Untrammelled power; cause and effect.
“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority, still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority. There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it.”
Probably true, some of the 'corruption is of the petty kind; the Librarian or the post office manager; or the bank, or supermarket. You all know the type; bottom of the heap petty tyrants. The next size up is a different animal, same principal; but what of the 'real' deal? Those who are paid (handsomely) from the public purse and effectively answer to no man. Watch any session of Senate estimates and you can see where the absolute 'power' resides. Elected officials beg, plead, threaten and even rage; time after time for direct answers – but those politicians know they cannot/ dare not 'force' the issue. No, not my imagination – just watch and see. It is pathetic; and, the public keeps paying for it; more every year as the bureaucracy grows larger and ever more a law unto itself. About as far removed from the intended Westminster system as you can get; outside of Russia.
“It is what it is, and it ain't nothin' else”.
What is the limit of the aviation industry ability to not only 'afford' the current system, but to operationally tolerate the ever growing impositions generated? It stands as a fair question, deserving of answer. It is however a 'chicken and egg' question; the 'right' answers of course reside within the various tribes involved. Qantas would like to change many (many) things – Regional have their own ideas; GA a different wish list; and the 'authorities' have their Christmas list in the sock, by the fireplace. It is not all 'conflict' particularly in the 'basics' area; and if matters aeronautical could be boiled down to 'first principals' then the need for vast volumes of 'regulation' could be reduced. Great idea, in principal, in a perfect world.
“Perfect solutions of our difficulties are not to be looked for in an imperfect world.”
If – big one (huge) the sole agenda was 'safe, efficient, cost effective transport, by air, from A to B then much could be resolved. But it ain't – is it. No by a long march it ain't. Identifying the problem is simple enough; solution presents manifold difficulties. One of which is 'responsibility'. A simplistic approach simply won't work. It all depends on “where the buck stops”; or Who's to bless and who's to blame.
Governments realised early in the piece that the aviation industry needed to be 'regulated' they also realised that there was a dollar or two to be made from it, and, that whether responsible or not, the populace would demand they 'do' something about the risks and the body count. The wise could see that aviation was going to be a 'big thing' as it grew up and matured. So, they set about writing some rules – that done, they needed someone to enforce those rules. Fair enough – a body was created to articulate those rules; great idea, in principal at least. However; (there's always a however). Let's just call them the Aviation Authority – AA for short. They set about writing a rule book and making sure those 'rules' are complied with; it evolves into the issuing of 'operational' and maintenance standards, public safety and etc. All fine and dandy until there is an event – crash, burn, bodies and angry relatives. Not 'us' say the politicians as they point to the designated 'Authority'. The 'authority' in turn looks to the operator; who in turn looks to the operational staff; and so it goes. Across that wide spectrum; the instinct for preserving ones rice bowl becomes an imperative.
“Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his vulnerable spots.”
And so, the battle lines are drawn; industry wants ABC; department wants A+a: B+b: and C+c. Government steps away and look concerned. The 'authority' is their very own Frankenstein and they must defend it; or admit failure: so, more money is poured in, more regulation generated and the gravy train just keeps rollin' along – at public expense. The easiest target is the industry itself,. Why, well they have shed loads of money invested and regulatory compliance costs even more; which discourages investors. History clearly defines the escalation of covert hostilities.
“Its mistakes are buried, not headlined. Its dissenters are silenced, not praised. No expenditure is questioned, no rumour is printed, no secret is revealed.” (JFK)..
Well, that's my version of the mess; there probably is a solution but it will take a lot more than my wooden head can provide. Perhaps 'Good Will' and a genuine resolution to make the game balanced; give a little to get a little? Oh, I don't know, but somewhere, somehow a balance needs to found.
“We despise and abhor the bully, the brawler, the oppressor, whether in private or public life, but we despise no less the coward and the voluptuary. No man is worth calling a man who will not fight rather than submit to infamy or see those that are dear to him suffer wrong.”
Is there a global problem? I believe there is; but resolution will take many of the proverbial 'good men and true' to find the balance, much needed to break the spiral trajectory we are stuck in. Fate ain't the hunter here; fear rules. Courage, and shuffle the cards may be a solution. Don't know, probably just too many coffee's this morning methinks.
Selah.-.
P7 - PS. -HERE -
“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority, still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority. There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it.”
Probably true, some of the 'corruption is of the petty kind; the Librarian or the post office manager; or the bank, or supermarket. You all know the type; bottom of the heap petty tyrants. The next size up is a different animal, same principal; but what of the 'real' deal? Those who are paid (handsomely) from the public purse and effectively answer to no man. Watch any session of Senate estimates and you can see where the absolute 'power' resides. Elected officials beg, plead, threaten and even rage; time after time for direct answers – but those politicians know they cannot/ dare not 'force' the issue. No, not my imagination – just watch and see. It is pathetic; and, the public keeps paying for it; more every year as the bureaucracy grows larger and ever more a law unto itself. About as far removed from the intended Westminster system as you can get; outside of Russia.
“It is what it is, and it ain't nothin' else”.
What is the limit of the aviation industry ability to not only 'afford' the current system, but to operationally tolerate the ever growing impositions generated? It stands as a fair question, deserving of answer. It is however a 'chicken and egg' question; the 'right' answers of course reside within the various tribes involved. Qantas would like to change many (many) things – Regional have their own ideas; GA a different wish list; and the 'authorities' have their Christmas list in the sock, by the fireplace. It is not all 'conflict' particularly in the 'basics' area; and if matters aeronautical could be boiled down to 'first principals' then the need for vast volumes of 'regulation' could be reduced. Great idea, in principal, in a perfect world.
“Perfect solutions of our difficulties are not to be looked for in an imperfect world.”
If – big one (huge) the sole agenda was 'safe, efficient, cost effective transport, by air, from A to B then much could be resolved. But it ain't – is it. No by a long march it ain't. Identifying the problem is simple enough; solution presents manifold difficulties. One of which is 'responsibility'. A simplistic approach simply won't work. It all depends on “where the buck stops”; or Who's to bless and who's to blame.
Governments realised early in the piece that the aviation industry needed to be 'regulated' they also realised that there was a dollar or two to be made from it, and, that whether responsible or not, the populace would demand they 'do' something about the risks and the body count. The wise could see that aviation was going to be a 'big thing' as it grew up and matured. So, they set about writing some rules – that done, they needed someone to enforce those rules. Fair enough – a body was created to articulate those rules; great idea, in principal at least. However; (there's always a however). Let's just call them the Aviation Authority – AA for short. They set about writing a rule book and making sure those 'rules' are complied with; it evolves into the issuing of 'operational' and maintenance standards, public safety and etc. All fine and dandy until there is an event – crash, burn, bodies and angry relatives. Not 'us' say the politicians as they point to the designated 'Authority'. The 'authority' in turn looks to the operator; who in turn looks to the operational staff; and so it goes. Across that wide spectrum; the instinct for preserving ones rice bowl becomes an imperative.
“Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his vulnerable spots.”
And so, the battle lines are drawn; industry wants ABC; department wants A+a: B+b: and C+c. Government steps away and look concerned. The 'authority' is their very own Frankenstein and they must defend it; or admit failure: so, more money is poured in, more regulation generated and the gravy train just keeps rollin' along – at public expense. The easiest target is the industry itself,. Why, well they have shed loads of money invested and regulatory compliance costs even more; which discourages investors. History clearly defines the escalation of covert hostilities.
“Its mistakes are buried, not headlined. Its dissenters are silenced, not praised. No expenditure is questioned, no rumour is printed, no secret is revealed.” (JFK)..
Well, that's my version of the mess; there probably is a solution but it will take a lot more than my wooden head can provide. Perhaps 'Good Will' and a genuine resolution to make the game balanced; give a little to get a little? Oh, I don't know, but somewhere, somehow a balance needs to found.
“We despise and abhor the bully, the brawler, the oppressor, whether in private or public life, but we despise no less the coward and the voluptuary. No man is worth calling a man who will not fight rather than submit to infamy or see those that are dear to him suffer wrong.”
Is there a global problem? I believe there is; but resolution will take many of the proverbial 'good men and true' to find the balance, much needed to break the spiral trajectory we are stuck in. Fate ain't the hunter here; fear rules. Courage, and shuffle the cards may be a solution. Don't know, probably just too many coffee's this morning methinks.
Selah.-.
P7 - PS. -HERE -