4 ms·

He’s somewhat unique - and possibly the only state wizard in the world. Bureaucrats tend not to know what to do with him. Worth pointing out he was doing this

He’s somewhat unique - and possibly the only state wizard in the world. Bureaucrats tend not to know what to do with him. Worth pointing out he was doing this for decades before the council started supporting him and he will probably carry on.

throwawaylinux 5y ago
Yeah but the old "just this once because it's a unique situation and surely nobody would care and and everybody would agree it's for the best anyway and I can't even see how it's a problem in the first place" is how a lot of corruption happens. If the mayor's brother was given a no-bid contract to be appointed court jester or town drunk and given $368,000 for his services, the problem would become easier to see. Even if it was possibly the only such appointment in the world.
- Aeolun 5y ago
  But none of those things are true. He’s not a court jester, he’s nobody’s brother, he’s doing it regardless of pay, and the amount he was paid for it was by all measures a paltry sum. It doesn’t look like a problem because it isn’t one.
  - throwawaylinux 5y ago
    Are you being deliberately obtuse, or do you actually think I said he was a court jester?? Do you think that $368,000[1] of public money for a small local government is a "paltry sum" , or that the amount of money changes whether a politician should have to follow proper processes? I know lots of people wouldn't think it's a problem and I'm an old curmudgeon. Lots of people are fine with low level corruption and poor practices that can lead to corruption or the appearance of corruption. I acknowledged that the very first thing I said, if that also wasn't clear. [1] Sure its NZD but come on that's got to be at least 80 real dollars.
    - amcoastal 5y ago
      Have you thought this through at all? There are so many instances of local governments paying single artists for their art that isn't a problem. Have you walked around a city and enjoyed murals or art installations? Do you see those and your hair stands up on your neck worrying about the bidding process for those pieces? Why do you not want people to have nice things.
      - throwawaylinux 5y ago
        You didn't answer my questions, but I'll be polite and answer yours. Yes, yes, and yes. Have you thought about it at all? You clearly completely missed the point with my example when you triumphantly announced he isn't anyone's brother. You don't know what he does for the person giving him public money. Similarly way off the point saying he's not a jester. Why should a jester not be allowed to have public money but a "wizard" can? > There are so many instances of local governments paying single artists for their art that isn't a problem. Non sequitur. I can't quite fathom this thinking. There are lots of instances of local governments paying for lots of things, and lots of instances of corruption in local government. > Have you walked around a city and enjoyed murals or art installations? Do you see those and your hair stands up on your neck worrying about the bidding process for those pieces? Yes absolutely if they are or seem questionable. > Why do you not want people to have nice things. Pathetic.
    - Aeolun 5y ago
      My point is that he’s actually providing a service (or has been anyway). These things become problematic when no service is provided, or the quality of service is lower than you would have gotten otherwise. Clearly service was provided for going on 20 years, so that’s just fact. I also think that $18.000 NZD per year, for any local government, hell, even for a corner bakery, is a paltry amount. That’s below minimum wage anywhere that I know of.
      - throwawaylinux 5y ago
        > These things become problematic when no service is provided, or the quality of service is lower than you would have gotten otherwise. No, they are a problem when the process is not transparent or fair and open to others and don't have some modicum of value for money estimations performed. > I also think that $18.000 NZD per year, for any local government, hell, even for a corner bakery, is a paltry amount. That’s below minimum wage anywhere that I know of. I don't know what that has to do with how "fair" the money for the service was. He was not an employee, he was not being paid a salary to do a full time job. He got $368,000 for... something. Continuing his public performances that he was doing anyway and would have continued to do. Doesn't sound like the local tax payer got anything at all out of it. The politicians bought themselves a publicity stunt.

throwawaylinux 5y ago

Yeah but the old "just this once because it's a unique situation and surely nobody would care and and everybody would agree it's for the best anyway and I can't even see how it's a problem in the first place" is how a lot of corruption happens. If the mayor's brother was given a no-bid contract to be appointed court jester or town drunk and given $368,000 for his services, the problem would become easier to see. Even if it was possibly the only such appointment in the world.

Aeolun 5y ago
But none of those things are true. He’s not a court jester, he’s nobody’s brother, he’s doing it regardless of pay, and the amount he was paid for it was by all measures a paltry sum. It doesn’t look like a problem because it isn’t one.
- throwawaylinux 5y ago
  Are you being deliberately obtuse, or do you actually think I said he was a court jester?? Do you think that $368,000[1] of public money for a small local government is a "paltry sum" , or that the amount of money changes whether a politician should have to follow proper processes? I know lots of people wouldn't think it's a problem and I'm an old curmudgeon. Lots of people are fine with low level corruption and poor practices that can lead to corruption or the appearance of corruption. I acknowledged that the very first thing I said, if that also wasn't clear. [1] Sure its NZD but come on that's got to be at least 80 real dollars.
  - amcoastal 5y ago
    Have you thought this through at all? There are so many instances of local governments paying single artists for their art that isn't a problem. Have you walked around a city and enjoyed murals or art installations? Do you see those and your hair stands up on your neck worrying about the bidding process for those pieces? Why do you not want people to have nice things.
    - throwawaylinux 5y ago
      You didn't answer my questions, but I'll be polite and answer yours. Yes, yes, and yes. Have you thought about it at all? You clearly completely missed the point with my example when you triumphantly announced he isn't anyone's brother. You don't know what he does for the person giving him public money. Similarly way off the point saying he's not a jester. Why should a jester not be allowed to have public money but a "wizard" can? > There are so many instances of local governments paying single artists for their art that isn't a problem. Non sequitur. I can't quite fathom this thinking. There are lots of instances of local governments paying for lots of things, and lots of instances of corruption in local government. > Have you walked around a city and enjoyed murals or art installations? Do you see those and your hair stands up on your neck worrying about the bidding process for those pieces? Yes absolutely if they are or seem questionable. > Why do you not want people to have nice things. Pathetic.
  - Aeolun 5y ago
    My point is that he’s actually providing a service (or has been anyway). These things become problematic when no service is provided, or the quality of service is lower than you would have gotten otherwise. Clearly service was provided for going on 20 years, so that’s just fact. I also think that $18.000 NZD per year, for any local government, hell, even for a corner bakery, is a paltry amount. That’s below minimum wage anywhere that I know of.
    - throwawaylinux 5y ago
      > These things become problematic when no service is provided, or the quality of service is lower than you would have gotten otherwise. No, they are a problem when the process is not transparent or fair and open to others and don't have some modicum of value for money estimations performed. > I also think that $18.000 NZD per year, for any local government, hell, even for a corner bakery, is a paltry amount. That’s below minimum wage anywhere that I know of. I don't know what that has to do with how "fair" the money for the service was. He was not an employee, he was not being paid a salary to do a full time job. He got $368,000 for... something. Continuing his public performances that he was doing anyway and would have continued to do. Doesn't sound like the local tax payer got anything at all out of it. The politicians bought themselves a publicity stunt.