If we are to keep the Licence Fee, then it is time to emancipate those who are to forced to pay. At present, whether the BBC is good or bad, no Licence-Fee payer has any genuine say-so about programming, no genuine right of consultation about BBC operations and no right to question the level of the Licence Fee. Of course there are always the sham consultations (in which most things are decided in advance), votes in Parliament about the Licence Fee and an ability to complain by telephone, email etc etc etc.
But none of this amounts to very much in reality. If the BBC chooses to over pay its presenters, do we have any real say? If the BBC is biased, do we have any real right of address? If we feel that the BBC need not own travel guides or even local radio stations, do we have any real chance of stopping it? If we feel the Licence Fee is too high, can we get it reduced? Of course not. The BBC has a monopoly not just over broadcasting, but has put a straitjacket over every Licence Fee payer in the land. Just a little wriggle room, but no real movement.
So how do we change this? Well, if Licence Payers were born free, but are everywhere in chains, it's time to break the chains. Every Licence Fee Payer should be given a pin number and be allowed to vote - via the Internet - annually on the BBC’s performance. Questions could include the quality of programmes, the level of BBC Operational activity (i.e what they should run and not run), salaries, and judgements on the behaviour and standards of BBC programmes. There are various options as to how this could be done. For those who want to ensure Parliamentary input, the questions could be decided by an independent Committee of MPs and Peers, to be ratified by the respective Chambers. For those who think it should be, entirely in the hands of Citizens, questions could be set by Licence Fee Payers and there would be a vote on the questions. Every five years, there could be a vote as to whether to retain the Licence Fee, retain part of the Licence Fee (and mix it with advertising), abolish the Licence Fee and have full advertising, or abolish the Licence Fee and have voluntary subscription.
BBC management like to justify their actions by stating that everything occurs is because of the wishes of its viewers – or even ‘stake holders’. If this is really true lets make that a reality by letting hard-pressed Licence Fee payers have a genuine stake in what goes on. Television viewers will not tolerate just being ‘subjects’ of the BBC’s Feudal Monarchy for much longer. It's time to give us the vote. Licence Fee payers of Britain unite!
