Branch stackers and professional advice

If a group of people in leadership positions claim to have received advice that only suggested a narrow range of policy options, how would the public judge whether an exhaustive and honest examination of options had been made? For many current politicians their main political skill is to stack branches and boards to their favour.They wouldn’t think twice about even bullying scientists in organisations such as the CSIRO.

An interesting point made by K-Rudd on Insiders today would have most likely have been missed by most people and seen to be just the way things are. He mentioned that people are free to pursue their career objectives and he supports that. In a political environment dominated by branch stackers everyone would KNOW that any questioning of authority is a career destroying move. It doesn’t matter what principle you stand by or whether a criticism has truth to it or whether the outcome of raising some concern is to the benefit of the whole community. It doesn’t matter in the least. If a person wants to have a continuing career they have to go along with what ever bulldust that is trickling down from those on high. Anyone who doesn’t go along with such a regime is removed from it quickly. Such a political culture is decidedly authoritarian.

Australians used to be proud of an egalitarian ethos. No longer it seems …