5 ms·

I didn't expect that the current Mayor of London, Boris Johnson would do a decent job when he got elected. Surprisingly enough, he actually does.

NikkiA 17y ago
I did expect him to do a decent job, precisely because everyone was expecting him to be useless, and I've come to realise that the world tends to mess you about that way. Although I'm not a London resident, so I didn't get to vote on him, nor am I (directly) affected by things he does.
gaius 17y ago
It's interesting to see the difference in terms of corporate culture. Ken Livingstone saw himself as hugely important, he would fly his entourage (always first class) to Latin America and sign "treaties" with foreign governments when he should have been, I dunno, running London like he was elected to do. He was completely out of touch, like the CEO of a huge company that's lost it's way. Like the Detroit automakers flying a private jet to DC to ask for a bailout from the taxpayer. Boris doesn't make a fuss, he flies in cattle class, he rides his bike around the city (and around city hall!) and always seems to be in a good mood, and he gets stuff done at an incredible rate, precisely because he's not spending all his time making sure everyone knows how important he is. He's the startup mayor.
- samstokes 17y ago
  Upvoted for interesting perspective. Do you have sources? (That's not meant to be combative - I've also been pleasantly surprised by Boris so far.)
  - gaius 17y ago
    Well, Ken's entourage of 85 people: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23421491-kens-grand-tour-of-india.do http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23421491-kens... Boris flies economy to Beijing: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-mayor/article-23542289-comment-upgrade-politics.do http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-mayor/article-2354228... There are plenty like this. Ken's extravagance and the favours he dished out to his cronies were legendary.

NikkiA 17y ago

I did expect him to do a decent job, precisely because everyone was expecting him to be useless, and I've come to realise that the world tends to mess you about that way. Although I'm not a London resident, so I didn't get to vote on him, nor am I (directly) affected by things he does.

gaius 17y ago

It's interesting to see the difference in terms of corporate culture. Ken Livingstone saw himself as hugely important, he would fly his entourage (always first class) to Latin America and sign "treaties" with foreign governments when he should have been, I dunno, running London like he was elected to do. He was completely out of touch, like the CEO of a huge company that's lost it's way. Like the Detroit automakers flying a private jet to DC to ask for a bailout from the taxpayer. Boris doesn't make a fuss, he flies in cattle class, he rides his bike around the city (and around city hall!) and always seems to be in a good mood, and he gets stuff done at an incredible rate, precisely because he's not spending all his time making sure everyone knows how important he is. He's the startup mayor.

samstokes 17y ago
Upvoted for interesting perspective. Do you have sources? (That's not meant to be combative - I've also been pleasantly surprised by Boris so far.)
- gaius 17y ago
  Well, Ken's entourage of 85 people: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23421491-kens-grand-tour-of-india.do http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23421491-kens... Boris flies economy to Beijing: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-mayor/article-23542289-comment-upgrade-politics.do http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-mayor/article-2354228... There are plenty like this. Ken's extravagance and the favours he dished out to his cronies were legendary.