*The Debatewise Blog
PBR - Pretty Big Ruse?…Palatable Break from Routine.
The pre-budget report was a pretty big event this year. Less 'pre-budget' and more 'emergency-budget'. Most of the announcements were leaked well before the scheduled time of the speech to the commons.This was good news for Debatewise though. We managed to get five whole budget-related debates up before the event, and two during. We were also linked to from LabourHome and mentioned on Sky News. This did very good things for our viewing figures and I'm proud that the site has such a comprehensive analysis of the PBR.
It was really exciting to be at the forefront of something like this as it was happening. Granted it was no presidential election, and there weren't crowds transfixed around screens in branches of Dixons, yet there was a certain sense that something was happening, and that we were a part of it. Sitting in a coffee shop in Liverpool Street with City workers, watching the subtitled screen and monitoring my laptop was a nice break from the office and yet a good dose of the real world at the same time. We definitely need to maintain a balance between philosophical debates, and the discussion of issues that actually affect us on a daily basis.
It made me realise what an interesting creature the blogosphere is as well - what with live feeds, trackbacks, and auto-refresh it felt more than ever as if the internet was teeming with huge crowds of newshungry, and opinionated individuals. Which of course it is. And it was nice to be reminded of the contribution we can make to society through such a fascinating medium...whilst sipping a latte.
If anyone had told me a few months ago I'd be enjoying watching a budget announcement like this I would have almost certainly have told them to stop drinking. However I really have found it interesting. And, regardless of whether the report itself was a good thing I am optimistic about the future, and more specifically the future of communication. Events can be relayed across the globe in a matter of seconds, and more importantly, so can opinions. Politicians have been talking for years about the potential of global discussions and multi-lateral talks between leaders, but it is already happening on a grass roots level. The internet is a powerful thing. So is a simple debate. Alastair Darling may not be able to work out 2 + 2 but we certainly can...