Trouble is, a nodding dog on a parcel shelf doesn't get much done, no matter how much you might nod along too.
The blameless society
Daily Mail - NEW - Bonuses in the public sector are nothing less than rewards for failure
The Editors' blog is moving
11 years ago
7 comments:
This was my Oh-yesh moment of the day:
Barack, the Saviour
Ouch...
Welcome to the dark(er) side. I think you are my first poster here.
Hope my correcting a rather key typo in the main text doesn't affect things (too much).
I was just trying to say I agreed with the sentiments expressed by those folk/views expressed (Mr. Meacher - or rather, I suspect, a very active researcher - is a 'Friend of Junkk' on FaceBook), but getting rather cyncical/frustrated at what effect they, and I by association (and any value my agreeing I might have) by shaking our heads in these ways.
The machine seems to roll on, regardless. And democratic process is looking all too shaky.
On Senator Obama, I am keeping my counsel for now, but as one of two vying to become the most powerful man on the planet, with fingers in many pies, not to mention on a few buttons, I would be silly not to take more than a passing interest.
I am to a degree wondering if bolts have not been shot a tad early, whilst the coverage in some areas, if I may deem them (without naming names) 'the usual suspects', might yet not serve the aims of the campaign where it most matters.
I am minded of how well the Guardian telling some US counties how to vote played.
Closer to home it has worked so well in London, Crewe and Nantwich, Eire, Glasgow East, etc, as has certain parties and their supporters blaming poor results on everything from lack of voter brains in understanding 'key issues' to 'overseas factors'.
I have a feeling many do understand quite a lot, and having those who are in charge and their glee clubs telling us/them they know better might be wearing ever so thin across the board.
Shame that when it comes to my turn I might well know what I don't want, but am struggling to find anyone espousing what I do to get my proxy.
Maybe a key factor in the US, but I need a bit more substance than 'change' in a speech after a free pop concert to hand over my mandate.
At the moment NOTA (none of the above) is looking a shoo in, though it is no way to run a country... or democratic system.
Erm, a couple of things:
Typo correction: good. I thought that's what you meant but it's much clearer now. Having spent my last 7 years as a public sector auditor, these kind of articles are a welcome sight for some very sore eyes. I have come to the conclusion that the upper echelons of Western 'democracies' are going back to corruption/collusion/ignorance levels similar to 18th century/South Sea bubble. This coincides with an era where large groups of people are increasingly unwilling to take responsibility for what happens around/to them (I'm thinking particularly of obesity, roaming youths, knife crime etc). It makes for an explosive mixture...
My link to Times article: I'm quite sarcastic and, at times a bit too, cynical by nature. I'm not sure how to interpret your response, whether you thought the link was inappropriate. I liked the article because it took a relatively ironic look at the whole Obama show which I find mind-boggling. Some (though unfortunately nowhere near enough) of the German and French media have been quite sarcastic about the Berliner theatre - often disguising there displeasure with more or less humoristic satires/caricatures; open criticism in the media, it seems, is difficult to come by.
Anyway, nuff said for the day. Have nice weekend.
One of my biggest bugbears are the rewards of power (and hence responsibility) without, any more, having the checks and penalties of accountability.
In my longest professional stint, advertising, it was (and I suspect still is) rather too far the other way.
However the pendulum has swung waaaay too far the other way, especially in some areas where being hauled up at least financially career wise, if not career full stop, would seem a sensible notion for many, especially drawing down the public purse, to have back of mind.
I am still trying to get my head around the concept of bonus payments to any public servant, unless on a very clear set of performance based parameters where added value is proven. As to some of our quango boards, well, getting extra money for meeting targets by directing public funds to meeting them (often at the expense of other, more worthy projects), seems at least a conflict of interest if not worse.
So how a woman who presided over sick aged being left in their own waste not only didn't end up in the nick but still I think arguing over her pay off is well, wrong.
Sarcasm and cynicism are often not exactly lauded, or appreciated, and possibly with reason. Especially when in the written word tonality can be lost that can turn something almost 180 degrees.
I loved the link. Humour to me is the best salve to a crazy world and often an effective pin to prick some pompous bubbles. Which is why I despair of the fun-free zone that is NN. Their editors' meetings must be a barrel of laughs.
El Burro Hotay is where I blow off steam on topics that are really not suitable on Junkk Male RE:view, which turn is the edgy side of the environmental positive force that is the main site.
So anything goes, so long as a few obvious rules are followed. Even if we may end up disagreeing... feel free to share.
What you say is too true, and even here I am trying to adopt a non-partisan line as if I were an actual serious medium trying to 'hew close to the line, and let the chisp fall where they may'.
I don't know enough about Senator Obama to really form a view as yet, but I have to say that he already is, rather unfairly and unreasonably, tarnished already for me by some of the spinning by his 'people' that I am seeing, a distinct lack of anything to pin down (like most others are any better) and, most tellingly, by the gush from certain quarters that damn him almost by their endorsement.
When he arrived, his plane has the kind of trite tripe written on it I have sent junior copywriters to the naughty corner for even suggesting. Yet some BBC hackette (not even with the mitigation of being nice to look at) solmenly intoned that this was the message of hope he brought to all right thinking folk.
She cropped up at No 10 later, and I was unsure if she had in fact spread rose petals for him to walk on first.
No quite the objective news reporting I want from my national broadcaster, frankly. In agenda or volume.
So I guess I am going to give him some time to show what he is made of, but if the world media don't give me an objective, equal view of McCain at the same time, then I am afraid I will tend to react in the same way as whatsit county did with the likes of Polly T telling 'em how to vote... and then telling them off for not being smart enough to vote the 'right' way.
So far the weekend has been glorious. Made a bike shed from Junkk for 2s 6d and spent all day in the garden with the kids after a lovely BBQ. Who needs to travel? I wish you the same.
More on accountability, German media is rife with the fall-out from the Siemens corruption scandal (graft exceeding a billion euros):
Siemens to sue former top-executives
Former Manager Convicted of Corruption
Siemens Scandal Will Keep the Legal System Busy
PS: nice exchange with Barrie on NN this morning btw :)
Hmn, Siemens. They of the offshore wind farms which we are to be ringed with (and sponsors of a rather one-sided 'special' on the topic in the Sunday Times not too long ago). Ta for the links.
Lovely picture of one defendant; looks a sweetie.
Ta for the NN note; I think he lives on the site but I actually rate Barrie quite highly most posts, so making him laugh was a warm moment. He once went to my site (when links existed - kudos to you for foxing all of them with your skills), but professed the reg/T&C requirement beneath him... and then wrote to tell me so.
I still await (with interest, anticipation... and a copy of War & Peace... a clarification of what was actually meant vs. written. Maybe I'll never know.
Nothing yet, well, officially, on Mr. Barron leaving Newsnight, either. I know: I should Google the story!
Guardian - Newsnight editor Peter Barron to join Google in communications role
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jul/28/bbc.television
Post a Comment