We the (top earning) people | 48 comments (48 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

My meeting this morning went faster than expected, so here goes:

Dear Sir,
In your story of the 22/01/2007 "Global survey shows business has regained people's trust" you repeatedly talk about "the people" or "the public" (and flag it in your headline) while offhandedly admitting that it is based on a survey of "3,100 opinion leaders", also described as "top earners with an interest in politics and economics." When did "top earners" become a representative sample of "the people"?
My calendar says 2007, yours seems to be stuck in 1789 or so: it has been a while since we could discount the opinions of most of the population quite so easily.
In the context of the Edelman survey cum sales exercise on which the story is based I believe the headline should have read "Global survey shows business has regained stock holding public's trust".
Such shameless headlines go a long way towards explaining the rise of "populism" that you have been lamenting in recent columns.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 05:50:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTE time, I think (none / 0)

It's not the shameless headlines, but what's implicit in them.

"It's the statue, man, The Statue."

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 05:54:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTE time, I think (none / 0)

Make it "stuck in the 18th century" as suggested by Migeru. Change "offhandedly" to "casually" or "admitting in passing".

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 05:54:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

1789 (none / 0)

Jerome and I share the revolutionary spirit...

"It's the statue, man, The Statue."

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 05:57:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Update (4.00 / 2)

Dear Sir,
In your story of the 22/01/2007 "Global survey shows business has regained people's trust" you repeatedly talk about "the people" or "the public" (and flag it in your headline) while offhandedly admitting that it is based on a survey of "3,100 opinion leaders", also described as "top earners with an interest in politics and economics." When did "top earners" become a representative sample of "the people"?
My calendar says 2007, yours seems to be stuck in the 18th century: it has been a while since we could discount the opinions of most of the population quite so easily.
In the context of the Edelman survey cum sales exercise on which the story is based I believe the headline should have read "Global survey shows business has regained stock holding public's trust".
Such headlines - and what they shamelessly imply in terms of what (money) and who (people with money) matters in today's world - go a long way towards explaining the rise of "populism" that you have been lamenting in recent columns.

What do you say?

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 06:02:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Update (none / 1)

I would add the notion of Orwellian novel... along the lines...

Dear Sir,
In your story of the 22/01/2007 "Global survey shows business has regained people's trust" you repeatedly talk about "the people" or "the public" (and flag it in your headline) while offhandedly admitting that it is based on a survey of "3,100 opinion leaders", also described as "top earners with an interest in politics and economics." When did "top earners" become a representative sample of "the people"?

My calendar says 2007, yours seems to be stuck in the 18th century: it has been a while since we could discount the opinions of most of the population quite so easily.

In the context of the Edelman survey cum sales exercise on which the story is based I believe the headline should have read "Global survey shows business has regained stock holding public's trust".

YOUR PRESENT HEADLINE SEEMS TO COME DIRECTLY FROM AN ORWELLIAN BOOK. It shamelessly states what (money) and who (people with money), matters in today's world just deleting anybody else. This is a troubling vision which goes a long way towards explaining the rise of "populism" that you have been lamenting in recent columns.

too strong?

A pleasure

I therefore claim to show, not how men think in myths, but how myths operate in men's minds without their being aware of the fact. Levi-Strauss, Claude

by kcurie on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 06:23:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Update (none / 0)

YOUR PRESENT HEADLINE SEEMS TO COME DIRECTLY FROM AN ORWELLIAN BOOK. IT shamelessly STATES what (money) and who (people with money), matters in today's world WHILE DISREGARDING (OR DELETING) anybody else. This is a troubling vision which goes a long way towards explaining the rise of "populism" that you have been lamenting in recent columns.

I therefore claim to show, not how men think in myths, but how myths operate in men's minds without their being aware of the fact. Levi-Strauss, Claude

by kcurie on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 06:24:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Update (4.00 / 2)

I'd be willing to add it. I also had an idea for a last sentence:

It's not populism: it's well deserved outrage in the face of predatory selfishness.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 06:25:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Update (none / 0)

Again.. my only worry is that it may be too strong for them... :)

A pleasure

I therefore claim to show, not how men think in myths, but how myths operate in men's minds without their being aware of the fact. Levi-Strauss, Claude

by kcurie on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 06:26:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Update (4.00 / 2)

I prefer yours. The Orwellian thing triggers some analogue to Godwin's Law and won't help credibility, true though it is.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 06:27:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Update (none / 0)

If it may sound too strong... forget about it.

A pleasure

I therefore claim to show, not how men think in myths, but how myths operate in men's minds without their being aware of the fact. Levi-Strauss, Claude

by kcurie on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 06:37:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Update (none / 0)

To me, "Orwellianism" refers to manifestations of totalitarianism, specifically. You can have runaway capitalism without totalitarianism.

Furthermore, the reference to the 17th century is perfectly accurate. These people aren't saying 2 + 2 = 5, as the Bushies often do: they have simply gone back to a much older social model.

A bomb, H bomb, Minuteman / The names get more attractive / The decisions are made by NATO / The press call it British opinion -- The Three Johns

by Alexander on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 09:01:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Update (4.00 / 2)

The Orwell reference is spot-on, but is used again and again by all sides of any given debate and has thus lost pertinence. Godwin's Law (2).

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 06:56:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Update (none / 0)

It doesn't help that Orwell's heart was on the other side.

The Hun is always either at your throat or at your feet. Winston Churchill

by r------ on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 07:26:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Update (none / 0)

:-D

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 12:43:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Update (none / 1)

I like this line too but like kcurie, fear it might be over the top for the cake-eaters at FT.

Assuming simple persuasion is the goal in this exercise of course (not my first instinct to be sure...)

The Hun is always either at your throat or at your feet. Winston Churchill

by r------ on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 07:21:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Update (none / 1)

It may be too late, but final sentence:

matter, not matters.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 06:31:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: LTE time, I think (none / 0)

First sentence:

Your 22/01/2007 story, "Global survey shows business has regained people's trust", repeatedly refers to "the people" or "the public", yet casually admits that it is based on a survey of "3,100 opinion leaders", also described as "top earners with an interest in politics and economics."

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 06:09:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Update 2 (none / 0)

Dear Sir,
Your story dated 22/1/07, "Global survey shows business has regained people's trust", repeatedly refers to "the people" or "the public", yet casually admits that it is based on a survey of "3,100 opinion leaders", also described as "top earners with an interest in politics and economics." When did "top earners" become a representative sample of "the people"?
My calendar says 2007, yours seems to be stuck in the 18th century: it has been a while since we could discount the opinions of most of the population quite so easily.
In the context of the Edelman survey cum sales exercise on which the story is based I believe the headline should have read "Global survey shows business has regained stock holding public's trust".
Such headlines - and what they shamelessly imply in terms of what (money) and who (people with money) matters in today's world - go a long way towards explaining the rise of "populism" that you have been lamenting in recent columns.

Colman, will you send it? Should we try a joint ET byline?

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 06:23:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Update 2 (none / 0)

You're the editor of European Tribune, right?

There's a byline.

For one or both of you.

Name(s)
then Editor, European Tribune.

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg

by ManfromMiddletown (manfrommiddletown at lycos dot com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 06:30:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Update 2 (none / 0)

That was my intention. That's what I've done before, and he can do the same. I'm just not sure Colman has sent them any letters before, so I was just offering my name in addition, to get an extra chance to get in.

As he started it, I'll let him choose.
(Off to lunch now)

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 06:32:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Update 2 (none / 0)

Do the joint byline, with afew's last correction below.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 06:38:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Update 2 (4.00 / 2)

Now sent as suggested.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 07:53:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

We the (top earning) people | 48 comments (48 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)