Delusion, Illusion or Quandary?

Delusion, Illusion or Quandary? – AP Forum version.

If you have the time to spare and an interest in ‘magic’ or ‘illusion’ an article by Robertson – on the life and times of ‘The Great Lafayette’ is worth a coffee. The article speaks of a forgotten time when the masters of illusion were household names and people flocked to witness the ‘illusion’. Half the fascination was probably to do with trying to work how the illusion was managed. Folks knew they were being tricked, the eye deceived and the mind baffled – but, nevertheless, they were fascinated by it all.

Which is terrific – as a form of entertainment; but I doubt few were seriously deluded into believing it was all very real. So the illusion became a quandary, subject of dinner party discussion, providing endless scope for discussion and theorising, across a wide range of topics. But there was no delusion.

Delusion is a whole different animal – “an idiosyncratic belief or impression maintained despite being contradicted by reality or rational argument, typically as a symptom of mental disorder.”

These diametrically opposed notions are the nub of the dilemma Barnaby Joyce must now deal with. One could, in a better world, understand the need for presenting the tax paying public with the ‘illusion’ that all was well within the aviation business sector. Bit of smoke, cleverly placed mirrors, dramatic background, beautiful assistants and a star performer working his ‘magic’ to the Ooh’s and Ah’s of the paying audience. Illusions can be fun and are, essentially, harmless. However “Delusions, carefully implanted, are difficult to correct.” (Dr. N. Houston).

It is when the ‘magician’ begins to believe that magical power has been granted that the delusion begins. The thing reaches a critical mass when the public become as deluded. As matters aeronautical stand, both public and parliament are becoming IMO deluded. Now, before the torches and pitchforks emerge, take any piece of the last weeks jig-saw puzzle and join it with any other piece of your choosing. It does not take very long or much effort to see an ugly picture emerging; which, decries the illusion that all is well – it ain’t.

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so; and, has been so for quite a while.” – Twain. There is a ‘nutshell’ version – HERE – from an astute, qualified observer.

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“If I had a formula for bypassing trouble, I wouldn’t pass it around. Wouldn’t be doing anybody a favor. Trouble creates a capacity to handle it. I don’t say embrace trouble. That’s as bad as treating it as an enemy. But I do say, meet it as a friend, for you’ll see a lot of it and had better be on speaking terms with it.” 

― Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

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‘Trouble’ for the new minister comes in several ‘interesting’ areas; several of which are being nibbled at by the Senate committee. I may add that to involve a Senate committee in these matters is not done lightly, and when a truly bipartisan, united committee is affronted, then it’s a fair bet that trouble, with a capital ‘T’ is not too far away; if it has not already arrived, in the form of a ‘restructure’.

For your consideration this week :-

The endless catch up battles of the Drone Wars. The ongoing illusion that the second Pel-Air report was ‘fair-dinkum’.The truly horrendous cost of trying to run a flight school operation and the major loss of taxable revenue as a side product. Then, with a thumbnail dipped in the proverbial tar – one of the many serious matters relating to the way CASA likes to do business with the aviation community – it is a ‘small’ story, but it illustrates why there is much lip service and dogged ‘compliance’ to the often risible edicts of CASA field officers.

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“If it is necessary sometimes to lie to others, it is always despicable to lie to oneself.” ― W. Somerset Maugham, The Painted Veil

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After the Christmas holidays we will have yet another new minister for transport. Much will depend on whether he accepts delusion as the norm or prefers to explore the illusion and work out exactly how he and the audience have been cleverly deceived. We shall, I expect, see the result in time.

Well – I can hear the picnic table groaning under the weight of lunch being laid out for the multitude which will arrive shortly. A last look about the stable confirms that all is as clean and tidy as a workshop can be, the mice are fed and all is quiet; I shall lock the door to keep sticky little fingers away from surgically sharp tools – and off my keyboard. No need to look for the dogs, they know exactly where to park when there is a picnic. DT wants the BBQ fired up – best crack on.

Selah