The Minister for Stupidity

As you know we here at the Mad Musing bureau try and keep a level head and offer a calm and discerning perspective of the world.  This is so you, the little people, can take in the searing insight and mind-blowing changes to your worldview that this blog may bring. 

However, today’s topic is politicians and we feel the calmness leaving us, leaching out holes left in our brain by the utter absurdity of what these people say. Listening to politicians is of course a practised art as these folk speak a strange language.  Words are said but there is no meaning and little sense can be made of it.  You see they have invented an oratory that is simply breathtaking in its ability to say nothing, convey no meaning nor offer any clue as to a viewpoint or opinion.

"and then I had this brilliant idea...."

What has brought us to this point of indignation?  It is the Honourable Stephen Robertson, Queensland’s Minister for Energy.  Having failed spectacularly at being Minister of Roads and Health it was hoped Energy would be a safe place for him. Not much happens there really.  Its using the well known principle "If people don't know what you're doing, they don't know what you're doing wrong."


Well those in Queensland will be well aware that last week the Minister approved a 6%  price increase in power.  And the reason….wait for it….was because consumers hadn’t used enough power over the summer!  Truly jaw-dropping logic and right out of the “Yes Minister” playbook.  You young folk should really watch this truly insightful BBC satire from the 80s. According to the minister power companies needed to reclaim the cost of last years infrastructure costs.  And thoughtless consumers had had the gall to not use enough of the sparky stuff. 

OK, so lets think about this. What did the minster think last years 13% increase was actually for?  Yes, you guessed it. They said it was for infrastructure. Where did that money go one might ask? Looks like double dipping to me. Umm he also conveniently forgot to mention the huge government campaign this summer to turn off our air conditioners as we had thoughtlessly gone out and purchased a swag of them thinking how nice it would be to be cool this summer.  Apparently this was going to ruin our power system, the sky was falling, etc.  Maybe we should claim the government gave all of us bad advice and should ask to be reimbursed!

This is truly a piece of stupendous idiocy but sadly no surprise from this minister or government.  This is the same government that privatised water and told us to use 120L a day during the drought only to put up the price of water vastly. Even if you use none-at-all. We really are mugs. 

The trouble with government today is there are many people with the power to stop things happening but nobody with the power to make things happen. Government has the engine of a lawn mower but the brakes of a 747.  (paraphrased from Yes Minister).  It is true here too with the current US federal government budget negotiations.   I think living in Madison has me all up in arms.  I blame Governor Walker of Wisconsin.  Why not, every else does!

Ill leave you with another Yes Minister piece of advice.   "The first rule of politics: never believe anything until it's been officially denied."