Listen Live: Has America lost its moral authority?

John

So it's the usual suspects, the mealy-mouthed Self and Parris. The question itself is meaningless, answering it would be impossible even it weren't, and only total anoraks would listen to those smug, holier than thou losers.

Sugar Free

Will this be available as a podcast? I wasn't able to listen live, but would certainly like to hear what was said.

Austin Barry

Silly question-begging question, and the word "moral" causes intellectual onanists like Self and Parris to work themselves into a frenzy of self-righteous indignation. I'm glad I missed it, if only to placate my blood pressure.

salieri

Pity you missed it, AB. The indignation was rather enjoyable - with real passion on both sides - and not at all self-righteous, and I suspect that Parris could have spoken equally well on the other side if asked. Of course you're right that the question rather stupidly begged itself, since it allowed the speakers quite properly to wonder what "moral authority" the USA had ever had in the first place. That didn't make them 'holier than thou', and indeed that was the proponents' whole point.

Your BP might however have been soothed by an intelligent debate conducted (except for Will Self) in beautiful English. It's not often we hear that; it should have been compulsory listening for the vast majority of MPs who simply have no idea how to construct a rational, intelligent, witty and cogent argument. Whether one ultimately agreed or not was quite beside the point.

So you deliberately didn't listen, John, in case you were forced to test your opinions? Who is the anorak now?

Michael Sweeney

I was trying to listen while watching the Man Utd v Barcelona match. I was amazed all these clever folks down in London (especially the Manc Jocobson) hadn't cottoned onto the fact there was something much more meaningful and exciting going on 200 miles North of them. Maybe they're not as clever as they think!

Verity

Who are any of the panel to judge "moral authority"?

Second,the debate was confined to non-Americans, none of whom can speak with any depth of knowledge about the American psyhche, no matter how many transAtlantic flights they've taken.

I didn't hear it,but would be astonished if envy and resentment that America is now the world leader and, somehow, doesn't know how to do it, did not feature large. Not like we ran things when we were the boss. They are so young and crude! (America is now one of the oldest countries in the world, btw, and doesn't really need the assistance of Will Self & Cie to study its own best interests.)

Simon

salieri - Why do you think Will Self's contribution was in less "beautiful English" than the other contributors. I'm not a particular fan of his but I found his contribution very eloquent.

Simon

Verity... obviously you didn't hear it.