Comments on: The PM’s inappropriate obsession with experts http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/04/01/the-pms-inappropriate-obsession-with-experts/ now with extra source Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:23:56 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Orin http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/04/01/the-pms-inappropriate-obsession-with-experts/#comment-16933 Orin Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-16933 Cook clearly lives outside the "reality based community" (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality-based_community ). Speculative opinion by commentators is clearly more valuable than verifyable fact. Cook clearly lives outside the “reality based community” (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality-based_community ). Speculative opinion by commentators is clearly more valuable than verifyable fact.

]]> By: Warren http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/04/01/the-pms-inappropriate-obsession-with-experts/#comment-16934 Warren Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-16934 So long as the Prime Minister communicates expert advice to the people and allows time for them to respond (and have that response honestly considered) then surely that is the best approach. Government is there to take care of the people but not just by blindly following a populist line, it needs to lead as well as listen. Society is complicated of course, so are the problems and opportunities that affect it but "expert" should not be a dirty word....or are we still steering away from having an educated country? Let him explain what advice he is listening to, why he thinks it is best, what provision he has made for changing his mind and how it will all affect people. Sure it will slow things down but democracy seems to work best in increments anyway. So long as the Prime Minister communicates expert advice to the people and allows time for them to respond (and have that response honestly considered) then surely that is the best approach. Government is there to take care of the people but not just by blindly following a populist line, it needs to lead as well as listen. Society is complicated of course, so are the problems and opportunities that affect it but “expert” should not be a dirty word….or are we still steering away from having an educated country?

Let him explain what advice he is listening to, why he thinks it is best, what provision he has made for changing his mind and how it will all affect people. Sure it will slow things down but democracy seems to work best in increments anyway.

]]> By: Matt Harvey http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/04/01/the-pms-inappropriate-obsession-with-experts/#comment-16935 Matt Harvey Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-16935 You're very hard to please, Mr Crook! What is wrong with expertise (even university educated!)? Your article tends to suggest the consultation is window dressing. I hope it is not. The decisions still need to be made and sold to the people who will have their definitive say in 2010. You liken the Rudd government to the Soviet Union then chide it for not blaming everything on the Market. At this stage, I think Rudd & Co are doing a pretty good job consulting experts and taking hard decisions, but whether they can take the really tough decisions like ending negative gearing and reducing greenhouse emissions remains to be seen. You’re very hard to please, Mr Crook! What is wrong with expertise (even university educated!)? Your article tends to suggest the consultation is window dressing. I hope it is not. The decisions still need to be made and sold to the people who will have their definitive say in 2010. You liken the Rudd government to the Soviet Union then chide it for not blaming everything on the Market. At this stage, I think Rudd & Co are doing a pretty good job consulting experts and taking hard decisions, but whether they can take the really tough decisions like ending negative gearing and reducing greenhouse emissions remains to be seen.

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