The Wind Sock

A Policy Parable

Once upon a time I visited a little air field in Tasmania. I think it had a fence, though I am not entirely sure, it certainly had no other real conveniences.

One thing I know is that it had a single piece of infrastructure that was totally essential.

The wind along the Bass Straight is so fierce that you have to put the billy on the eastern side of the fire, on the ground, for it to boil.

The second Private Members Bill that I will be putting forward will demand that a wind sock be conveniently placed near every parliament, council chambers and government office in the country.

The major issue here is that we should have a clear indication if we are once more just peeing into the wind.

Speaking to your local member

A policy parable

 

It is quite scary at times when you have a burning issue that you want aired and pluck up the courage to visit your local member.

“Please Sir/Madam”, we say, “There is a hole in the road in front of my shop that keeps eating school busses”, or “There are not enough hospital places.”

The inevitable reply is either “Yes, I know that” or “You just don’t understand the big picture.”

These responses leave you very little room for discussion.

Long, long ago when I was just a pup I used to go to the Royal Easter Show and of an evening, in the main arena, there was a man who flew with a rocket back pack. “By the year 2000”, he would say, “Everyone will have one of them for their general transportation.”

So, when you really need to speak to your local member, you should use the following method.

Storm into the office and ask, very firmly, “Where’s the rocket back pack you promised me?”

You will be greeted by a stunned silence followed by the equally stunned question, “What rocket back pack? I don’t know what you are talking about. Is there something easier we can help you with?”

You respond, “Well you could fix the hole in the road that keeps eating school busses I guess”

Its easy peasy: Try it sometime soon.