How would you like to run a business where gross revenues were absolutely guaranteed regardless of the quality and quantity of output? Now imagine that as the head honcho you can make cuts in staffing so that you can redirect funds into your own financial remuneration package. And I'm not talking about an 11% pay raise that would finally allow you to feel confident about paying for all of life's little necessities like room, board and bus fare. I'm talking about a pay raise equal to 3 times the gross national per capita income of the US or 110 times that of Ethiopia.

In plain English, we're talking about a total salary and perks package worth about $1,140,000.00 per annum. Not totally unreasonable for someone who, in addition to all his or her regular arduous executive responsibilities, also had the difficult task of having to delegate the handing out of pink—slips to about 3,000 underlings [read: working stiffs]. But before you break out the pity—party decorations for either the guilt ridden exec or the 3,000 occupationally challenged ex—employees, take hart — I'm talking about the BBC in the UK. The UK where even angry, unemployable Islamofacists get to suckle from the generous British social welfare teat.
 
If all this sounds more like the imaginings of an anti—Beeb British or American conservative than the truth, read on.

Joe Crowley  7 9 06