Comments on: I write letters: Tim Holding replies

By: Hendo

Hendo — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:06:54 +0000

Mmm… I wanted to acknowledge that I read your response. But I don’t really want to knock myself out if you feel you’ve heard it all before.

Just wanted to register that this public servant (who likes your blog) doesn’t agree with the destruction of heritage and ecosystem for private profit as well… but I feel it’s a bit misplaced to go on about nonsensical letters from politicians and their departments in relation to it.

By: Helen

Helen — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:46:56 +0000

Hendo, I’ve already heard all the industry talking points a gazillion times, but you know, knock yourself out if you want to.

As for being irritated, being a flak catcher means you actually get paid to be irritated by the likes of me, just as I get paid to be irritated by people who don’t listen to a word I say about why their ‘puters aren’t working. I, on the other hand (along with approx 80% of the Victorian population) am being paid nothing for being severely irritated by the destruction of everybody’s heritage and ecosystem for private profit, with my taxes going to bolster them as the cherry on top. But being irritated never killed anyone.

By: Hendo

Hendo — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:44:01 +0000

As a person who is normally one of those dreaded ‘flak catchers’ / ‘flunkies’ (on leave at the moment), if you are interested I could provide a rebuttal / the logic behind the things you comment on in the letter you received back. Believe it or not, there is actually a reason to the way it all works. Probably you aren’t interested. But this post and the comments kind of irritated me.

By: Helen

Helen — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:47:13 +0000

No need to apologise for “my wife” – I think 99% of us still use my wife, husband, partner, significant other or whatever.

I can’t see why they sent the letter either, as anyone with a lick o’ sense would take it for the pathetic attempt at pre-emption that I suppose it was.

(Caroline, I might just do that!)

By: fred

fred — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 05:17:31 +0000

My wife [sorry about the possessive] wrote a letter to a federal minister of the previous mob.
She duly got a reply, quite lengthy, assuring her that her concerns, although welcomed, were unnecessary cos the matter was well in hand etc etc. Written by somebody, signed by the minister.
Fair enough, par for the course, standard operating procedure and all that.
Except….
A couple of weeks later we went to our post box [we live in a rural region] and there was a letter for me.
Same letter as the previous, precisely, but addressed, on the front, and in the text, to me.
But…..
My name is different to that of my wife.
And there was no mention of me in the letter she sent, no connection at all.
In fact there are only 2 connections.
We are married.
We have the same postal address.
[Ok there are a few other intimate connections but they are irrelevant to this.]

So, OK, exercise your intellect and cynicism, and maybe even a little conspiracy paranoia.

1.Why was I sent this letter?
2.How did they know who to send it to? I know the procedure, I know how easy it is for government flunkies to do, so really I’m asking ….why bother?

By: Caroline

Caroline — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:03:32 +0000

Please simply email him a link to this post.

By: Helen

Helen — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:15:27 +0000

Kate
I hope he gave himself a right bollocking for wasting ministerial staff time!

By: kate

kate — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:52:40 +0000

The father of a friend of mine (he’s a public servant) wrote a letter to a minister once, the minister of his own department.

He took great pleasure in answering himself some days later.

By: Helen

Helen — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:47:14 +0000

The circular filing cabinet, I believe.

By: shula

shula — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:24:38 +0000

Yes. I’m just dying to see who they handball it to.