BUCK THOR EMBERG
This erosion of trust has been more like a soft rain of concern in an outback desert than a flood of anger down a mountainside. I have almost joined the ranks of those who say, “So what, there is nothing I can do.” This is what makes me sad today.
The Growing Sadness of our Political Process
IN MY many decades of experience it has been one of life’s great pleasures to be intimately involved in the political process where ever I have lived. I have been able to count many successful politicians as personal friends. Their best attributes were always that they were trustworthy. No longer does that seem to be the case. As soon as I say this I think of the many politicians who struggle to be the best they can in a system that has slowly been removed from the people’s control.
This erosion of trust has been more like a soft rain of concern in an outback desert than a flood of anger down a mountainside. I have almost joined the ranks of those who say, “So what, there is nothing I can do.” This is what makes me sad today.
I write letters of concern to local, state and federal members. For the most part there are no real answers, only the terse, “The minister/member thanks you for your letter… and he refers you to rule forty-seven section 3, paragraph 9.” Or my favourite, “The minister is on holiday/overseas and will deal with your letter when he/she comes back.” He/she must be on a perpetual holiday as they are seldom answered.
Upon complaining about responses, the usual, “You have no idea how many letters we receive. We cannot answer them all.” I do know how many you receive. I am not stupid. Form letters, Yes. Personal letters No.
From being an optimistic and fully engaged democrat, I find myself to have become a somewhat nilhilistic citizen who now says, “A plague on all their houses.” I still hold a few pollies on a now smaller pedestal and maybe they can break through this stone wall of party politics.
And the Attorney General of Tasmania tells us that the new transparency and ethics law will be examined and “carefully funded”. These last two words are probably code for, “Watered down”; of course, in the name of economics.
I am really sorry but I do not trust most of our leaders anymore. Sad.
Buck Thor Emberg
Dave Groves
August 2, 2009 at 09:18
Buck the system is set up for those who are entrenched in what it offers.
Try to break into this system and change the way things are done and wall after wall of rules and regulation are set strategically to block your way.
Rules are in place to maintain the status quo and to keep “the club†functioning as those so distant from the community they are paid to represent would like.
Politics has about as much to do with community as dragging a cable through rainforest has to do with preserving the environment.
If you would like to see how it really works, there was a English television series called “Yes Minister†and later as the greasy pole was scaled “Yes Prime Ministerâ€, which reflect with uncanny accuracy how our system “worksâ€.
If only the series was still alive we may have had a sneek peek into the future?
The show is still rolling…..
Dave Wallace
August 2, 2009 at 16:55
I fully agree with the comments and sentiments of the two erudite writers.
Sadly, the actions of many politicians are perceived as ‘strengths’ in the mediocrity which passes for ‘success’ these days.
With regard to their wanting you to understand how many letters they receive, one wonders why people feel the need to write soooooooo many letters to their ‘local representative’.
For those devotees with broadband, try linking to the BBC 7 site
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio7/programmes/schedules
Click on Thursday Programmes 12 noon for the radio version to show that Sir Humphrey is very much alive and kicking. The only difference being that it was written as a comedy entertainment … not a way of life.
Geraldine Allan
August 2, 2009 at 18:06
Buck, when you say “I am really sorry but I do not trust most of our leaders anymore. Sad” — I hope you are not apologising to your fellow Tasmanians for your inability to have faith and confidence in the ‘Directors’ of Tasmania.
I’ll take it that your comment is an expression of your regret that you find yourself in a position of being unable to — “trust most of our leaders”.
That your point of view is true makes it both distressing and depressing. Please don’t feel alone. You have many cohorts.
max
August 3, 2009 at 01:38
The whole political scene in Tasmania is depressing as can be seen with the win of Vanessa Goodwin. It appears that there is a changing of the guard occurring but it is a change in name only. Unless political sponsorship is stopped nothing will ever change.
Luca Vanzino
August 3, 2009 at 14:10
Buck – lash yourself to the mast and rage against the storm!
At least you have your integrity to hold onto.
D.J
August 12, 2009 at 03:50
It’s the story of a place called Mouseland. Mouseland was a place where all the little mice lived and played, were born and died. And they lived much the same as you and I do.
They even had a Parliament. And every four years they had an election. Used to walk to the polls and cast their ballots. Some of them even got a ride to the polls. And got a ride for the next four years afterwards too. Just like you and me. And every time on election day all the little mice used to go to the ballot box and they used to elect a government. A government made up of big, fat, black cats.
Now if you think it strange that mice should elect a government made up of cats, you just look at the history of Australia for last 100 odd years and maybe you’ll see that they weren’t any stupider than we are.
Now I’m not saying anything against the cats. They were nice fellows. They conducted their government with dignity. They passed good laws–that is, laws that were good for cats. But the laws that were good for cats weren’t very good for mice. One of the laws said that mouseholes had to be big enough so a cat could get his paw in. Another law said that mice could only travel at certain speeds–so that a cat could get his breakfast without too much effort.
All the laws were good laws. For cats. But, oh, they were hard on the mice. And life was getting harder and harder. And when the mice couldn’t put up with it any more, they decided something had to be done about it. So they went en masse to the polls. They voted the black cats out. They put in the white cats.
Now the white cats had put up a terrific campaign. They said: “All that Mouseland needs is more vision.” They said:”The trouble with Mouseland is those round mouseholes we got. If you put us in we’ll establish square mouseholes.” And they did. And the square mouseholes were twice as big as the round mouseholes, and now the cat could get both his paws in. And life was tougher than ever. And when they couldn’t take that anymore, they voted the white cats out and put the black ones in again. Then they went back to the white cats. Then to the black cats. They even tried half black cats and half white cats. And they called that coalition. They even got one government made up of cats with spots on them: they were cats that tried to make a noise like a mouse but ate like a cat.
You see, my friends, the trouble wasn’t with the colour of the cat. The trouble was that they were cats. And because they were cats, they naturally looked after cats instead of mice.
Presently there came along one little mouse who had an idea. My friends, watch out for the little fellow with an idea. And he said to the other mice, “Look fellows, why do we keep on electing a government made up of cats? Why don’t we elect a government made up of mice?” “Oh,” they said, “he’s a Bolshevik. Lock him up!”
So they put him in jail.
But I want to remind you: that you can lock up a mouse or a man but you can’t lock up an idea.
(Author unknown)