Masterly Inactivity
posted by Gerard Magliocca
I want to start by thanking everyone here for inviting me to join on a full-time basis. To celebrate this momentous occasion, I thought I should write about something profound.
So what is the best source of wisdom about politics? Aristotle? Leviathan by Hobbes? The Federalist Papers? John Rawls? Hayek’s Road to Serfdom?
No — it’s “Yes Minister” and “Yes Prime Minister,” the British TV show from the early 1980s that depicted the clash between elected politicians and civil servants. From time to time I’ll post some wit from that program that seems especially pertinent. That should be easy once health care reform is introduced, as I can then use the National Health Service jokes. (“We don’t measure our success by results but by activity”).
For now, consider this description from “Yes Prime Minister” about bureaucratic or political inertia when there is a clamor for action but officials do not want to act. (This applies to liberal complaints about global warming or conservative complaints about illegal immigration.)
Stage 1: There is nothing happening.
Stage 2: There may be something happening, but we should do nothing about it.
Stage 3: Maybe we should do something about it, but there’s nothing that we can do.
Stage 4: Maybe there is something that we could have done, but it’s too late now.
May 20, 2009 at 6:03 am
Posted in: Humor
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Responses (4)
Paul Gowder - May 20, 2009 at 10:35 am
YES!!!
I’m really glad someone else watches this show (sadly, it’s terribly difficult to buy the DVDs, I’ve resorted to putting them on netflix cycle).
You, sir, are a wise, wise man.
Frank Pasquale - May 20, 2009 at 11:44 am
This was *exactly* what Tony Blankley did in defending Susan Collins’s excision of pandemic flu prep from the stimulus package. She was Stage 1 and 2…he picked up on 3 and 4.
Dave Levine - May 21, 2009 at 10:29 am
Agreed! The Complete Yes Minister book (Lynn and Jay) is also hilarious (and can be enjoyed without having seen the show).
Uncommon Priors » Lightning roundup. - May 21, 2009 at 12:54 pm
[...] I’m glad that other people agree that Yes, Minister is one of the best TV shows [...]
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