Trough city – here I come.
Sandy – “Ziggy has identified the nub of the problem.”
I’d say just about everyone in the industry has ‘identified’ the problem; this is not a new notion and the country has been falling over it, too lazy to shift it for a quite a while now.
Sandy – “The model of governance by a so called independent corporation is a failed model.”
But, is it ‘failed’? As far as politicians are concerned it is a resounding success; look at it from DDDD’s and his ‘party’s point of view:-
Chester is almost ‘the’ perfect example of why the system has been so popular with politicians, for so long. Now then , to avoid any bother we’ll invent a ‘suitable’ candidate for our working example: lets call him Mr. Nice Guy – (NG) for short. This fellah has all the charm and charisma needed to woo the local ladies WVS, the church knitting circle and a couple of car yard owners with money, but wanting more, throw in a couple of local council layabouts and a shady business connection and – we have a candidate. The women go home and nag the menfolk – singing NG’s praises, the ‘cronies’ all get behind the push and; come election time, we have a member – who is obliged and knows he’s obliged. So, he must retain that popularity and look like keeping his promises, those which got him elected. He must now sing for his supper (and super).
Well, through various, nefarious alliances, our hero ends up a minister. Qualifications – zero; experience – zero; ideas – zero. But there he sits – minister of NFI with only one real ambition – retain his seat; his party also want this to maintain their margin. So, our hapless hero needs help. No is problem. Enter the highly paid ‘departmental experts’ to advise, foster and promote NG. All he has to do is keep the smiling photographs pouring through to the electorate – in various poses, from the ‘Statesman’ look, to the ‘wind-swept and interesting; and always look ‘busy’. There is nothing else to worry or care about and most definitely, no thinking allowed: in fact, this is actively discouraged.
It’s when the wheel comes off the wagon that real benefits of the ‘ministerial minder system’ shines through. “ I was badly advised, my highly paid experts, best in the world stuffed it up”. “But don’t worry folks; we have had an inquiry and the perceived problems of probable conflicted interests have been remedied, by me; your candidate for re-elections. Big smile, selfie, toss of the golden mane and it’s back on the horse, no damage done to the candidate, or the party.
Mate, that system is worth every penny of our money shameless, feckless, self interested government pours into it. The fact that the country is going to the dogs just don’t signify – so long as there is no real responsibility for stewardship of the nations well being and a plethora of sacrificial lambs; our hero, NG can sit back, relax and count his benefits – provided the knitting circles and the MKR crowd still ‘love’ him. Lets face it, that is his real job, to keep his seat for the benefit of his party – nothing else is worthy of consideration – and anyway the team is always on hand to provided the words and answers; if only NG remembers his lines – all is well.
Reporter – “Have you any comment to make on the Casey situation minister?
NG – “oh, is that the poor women hurt in a minor aircraft accident?
Reporter – “Yes minister, that’s the one.
NG – “So sad about that, my experts at CASA and the ATSB assure me that all is well and, the results of my inquiry into the incident will be available sometime within the next 24 months. It is a difficult task for them, as you may know, they are investigating themselves”. “Thankyou – next”. Big smile, a wave for the drooling masses. {Thinks} - big decision pending – fish of steak for lunch and the blonde or the red-head for dessert; Hmm, life’s tough.
Duck protest, where do I sign up.
Sandy – “Ziggy has identified the nub of the problem.”
I’d say just about everyone in the industry has ‘identified’ the problem; this is not a new notion and the country has been falling over it, too lazy to shift it for a quite a while now.
Sandy – “The model of governance by a so called independent corporation is a failed model.”
But, is it ‘failed’? As far as politicians are concerned it is a resounding success; look at it from DDDD’s and his ‘party’s point of view:-
Chester is almost ‘the’ perfect example of why the system has been so popular with politicians, for so long. Now then , to avoid any bother we’ll invent a ‘suitable’ candidate for our working example: lets call him Mr. Nice Guy – (NG) for short. This fellah has all the charm and charisma needed to woo the local ladies WVS, the church knitting circle and a couple of car yard owners with money, but wanting more, throw in a couple of local council layabouts and a shady business connection and – we have a candidate. The women go home and nag the menfolk – singing NG’s praises, the ‘cronies’ all get behind the push and; come election time, we have a member – who is obliged and knows he’s obliged. So, he must retain that popularity and look like keeping his promises, those which got him elected. He must now sing for his supper (and super).
Well, through various, nefarious alliances, our hero ends up a minister. Qualifications – zero; experience – zero; ideas – zero. But there he sits – minister of NFI with only one real ambition – retain his seat; his party also want this to maintain their margin. So, our hapless hero needs help. No is problem. Enter the highly paid ‘departmental experts’ to advise, foster and promote NG. All he has to do is keep the smiling photographs pouring through to the electorate – in various poses, from the ‘Statesman’ look, to the ‘wind-swept and interesting; and always look ‘busy’. There is nothing else to worry or care about and most definitely, no thinking allowed: in fact, this is actively discouraged.
It’s when the wheel comes off the wagon that real benefits of the ‘ministerial minder system’ shines through. “ I was badly advised, my highly paid experts, best in the world stuffed it up”. “But don’t worry folks; we have had an inquiry and the perceived problems of probable conflicted interests have been remedied, by me; your candidate for re-elections. Big smile, selfie, toss of the golden mane and it’s back on the horse, no damage done to the candidate, or the party.
Mate, that system is worth every penny of our money shameless, feckless, self interested government pours into it. The fact that the country is going to the dogs just don’t signify – so long as there is no real responsibility for stewardship of the nations well being and a plethora of sacrificial lambs; our hero, NG can sit back, relax and count his benefits – provided the knitting circles and the MKR crowd still ‘love’ him. Lets face it, that is his real job, to keep his seat for the benefit of his party – nothing else is worthy of consideration – and anyway the team is always on hand to provided the words and answers; if only NG remembers his lines – all is well.
Reporter – “Have you any comment to make on the Casey situation minister?
NG – “oh, is that the poor women hurt in a minor aircraft accident?
Reporter – “Yes minister, that’s the one.
NG – “So sad about that, my experts at CASA and the ATSB assure me that all is well and, the results of my inquiry into the incident will be available sometime within the next 24 months. It is a difficult task for them, as you may know, they are investigating themselves”. “Thankyou – next”. Big smile, a wave for the drooling masses. {Thinks} - big decision pending – fish of steak for lunch and the blonde or the red-head for dessert; Hmm, life’s tough.
Duck protest, where do I sign up.