Sunday 16 March 2008

Ministerial Staffers Doomed to Lie

The Rudd government is forcing it's ministerial staff to answer an invasive questionnaire detailing extremely personal & private details. Questions about sexual preference, previous sexual partners and drug use are required to be answered to gain security clearance to work in certain areas of the government. More than 300 ministerial and electorate staffers have been told the security form is designed to protect them from blackmail. yes, blackmail.

The reported information required of the ministerial staff:

-Sexual preference

-Have they had a homosexual experience

-Whether they have cheated on their spouse

-Give details about sexual habits

-Details of their illegal drug use

This includes names and dates.

There are so many arguments against this type of questioning that I am surprised it was even suggested. Is blackmail such a priority and if so, when did it become an issue? Do we have a problem with blackmail that we don't know about? Incredibly, this information is only useful for blackmail because of current government policies and attitude that deem these issues as something shameful or morally wrong. It's this practice that allow normal human behaviour to become a weapon.

Civilisation naturally progresses towards a more tolerant and diverse society but is occasionally hindered by the usual religious and conservative forces that need to proselytise their own standards and morals. With religion now becoming something our leaders are happy to endorse, the religious right, ultra conservatives and homophiles etc. get more say in how the government promote acceptable social standards.    

The recent influence of the religious right has alienated families that don't fit in with preferred family model of Man, woman and children. Same sex couples, unmarried couples or single parent families are now seen as a target of the MSM, moralists and according to the government, blackmailers. Promiscuous behaviour from the past is also fair game and your private bedroom activities are no longer between you and your partner(s). Recreational drug use whether current or in the past  is no longer harmless and only senior ministers or state leaders can admit to that crime.

The obvious question is who manages this information and how safe is it? Would you want bureaucrats in charge of your most private details? It just expands what information can be blackmailed. It also sets up the individual for scrutiny for the rest of their lives. I am sure the AFP would push for this list to be available for their use, as would ASIO, The ATO, various Royal Commissions and god knows who else.

For some reason I can't see senior government workers disclosing the information targeted by this move. Imagine being faced with the question about whether you have ever used illegal drugs? What if 10 years prior you had used speed several times over a 3 month period or you had done what a million other Australians had done and popped a ecstasy pill? It would be very easy to just ignore it as opposed to be on some database as a amphetamine abuser. It will undoubtedly raise the issue of what is deemed as drug abuse and if that person is capable or trusted enough to do the job they have been doing successfully for the last 10 years. I won't even get into marijuana use for the number of dope smokers being employed in these positions is going to be high.

The whole point is that these issues are just not that critical to most of the public and are only seen as inappropriate because the government says so. If the government left society alone to balance their own morality then most wouldn't give a toss about sexual preference or recreational drug use. The issues of one's own private affairs like whether they cheat on their spouses or their sexual habits will most likely never be admitted to on a disclosure form anyway so it only forces trusted staff members to lie. Then it becomes a trust issue and there's no doubt it could be used later in their professional life.

14 comments:

Iain Hall said...

Terry

I was most surprised to see that you posted a rather bitter and hateful comment directed at me in the comments of Club Wah, Now I think that I should suggest that the old aphorism about people in glass houses not throwing stones is entirely appropriate here.

You and I have never met and I have only given your blog the most cursory inspection, but I suggest that you take note of my reputation for ruthlessly defending myself when I am attacked personally. I am more than happy to treat anyone who has a different view of politics with respect if they just have some grace and good manners, which sadly seen to be lacking from your rhetorical repertoire.
Finally on the post to which I have attached this comment I think treating this incident with mockery is a far more effective way of making a point about this incident that we actually agree on, namely that such a questionnaire is both pointless and stupid.

Terry Wright said...

Iain.
Remember this from AWH?

Perhaps a "hot shot" would cure
what ails you Terry

-Iain Hall 02.29.08 - 8:32 am

Making suggestions I take a poisonous dose of something so I die is as bitter and hateful as any comment I have ever seen.

I am sorry but I don't know your reputation for 'for ruthlessly defending myself when I am attacked personally', but be aware that I don't take suggestions to go and kill myself lightly either.

Iain Hall said...

I had actually forgotten that throw away line at AWH Terry, But really was there ever any chance of you following My suggestion? If you don't have the ability to stand the heat then staying out of the kitchen is probably advisable.
Now can I suggest that we both take a step back here and agree to play nice? I find personal attacks to be a very poor substitute for free and friendly debate and I actually enjoy taking on opinions that differ from my own (unlike some other conservatives )so can we both drop the agro and try to be civilised?
Cheers

Scott said...

Pwnd, Hall. All vicious attack until it's pointed out to you that you started it and then it's all "oh, let's just step back and be friends."

thr said...

I suggest that you take note of my reputation for ruthlessly defending myself when I am attacked personally.

Shorter Hall - expect some serious stalking and spamming.

Anonymous said...

Oh, so Iain makes a CONSCIOUS DECISION to post a nasty comment then tries to pass it off as some kind of a glib "throwaway" line, and that somehow makes Terry the bad guy?

Fuck you, Iain. And fuck off.

Terry Wright said...

Thanks for the support.

The comment itself didn't actually offend me, it is everywhere. I remembered it because it came out of the blue.

It was more that Hall was happily making small talk at Club Wah like he was just a regular Joe with no history as a vicious, low life scissurehead. I want nothing to do with him whatsoever, so I told him to fuck off.

But when he responded as some sort of hurt little puppy I thought I should remind him of his form.

That being said, what a cracker response:

If you don't have the ability to stand the heat then staying out of the kitchen is probably advisable.

What a girlie.

One point though, when someone next says "bearded, hippy, dolebluger, mongrel loser ... get a job", I'll know they are talking about him.

Damian said...

Iain, I reckon it's a fucking low blow, too. Rather than making excuses and talking about throwaway lines and playing safe, why not say sorry? Then fuck off.

Iain Hall said...

Scott says
All vicious attack until it's pointed out to you that you started it and then it's all "oh, let's just step back and be friends."
I started IT? Now there is a comedy moment. I genuinely did not remember the comment and frankly given it was a comment at AWH I am sure that my retort was probably inspired by some typical leftist provocation at that site. You are getting more paranoid every day.

Hap says
Shorter Hall - expect some serious stalking and spamming.
Another paranoid leftist speaks, I still have that bottle of scotch waiting .....
Bron said...
Oh, so Iain makes a CONSCIOUS DECISION to post a nasty comment then tries to pass it off as some kind of a glib "throwaway" line, and that somehow makes Terry the bad guy?

Fuck you, Iain. And fuck off.
Really Bron
do you expect us to believe that you have never made a comment without giving it much thought? As for you invitation to a conjugal encounter I suggest that you look elsewhere as I have no interest in you at all
Terry Wright said...
Thanks for the support.

The comment itself didn't actually offend me, it is everywhere. I remembered it because it came out of the blue.

So why have you taken such umbrage Terry? Look I have just chased up the context and it is not as cut and dried as you have tried to paint it firstly your comment was posted to this piece about NZ efforts top stop parents smacking their kids . To which you you made a rather smart arse comment alluding to your drug habit,

I wish my parents gave me smack! I merely made an equally smart arse comment in return

Perhaps a "hot shot" would cure what ails you Terry but I also added the happy face smiley indicating that my comment was not meant to be taken seriously. So it seems to me you have grossly over reacted here.
It was more that Hall was happily making small talk at Club Wah like he was just a regular Joe with no history as a vicious, low life scissurehead. I want nothing to do with him whatsoever, so I told him to fuck off.

Well I am welcome to comment there Terry and I treat my host there with respect If my presence there offends then don't comment in the same threads as I do. But more to the point you should have better manners when at third party blogs If you have a problem with me fine don't read my blogs and if our paths cross ignore me but throwing a tantrum because someone else has no problem with me being there is the act of a child. but then given your habit I should not be surprised.

But when he responded as some sort of hurt little puppy I thought I should remind him of his form.

No Terry I was trying to be the peacemaker here because despite what you seem to want to believe about me I am not such a bad fellow and I was rather surprised by your unwarranted attack at Club Wah.
That being said, what a cracker response:

If you don't have the ability to stand the heat then staying out of the kitchen is probably advisable.

What a girlie.
Terry You clearly have issues about just getting through the day between one dose of morphine and the next and it seems that you have an even greater problem with polite discourse.

One point though, when someone next says "bearded, hippy, dolebluger, mongrel loser ... get a job", I'll know they are talking about him.
Well at least I am not a slave to the opium poppy Terry and I have greater dreams sticking a needle in my arm.

Damian said...
Iain, I reckon it's a fucking low blow, too. Rather than making excuses and talking about throwaway lines and playing safe, why not say sorry? Then fuck off.

Having checked the context of the comment Damian (which I suggest you do) you will see that Terry has grossly over reacted here and I don't feel the need to apologise.

Finally Terry

I do hope that you get your shit together because I have known a few Junkies in my time and although you may be high functioning now we both know that it would not take much for you to loose it. You talk about me being "a girlie"(says heaps about what you think of women) but you mistake an attempt at subtly for weakness and as any of your leftard pals here will tell you that can be a terrible mistake. But when you parade your habit like it is something to be proud off (or do you just like playing the victim card?) you should never be surprised that your political opponents should choose to chide you with your own weaknesses.

Damian said...

Pathetic, Hall. Take the hint and get fucked. Play your silly games somewhere else.

--- said...

Hi Iain you fucking galloot.

You lost this one [as usual] and then you make threats:

but I suggest that you take note of my reputation for ruthlessly defending myself when I am attacked personally.

Your bully boy tactics won't work around here you bearded, unemployed buffoon.

Go fuck yourself.

Don't pay any attention to his bullshit Terry. He is sooking because he got shown up big time. He is a fucking coward behind a keyboard who makes threats but cries like a fucking baby when it is pointed out with evidence that he is a tool.

The Blogging Pussy said...

I'm LOL-ing at this thread.

Sticking it to Iain Hall should be a national pastime. Hell, it's damn Australian not to let fly at the housebound, welfare-addicted creep.

Terry Wright said...

I work - you do not
I am not hated by everyone - you are
I bathe regularly - you don't
I don't play banjo, you do
I have a life - you don't
When I have a situation, I deal with it - you make noddy cars

I have an opiate addiction and bipolar. I use my experiences to help others. What the fuck do you do?

Even though I have these problems, you don't, so explain again your low intelligence, your unbelievably inept spelling & grammar ... even with a spell checker, your stalking episodes, you incoherent rants. What's your excuse?

You are not this "not a bad fella" good guy, Hall, you are at the bottom of the heap. Surely you would get the hint. You just can't seem to convince anyone any different. Give up, get a job and have a bath.

And yes, you are a girlie. You argue are like a girl. Your points are completely mixed up and contradict each other. You use emotion to argue facts and counter argue personal theories with cherry picked comments. You are the only one not to see it. Girlie.

If you are making threats Hall then that's your decision. Just be aware that when I first started using I mixed with some people who you wouldn't like. I have helped them out a great deal and got them jobs or a gave them a place to stay when needed. Although they might be out of the scene now, they would not be happy with someone threatening me. Your threats are as lame as they come and believe me you don't want to go down that path. If you want to test it, your welcome.

Now please, all I asked was for you to FUCK OFF.

FUCK OFF!

thr said...

Please, there's no need for banjos to be sullied in all of this.
Hall may not be high functioning, but it doesn't take much for him to 'loose it'.