“Have listened to many of these now and it usually goes like this:-
1) Anticipation as the latest topic is one I consider interesting and important;
2) Early promise as some major issues identified, including contrasting views; but then
3) Glib recommendations that ignore much of what was in 2); and then
4) Frustration
The underlying problem, as I see it, is that the essence of the programme is to provide advocates with a platform to promote their views on complex and contentious topics. They already ‘know’ what the ‘right’ solutions are and have little interest in acknowledging they may not work because of familiar objections from the ‘other side’.
I am reminded of Hayek’s observation on the Curious Task (‘of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design’).
But I guess this does not make satisfying entertainment for most of the target market.
I am struck by how positive most of the other reviews are - in contrast to mine. Maybe people write them after hearing conclusions they like. I see that one earlier review described this programme as ‘the BBC at its best’. Maybe people are used to other output so poor that this is as good as they can expect.”
WuZetianII via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
10/24/19