Today while I was at my desk, a most extraordinarily stupid question was asked of me, so stupid that I could barely splutter out an indignant reply before retreating into a sullen and brooding silence that lasted until the end of the day. This question, as is the nature of small things, illustrates a much larger truth, and that is, that the state of the Public Service is not good. I wish that I could tell you what this question was, but in so doing I could potentially give away my identity and betray the person who asked it, however I can tell you that it was the kind of thing that I would forgive a small child for, or someone in their first month of employment, but to hear this question from the lips of someone who has been in the job for over ten years was most unforgiveable. I can hardly imagine how if feels to be so lacking in confidence, so indecisive, and so afraid of making a mistake that one must embarrass oneself amongst ones colleagues in this way.
In these PC days there is very little that I can do or say to rouse this person out of their state, to encourage independence, clarity of thought, self-sufficiency and self-control; on the contrary, my servile role as "Team Member" requires that I endlessly support the most nonsensical chatterings and answer the most inconceivably stupid questions as if this were even possible for someone of my temperament. Yet another example of the disempowerment that Management desire for each and every one of us.
However, my main point is simply this: the state of the Public Service is quite clear. It is full of some of the most stupid people that I have ever met. Canberra, you may add that to your survey.
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