Politics, economics, law and life from a 'radical centrist' perspective, defined by Noel Pearson as "the intense resolution of the tensions between opposing principles"
Two pieces of news. Best Australian Essays has published a ‘best of the decade’ book, and it pissed me off how closely they stuck to recognised ‘names’ in essay writing. I have a conflict of interest having had an essay in one of the annual collections. So take it as sour grapes. Then again I guess profile is what sells books and it is a commercial venture.
Secondly, I just got an email inviting me to submit an essay for this year’s collection. There ain’t nothing to submit at this stage, but who knows? In any event, Troppodillians may wish to submit, or to draw others’ attention to great Australian essays in comments. Anyway, below the fold is the email with instructions on entering. (Continued)
I nearly posted on this when the event occurred, though before the denouement. Australian Health Economist and bureaucrat Stephen Duckett was CEO of Alberta Health Services and, in some situation of crisis or at least heightened media interest he was accosted by a media scrum as he walked from one building to another poking microphones and cameras in his face and following him everywhere he went. I react viscerally to this invasion of personal space. Think about what it is like to have one’s space invaded as one seeks to walk around. Now of course it’s not illegal to do this, and one might imagine it to be an effective ‘civil disobedience’ tactic if one feels entitled by the gravity of the situation to use it. But a group or people openly stalking someone is a viscerally hostile act. I can’t imagine myself doing too well under such circumstances. Anyway celebrities often enjoy it and even when it’s hostile public figures react to it with great grace most of the time.
I thought Steven Duckett reacted with some grace and a little humour by telling the scrum that he was eating a cookie – that is he was engaged in a private event (eating his cookie). When the press said ‘we can wait’ till he finished, he pointed out there would be a media briefing in 30 minutes and that they should go there. He went on eating his cookie.
I don’t think I knew until I happened to look up his name today, that he’d been sacked for this ever so slightly flamboyant way of saying ‘no comment’. He issued a fulsome apology the day after the ‘incident’, which seems pretty unfortunate to me since it’s hard to see what he did wrong, but remarkably enough he was sacked a few days later. This is how Wikipedia covers the story.
On 20 November 2010, Stephen Duckett came under scrutiny by the general public for televised remarks to the media following a high-level meeting about the situation in the province’s emergency rooms. During the aired segment, Duckett refused to answer questions by reporters waiting outside the meeting room, using the excuse he was eating his cookie. Duckett later issued an apology noting that he had not felt comfortable as a non-elected official being asked to respond to the comments of other, elected, officials.. He has subsequently stated that he had been instructed by the office of Alberta Premier Stelmach not to make any comments.. On 24 November 2010, the chairman of the Alberta Health Services Board announced that Duckett’s contract was terminated and that after mutual consultation, he had been released from his contractual obligations. Both parties felt that his ability to continue in his duties had been “compromised.” Based on the terms of his contract, it is believed that he would receive a severance payment of as much as $681,250.
What a thoroughly dismal episode from start to finish. Still I guess that’s how you get ratings. The youtube video has cracked the 300,000 views mark. I guess you wouldn’t get that by reporting on the performance of the health system that Stephen Duckett was hired to try to improve. And yes it didn’t hurt that Stephen Duckett could be referred to as the “cookie monster” complete with obligatory mashup.
