get them to produce a massive "democratic" judgement in the direction they favour.

[Northern Munkee]

What he said. ^^^^^^^^

Edited by Northern Munkee on Monday 14th December 23:01

Edited by Northern Munkee on Monday 14th December 23:01

[thinfourth2]

Talksteer said:

However the idea that you can simplify the business of running a large nation state down to an ITV entertainment show is pure bks. What it will effectively do is give the producers of that show massive power as they can manipulate the "information" given to the generally ill informed public and get them to produce a massive "democratic" judgement in the direction they favour.

And this is different from the current model just how?

[Halb]

Northern Munkee said:

.
Oh dear me... That kind of simpleton populism would be seriously worrying.

Just like PH then

[JagLover]

The idea has some merit, if on a particular issue, the public was presented with an unbiased report first.

Most populist politics is based on ignorance.

[DangerousMike]

read the interview with him, he proposes a series of referenda style programs where a single issue is discussed, politicians can phone in and comment, and the studio + home audience votes. He was talking about issues like immigration (good for ratings - look at question time), etc.

[Hugo a Gogo]

Talksteer said:

What it will effectively do is give the producers of that show massive power as they can manipulate the "information" given to the generally ill informed public and get them to produce a massive "democratic" judgement in the direction they favour.

hang on - is it possible that the X factor bosses could somehow influence the viewers choice???

that the whole thing is scripted from the beginning?????

say it ain't so!!!

[revrange]

Would he use Voice over guy at the start of it?

Tonight, a world exclusive on knife crime! with speical guest apperances from Peter Mandelson.

[JB!]

Hugo a Gogo said:

Talksteer said:

What it will effectively do is give the producers of that show massive power as they can manipulate the "information" given to the generally ill informed public and get them to produce a massive "democratic" judgement in the direction they favour.

hang on - is it possible that the X factor bosses could somehow influence the viewers choice???

that the whole thing is scripted from the beginning?????

say it ain't so!!!

the beeb could launch a rival show: Question Time: Council Estate Special.

Makes me shiver that this is a serious suggestion.

[Tangent Police]

I have a better idea, how about a blind date style show.

So, GB Chook, here's our Graham with that quick reminder.

Will you choose No1, our slack jawed, scottish ? He says he'll fk your bank, steal your money and then give it to everyone you hate?

Will you choose No2, our toff from the old boys club, he says "fwaa fwaaa fwaa fwafwafwafwaaaa" which roughly translates as "I'll do the same as No1, but I've got a blue tie on"

Will you choose No3, to be quite honest, no-one has any idea what he looks like and even though he says lots, no-one gives a fk anyway.