By and large, and with some exceptions, 'polies' are shifty, untrustworthy ratbags who will sail happily in any direction with any prevailing wind provide the wind is strong enough. 'Pen-pushers', on the other hand, will only ever sail, nay, steam, in one direction, that is, the direction that their predecessors (and former bureaucratic bosses), told them to steam! What was done yesterday will be done again today, and then yet again tomorrow, and then forever and ever, amen! Er, well, until they hit the rocks, that is!
We have before us the perfect representation of this state of affairs in the European (dis)Union where the entrenched bureaucracy ignores the effects of its edicts and simply goes on and on doing what it had done before. They epitomise the words of the late Marshal Juncker Foch, "My centre is giving way, my right is retreating, situation excellent, I am attacking." In the distance the sound of beating drums and approaching gunfire is not permitted to interfere with doing today what was done yesterday and will be done again tomorrow.
The 'polies', perhaps being slightly closer to the 'Peeps', well, closer than the satraps in Brussels, are perhaps becoming slightly uneasy but then again, their sinecure jobs and perks and pensions all depend on the status quo remaining absolutely intact. Even so, their unease will grow to panic when the hostile Italian advance gathers yet more strength and pace and power in the Autumn.
Can't wait!
I feel your quote of Marshall Foch may have been misplaced, given that his attack resulted in a significant victory on the Marne.
Posted by: Pat | Tuesday, 29 May 2018 at 19:37
Plus I think you have left and right interchanged; the schleifen plan called for the German right to envelope the French left- Foch's response was to threaten envelopment of the German left with the French right.
Posted by: Pat | Tuesday, 29 May 2018 at 19:51
"...their sinecure jobs and perks and pensions all depend on the status quo remaining absolutely intact." Let somebody who is a bit of an outsider take the helm at #10 Downing St. who manages to upset all this status quo money wasting and watch the feathers fly if he or she catches on with the public!
Posted by: Whitewall | Tuesday, 29 May 2018 at 19:55
On the subject under discussion however, the EU may well have overreached. Threatening chaos to Italian markets may be enough to get certain Italian politicians in line, but it may also trigger a collapse of Italian banks. If so there ain't enough money in the whole EU to bail them out, even on the extend and pretend basis that they "bailed out" Greece. The only option will be for Italy to default on part of its debts, and probably leave the Euro so that it can devalue. Since Italy has a primary surplus, i.e. it's only borrowing to pay past debts, this wouldn't hurt Italians much.
Posted by: Pat | Tuesday, 29 May 2018 at 20:00
The situation with Italian banks and EU banks in general are leading a stock market route over here for now.
Posted by: Whitewall | Tuesday, 29 May 2018 at 20:42
The situation re. Italy is leading to worldwide market falls. Precipitated by a move supposed to create stability.
Posted by: Pat | Tuesday, 29 May 2018 at 21:29
Italian President Sergio Mattarella may have just pulled off a silent coup? The message to the masses is pretty clear and in the next election, they are expected to vote 'correctly'. It seems there is quite a bit of that expectation going on in Europe today.
Posted by: Whitewall | Wednesday, 30 May 2018 at 11:54