Our political leaders have been trying to disengage, to avoid being shot by multiple sides of the conflict if nothing else. More and more, regulation is left to bureaucrats. Sometimes, the brief given to the bureaucrats is to “consult”, an exercise that usually means to divine some kind of happy mean that people can compromise upon.
Bureaucrats, however, are more than able to read between the lines. They know that the real commandment is to do whatever is necessary to protect ministers from being forced to pay a political price. Whatever consultation exercise they embark on, the aim is clear: find a solution that produces as little controversy as possible, so that ministers are not forced to take sides. If controversy is unavoidable, make sure the more powerful side is pleased; if it is the weak side that remains displeased, at least you would have minimised the political price the minister has to pay.
For his own self-preservation, it’s also what the bureaucrat would do. Second-guess what the minister might want and find a solution least likely to make him angry.
- http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2011/08/30/from-rule-by-fear-to-ruled-by-fear/
Bureaucrats, however, are more than able to read between the lines. They know that the real commandment is to do whatever is necessary to protect ministers from being forced to pay a political price. Whatever consultation exercise they embark on, the aim is clear: find a solution that produces as little controversy as possible, so that ministers are not forced to take sides. If controversy is unavoidable, make sure the more powerful side is pleased; if it is the weak side that remains displeased, at least you would have minimised the political price the minister has to pay.
For his own self-preservation, it’s also what the bureaucrat would do. Second-guess what the minister might want and find a solution least likely to make him angry.
- http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2011/08/30/from-rule-by-fear-to-ruled-by-fear/
