Two more nails in the coffin of telephone voting

Keen students of Eurovision over the last few years have watched aghast as the effects of telephone voting have skewed the contest scoreboard more and more with each passing year. It all seemed such a great idea when it was introduced a decade ago...... ah, "democracy" , "power to the people", and all that. Right now it looks anything but democratic, and this week British television viewers have seen two prime examples of how it's all gone so wrong.

First of all dodgy soap actor Matt Di Angelo totally fluffs both dances on Strictly Come Dancing and is promptly rewarded by top place in the public vote, thus fast tracking him to the next round. Then to top it all by far the outstanding candidate on X Factor, Rhydian Roberts gets pipped by a caterwauling Scottish midget who wouldn't know a tune if he fell over it.

This is democracy...... or rather it isn't. The last time I checked that meant one person one vote. Not one person spending a small fortune voting over and over again for the same candidate. The TV companies, like the Eurovision organisers, lap it up as they rake in the cash from the calls. They end up with useless winners who clearly aren't the best, but what to they care. I suppose at least at ESC we should be happy we're spared the preening "expert panel", but on the other hand we DO have the likes of Armenia sending SIM cards to expats imploring them to vote for the homeland. Does televoting have any credibility left to lose?

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