With its equivalent to 7 spoons of sugar a standard can of Coke should only
be used for the treatment of hypoglycaemia in type 1 diabetics because for
everyone else it has to be judged as a slowly accumulating poison. I agree
that it is a disgrace that get-yer-fat-capitalists have got the Olympics by
the niags.
Last night on Newsnight a limp spokesman for the get-yer-fat capitalists
claimed that it was OK to restrict any advertising using the words London,
2012, Olympic, games - and others. He argued this on the basis that
the companies who have paid millions in sponsorship must have their stake
protected from those who had not paid.
In other words a local caf for example can not advertise affordable
English breakfasts during the games.
I thought that the London ratepayer had a considerable stake in the Olympics
and that he will continue to pay for it for many years to come. As a London
ratepayer and as a manager of a Newham business that pays rates, I dispute
the legality of the sudden Chinese style ban on certain words as a flagrant
violation of our liberties.
There are those who do not want to hear criticism of the Olympics. Well, on
the ground the word is that it is going to cause considerable inconvenience
to those who will not have any involvement in it at all. Children have
already had their school term cut short by two weeks this is inconvenience
and a price can be put on that. Surely these real costs should be taken
into account when considering who the stake holders are.
Best wishes,
John McNeill