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Quangoland

13-08-09

Quangoland is a fairytale place of wonder, where all the folk are very well paid, get loads of holidays and wonderful benefits. The structure of its governance means that as a free state within a state it is accountable to no one. No one is elected in Quangoland.

Its economy is based on the Robber Baron concept of extracting taxes from those who are required to pay homage to them, and a very lucrative form of piracy where the Government of the day dole out huge sums of dosh to them.

Quangolanders are having a great time. No expense spared, not accountable to anyone and they can make up rules to serve themselves. Living in Quangoland is rather good. They love nothing better than taking the piss when all around them are trying to find real work to do and find enough dosh to feed the kids.

How do the subjects of Quangoland view them? Well, it is mixed but generally the subjects (not Quangolanders but serfs of the Robber Barons) are getting rather peeved.

“Why do we need these Quango” says one serf to the other, who responds “What good have they ever done?” Regrettably this is not a Monty Python sketch, as otherwise this story could end up supporting the Quango. In the Monty Python (Life of Brian) fashion the reply would be, “They build the roads, the aqueducts the sewerage system etc., etc.” In Quangoland however the Robber Barons have actually achieved very little, if anything – if someone has an alternative view, please do speak up. It is very probable that in many cases they have actually made things worse.

The serfs of the Quango are however in a bit of a pickle. Serfs do not have a vote and the Government who appoint them have no control over them. So what are they to do, the serfs that is? Armed insurrection? No the serfs are peaceful people. Refuse to pay their Robber Barons? All that will result is that they will end up literally in chains. Complain? Who do serfs complain to? The Barons, the Government? The Barons and indeed the Government have too much invested in each other, so what is the point. Try reasoned argument? That assumes the Quango or the Government are reasonable, and there appears little evidence of that.

Poke fun at them? Insult them? Prove that they are a ‘spot on the landscape’ (Note the Wilt connection)? YES, now that might help, if only to allow us poor serfs to have a bit of a laugh and prove we are intellectually superior to the Robber Barons of Quangoland.

A recent article to ponder over:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8198105.stm

and here:

http://bjsw.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/bcn136

and here:

http://regulatorwatch.co.uk/2009/08/gscc-draconian/

and here:

http://regulatorwatch.co.uk/2009/07/gscc-in-chaos/

and here:

http://regulatorwatch.co.uk/2009/07/gscc-not-being-transparent/

and here:

http://regulatorwatch.co.uk/2009/07/quango-review/