One has to conclude, then, that they've never listened to triangular-headed, barely restrained hysterical lefty, and all-round bag of bollocks, Richard Bacon on Radio Five Live. I've mentioned his wide-eyed infantile inanity before, but on Monday he and his selected right-on chums truly excelled themselves.
Cue his programme to around 1:47:00 here and you'll almost be able to cut the wildly ideological circle jerk with a blunt spoon, such is its egregious nature.
Libertarian author Ayn Rand - so obviously not Bacon's cup of tea - is widely read and well-regarded by very many for her ideas and philosophies. On a truly politically-neutral network, this would be recognised. Not for Bacon, oh no.
"She was Russian! Wrote books which were very influential, but are essentially thought of as a lot of rubbish."He doesn't say by whom, but I think we can guess from that where he gets his received wisdom, can't we?
Fortunately, such a forthright and unequivocal viewpoint was given the BBC impartiality treatment by his guest. Well, not really, no.
"Yeah, bonkers. Bonkers. The Fountainhead, and she had this philosophy, a very selfish philosophy where everyone is out for themselves, where they should be out for themselves"The guest being Heat Magazine editor Boyd Hilton, who yesterday lauded Polly Toynbee's wisdom. Yes, seriously!
How self-interest can possibly be described as 'bonkers' is anyone's guess since it is an undeniable trait of the human condition. On that basis, Adam Smith must be considered quite insane for pointing out that butchers, bakers and brewers - funny enough - don't provide you goods as a charity, but to enrich themselves.
So how did this short but breathlessly eager hatchet job come about, I hear you ask? Well, it was Bacon's TV review. The programme in question being All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace which seemed to me to be about our increasing reliance on computers. They did mention this in passing but were more interested in aiming barbs at Alan Greenspan.
You see, For Bacon's mob, it was proof positive that Randian philosophy destroyed the world and that progressives were right all along. That the programme - as a fan on Curtis's BBC blog succinctly put into words more adroitly than Bacon ever will - "raises a loaded gun to the head of consumer capitalism".
Further, ahem, balance was provided by his other guest who opined that his Mum was better qualified to handle a major economy than a free market advocate.
If you listen very carefully, you can just about hear the sighs as they all climaxed together. I swear they'd have even enjoyed a post-masturbatory fag had it not been illegal.
