Corporate culpability

[Pervert]

Leaving aside the "Chav" aspect---an easy label, but there's much more to blame than the Burbery wearers---there's a lot in what you say, Officer.

There are fewer socially relevant single dramas, fewer investigative documentaries, and less chances being taken. ITV, which did some sterling work in the 70s and 80s with the likes of World In Action, prefers the reality TV dross, and drama vehicles for Ross Kemp and Robson Green, while the Beeb is still trying to find itself a new role. Newspapers are falling over themselves trying to stay in business, with stunt competitions and hysterical headlines that bear no relation to the story. And in the meantime, the GBP is fixated on gadgets, celebs, and who's shagging who.

The so-called problems pages in the tabloids are depressing as hell: virtually every page could provide a week's worth of crap for the Trishas of this world. Trailer trash boasting about screwing their girl friend's mother/boy friend's brother/best friend's fiance under the pretext of needing some advice.

If these are what constitute major issues in our country, it's no wonder there are parts of the world where we're seen as bloated and decadent.

Occasionally something will force us out of our rut---the Asian tsunami, concerns for Africa, Beslan, or the London bombings---but for the most part we seem satisfied with our main concerns about who's voted out of the BB house, whether Chelsea/Arsenal/Man Utd will sign some overpaid mercenary, and the "lives" of soap opera characters.