Good piece. As a former diplomat myself, I can tell you that I am all too familiar with the tendency to spare top leadership from hearing what they dont want to hear. Its a malady that overtakes most ministries of foreign affairs sooner or later it seems.
But what happens if everyone with any sense leaves? Your work after leaving is valuable — but I don’t pass judgment on those who keep their heads down and do what they can. When you get a political change at the top, there need to be people on staff who can implement. Also, people do have mortgages and school bills and a set of skills not easily transferable to the private sector….
It's a fair point. But I can tell you that a lot of people kept their heads down after the merger hoping a Labour government would turn things around only for policy to get worse. Lots of experts left after the merger and King Charles street increasingly resembles a Potemkin house of breathless generality. The quiet quitting went unnoticed. Even one high profile departure would send a signal.
I agree with you, but unfortunately the bank managers of the staff members won't agree with you.
That is the catch 22 for all who are civil servants, poverty and principles, or survival and severe guilt. It also applies to staff involved in the arms industry.
Personally, poverty is a transitory situation, nothing that can't be overcome with some clear thinking and action.
My late husband would have clapped even with his ears, he had the idea that riots shouldn't happen, His first job while he was studying ingeneering, after moved to Patagonia being 19 years
old and entered to work National Park directing people to keep roads conditioned. next as he wasn't pleased with the politics of the Director he marched south and was contracted in an American Company not happy there he moved the second biggest Patagonian Farm. was contracted to measure different roads the farm was so big that road 3 went through it 180 Kms.
He ended inseminating sheep.
Next step contracted by an American Cº to work in Perú with the Military over 5.000 mts. altitude
Vilcabamba an year with what he saved he went to several mountain expeditions. Back in Bariloche
He worked as a representant and reporter of the most important newspaper of the Province.
After we moved to Spain where he wrote two investigated historic books
Before that he worked free lance in the Electric Cº including the line from the Alicura dam to Bariloche The whole family lived in Perú in a Franciscan Convent investigating a XVIII century
priest that was sent from Chiloé to the Argentine side to find or reject the myth of the Golden City
His father was an Army Official he tought to think in a geopolitical way, he was always interested
in international politics, loved Russian literature. He would be fascinated by the moment.
The Labour Friends of Israel government should resign over Gaza, never mind the poor buggers in the civil service who have mortgages to pay and kids to feed and all that 'nuclear family' jazz.
Spot on. I was a civil servant in my country and never sided with anything I saw wrongdoing. I see too many people sliding to the side their own responsability claiming lack of power. No, everyone must do their part however small it is. Keeping your job and playing along and then when sh*t hits the fan say that you didn't agree with it is no defense.
Good piece. As a former diplomat myself, I can tell you that I am all too familiar with the tendency to spare top leadership from hearing what they dont want to hear. Its a malady that overtakes most ministries of foreign affairs sooner or later it seems.
But what happens if everyone with any sense leaves? Your work after leaving is valuable — but I don’t pass judgment on those who keep their heads down and do what they can. When you get a political change at the top, there need to be people on staff who can implement. Also, people do have mortgages and school bills and a set of skills not easily transferable to the private sector….
It's a fair point. But I can tell you that a lot of people kept their heads down after the merger hoping a Labour government would turn things around only for policy to get worse. Lots of experts left after the merger and King Charles street increasingly resembles a Potemkin house of breathless generality. The quiet quitting went unnoticed. Even one high profile departure would send a signal.
I suppose there comes a point when hope runs out and professionals can’t take it any more. I can only wish them luck in their post government career…
“Benjamin Netanyahu’s country.”
Why not just say “Israel”?
That was an UnHerd edit, not mine.
I see - thanks for pointing that out.
I agree with you, but unfortunately the bank managers of the staff members won't agree with you.
That is the catch 22 for all who are civil servants, poverty and principles, or survival and severe guilt. It also applies to staff involved in the arms industry.
Personally, poverty is a transitory situation, nothing that can't be overcome with some clear thinking and action.
My late husband would have clapped even with his ears, he had the idea that riots shouldn't happen, His first job while he was studying ingeneering, after moved to Patagonia being 19 years
old and entered to work National Park directing people to keep roads conditioned. next as he wasn't pleased with the politics of the Director he marched south and was contracted in an American Company not happy there he moved the second biggest Patagonian Farm. was contracted to measure different roads the farm was so big that road 3 went through it 180 Kms.
He ended inseminating sheep.
Next step contracted by an American Cº to work in Perú with the Military over 5.000 mts. altitude
Vilcabamba an year with what he saved he went to several mountain expeditions. Back in Bariloche
He worked as a representant and reporter of the most important newspaper of the Province.
He left this prosperous Job and left to build a high mountain shelter https://www.google.com/search?q=refugio+de+monta%C3%B1a+bariloche&sxsrf=AE3TifOKA0PV6E87TR33-QGtSM6dvVg9Jw%3A1749946621482#vhid=/g/1hc0xrnph&vssid=lcl&lpg=ik:CAoSFkNJSE0wb2dLRUlDQWdNQ0k5LUNDYlE%3D he directed and built another two.
After we moved to Spain where he wrote two investigated historic books
Before that he worked free lance in the Electric Cº including the line from the Alicura dam to Bariloche The whole family lived in Perú in a Franciscan Convent investigating a XVIII century
priest that was sent from Chiloé to the Argentine side to find or reject the myth of the Golden City
His father was an Army Official he tought to think in a geopolitical way, he was always interested
in international politics, loved Russian literature. He would be fascinated by the moment.
The Labour Friends of Israel government should resign over Gaza, never mind the poor buggers in the civil service who have mortgages to pay and kids to feed and all that 'nuclear family' jazz.
Spot on. I was a civil servant in my country and never sided with anything I saw wrongdoing. I see too many people sliding to the side their own responsability claiming lack of power. No, everyone must do their part however small it is. Keeping your job and playing along and then when sh*t hits the fan say that you didn't agree with it is no defense.