Who do you trust?

Peter Ward · #1 13-02-2010, 11:52 AM

Thumbing through an old issue of Readers digest (July 09) I was bemused to read who Australians trust. Ambo's, Firefighters, Nurses & Pilots (

) topped the list.

Bottom dwellers were CEO's & Sex workers (not quite sure how they made that distinction)....even lower down were Politicians.

It struck me as rather sad we give legislative power...ie people who take your money and liberty.... to people we don't trust.... Go figure.

casstony · #2 13-02-2010, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

It struck me as rather sad we give legislative power...ie people who take your money and liberty.... to people we don't trust.... Go figure.

It is sad, but easily explained when one considers that human behaviour is more similar than it is different to other higher animals on our planet. Politicians either scare us or fool us into voting for them.

pmrid (Peter) · #3 13-02-2010, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casstony

It is sad, but easily explained when one considers that human behaviour is more similar than it is different to other higher animals on our planet. Politicians either scare us or fool us into voting for them.

"People get the government they deserve"
Although there's a bit of controversy over who penned this phrase (de Tocqueville, Jefferson, Shakespeare are all candidates) it's got bone of truth in it. We elect to government people we don't trust. Q.E.D.

Peter

mill (Martin) · #4 13-02-2010, 01:45 PM

The problem with politicians is 1: That by law we HAVE to vote.
And 2: We vote the more trustworthy out of the untrustworthy

GrahamL · #5 13-02-2010, 01:45 PM

Quote:

CEO's & Sex workers

Maybe the distinction is they both do the same thing to people Pete

Peter Ward · #6 13-02-2010, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmrid

"People get the government they deserve"
....

Undoubtedly.

The level pegging of CEO's & sex workers begged the question: screw the workers or ....??? (

)

Liz · #7 13-02-2010, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mill

And 2: We vote the more trustworthy out of the untrustworthy

... exactly right

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightstalker

Maybe the distinction is they both do the same thing to people Pete

Peter Ward · #8 13-02-2010, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mill

The problem with politicians is 1: That by law we HAVE to vote.
And 2: We vote the more trustworthy out of the untrustworthy

In that case, vote for me, as I promise to implement an Astronomy stimulus package, and will provide fully automated domes (solar powered and insulated) , with at least a 16"RC or better plus a megapixel Astro-CCD.

As to whether this is a "core" or "non-core" promise will be determined once I'm looking good for the gold plated pension.

h0ughy (David) · #9 13-02-2010, 02:06 PM

i think astronomers are a trusting lot - though the debate would be imagers v's traditional viewing. LOL

who is more shifty

spearo (Frank) · #10 13-02-2010, 03:05 PM

hahahaha
i can see the party factions forming now!
:]
frank

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

i think astronomers are a trusting lot - though the debate would be imagers v's traditional viewing. LOL

who is more shifty

multiweb (Marc) · #11 13-02-2010, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mill

The problem with politicians is 1: That by law we HAVE to vote.
And 2: We vote the more trustworthy out of the untrustworthy

The problem is that the money and the perks are waaay too good at the top, not mentioning the pension. If it was more realistic and they had to work for their money like the rest of us and be accountable for what they do then maybe there would be less BS.

pmrid (Peter) · #12 13-02-2010, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

In that case, vote for me, as I promise to implement an Astronomy stimulus package, and will provide fully automated domes (solar powered and insulated) , with at least a 16"RC or better plus a megapixel Astro-CCD.

And believe me, I am not motivated by anything other than altruism and concern for the welfare of my fellow Australians. Honest. You can trust me.

Peter

avandonk · #13 13-02-2010, 04:01 PM

Last time I was on a 757 we came into Chicago and there was snow and ice everywhere. The aircraft on short finals was rolling at least by about plus or minus forty degrees. Snow flurrys everywhere.

We hit the runway sideways which had snow and ice and the pilot kicked in the rudder just by the correct amount so the landing was almost perfect given the conditions. He is not a hero just doing his job!

I had a yarn to him after the event and he said 'this is nothing, we have to deal with far worse '.

He had a simple job to do. Just land a plane.

Keeping winging voters on side is almost impossible especially when you are not in control as pilots are.

It is easy to be superb when you only take responsibility for a very small subset of human endeavour!

Bert

leon · #14 13-02-2010, 04:09 PM

There are more CEO's and top level people in jail than the ordinary criminals,

and the pollies have just worked out how they can fleece you, keep their job for extraordinary incompetence, and get fat salaries for doing nothing.

At least, although I do not agree, the sex worker dose something for the dollars spent.

Leon

lacad01 (Adam) · #15 13-02-2010, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

i think astronomers are a trusting lot - though the debate would be imagers v's traditional viewing. LOL

who is more shifty

Don't forget the radio-astronomers to keep the b---ards honest

mithrandir (Andrew) · #16 13-02-2010, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

In that case, vote for me, as I promise to implement an Astronomy stimulus package, and will provide fully automated domes (solar powered and insulated) , with at least a 16"RC or better plus a megapixel Astro-CCD.

You'll have to run for the Senate, Peter, otherwise you won't be on my ballot paper.

Quote:

As to whether this is a "core" or "non-core" promise will be determined once I'm looking good for the gold plated pension.

How would that make you different to any other pollie? As for the money, you'd almost certainly be making more now. How many company directors would work for as little as pollies get, once you consider everyone hates them? Even the ones we vote for.

One term in jail for every two terms in parliament. Sentence determined by unpopularity vote.

Peter Ward · #17 13-02-2010, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avandonk

...

Keeping winging voters on side is almost impossible .....

Agreed. Yet the pilot didn't take a vote from the cabin on how to proceed.....perhaps this shows for many "technical" tasks, the democratic model is fundamentally flawed.

A benevolent dictator (Lee Kuan Yew? ) could possibly make decisions for the greater good without regard for the lunatic fringe....but human nature corrupts pretty easily, hence benevolence may all too often be quickly lost

Rodstar (Rod) · #18 13-02-2010, 04:52 PM

I am saddened by the level of cynicism on this thread about politicians.

I was interested to read an insightful article by Annabel Crabb in the Sydney Morning Herald a month or so ago. Annabel has been a political journo for a number of years, and has many times dumped on the politicians when they deserved it. She loves taking the mickey out of "The Ruddbot" etc, and can be cutting at times. Yet even Annabel, in this article, commented that in her experience (and she know many of the politicians very well) 95% of pollies WERE actually interested in bettering Australia, and had sincere motivations for being in politics.

Like a few others have previously observed, politicians are truly representative of their electorate in that they are flawed like the rest of us. Yes, at times they act with self interest. But they are capable of, and do, often make good decisions too. I have great admiration for a great number of the politicians in our federal parliament.

I think we would get a better calibre of politician if we paid them properly. At present, the average backbencher gets something like $120K per year, plus allowances. When you consider that they could be earning many times more if they used their skills in private enterprise, they are actually making a huge financial sacrifice to be in politics. How is it that we pay our legislators at a level that is less than a mid-management worker in a non-descipt company? You get what you pay for.

We may think is sounds rather cushy to be a politician, but try being away from your family for half the year (while parliament sits). How does working from 7am to 2am the next morning while a complex bill is debated sound? Like the cameras and microphones shoved in your face everywhere you go? Like to have talk back radio discussing how you look in a pair of budgie smugglers?

If the complainers are really serious about improving the world, then how about they put their money and time where their mouths are, and run for the next election.... No, I didn't think so. The real pleasure seems to lie in running others down....

Peter Ward · #19 13-02-2010, 05:00 PM

I ran a few numbers, and it is interesting to note that only about 300 people...often less... (per safe electorate) actually decide who represents a "party" hence the people, out of the several tens of thousands who live in the same electoral division.

Hardly a democracy.

Makes you wonder what sort of traits are required for "pre-selection"
hence perhaps it is no surprise we don't trust them.

mick pinner · #20 13-02-2010, 05:05 PM

sorry Rod but you have it wrong. you only have to live in the real world and be concerned how government treats the lower economic scale to see the contempt most politicians have for those that to them, don't seem to matter.
elections and politicians come and go and nothing changes regardless of party while the disadvantaged numbers grow and the rich get richer, it all boils down to accountability of which there is almost zero.
if you work in the private sector and stuff up you pay for it with your job, show me where this applies in government.