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I am already consider cynical by many, but reading about the scandal constantly reminds me how naive I am. Just how low can government and politicians get.

by ksec 2y ago

exe34 2y ago
> Just how low can government and politicians get. As low as it takes for a profit!
- gorft 2y ago
  Upvoted you because last I checked, Fujitsu is a private entity being run for a profit.
bowsamic 2y ago
I actively avoided the news and outrage about this for my own sanity. It was just too shocking. The worst part is that I'd heard about it and got mad about it many years ago, and it wasn't until a TV documentary came out recently that anything happened.
- bobnamob 2y ago
  Echoing this, I've been passively following the inquiry but haven't watched the miniseries. I think it would leave me furious for weeks and push me into a depression rut. I'm trying to take the whole debacle as long term inspiration to be excellent at what I do - it's tough to stay positive when so many people involved (Fujitsu, PO upper management, the original prosecution) seem entirely morally bereft, with little chance of consequence.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
xenadu02 2y ago
I guess some people never learn from trying to cover their mistakes as children. I've explained this to my kids: often the initial mistake is minor and warrants nothing more than "please don't do that again". It is the lying and hiding that blow it up into a big issue. The odds of being found out are very high. There is little reward and lots of risk. When you have such a widespread and ongoing problem it becomes clear that such a large proportion of postmasters can't be criminals. Computer bugs are well known. Eventually it is going to come out that the computer is wrong. Why double-down? The earlier you admit a mistake and apologize the lower the impact and the less anyone cares. They had a built-in scapegoat that everyone understands and accepts: the vendor's software had bugs! We have daily meetings to yell at them to fix the bugs we promise and we will fix the problems ASAP. Or do the sneaky thing and fix the issues, stop prosecuting postmasters, and ignore the ones you prosecuted by mistake. Cynical, cruel, and immoral... but contains the damage. Instead the UK Postoffice seems to have just let the problems continue while simultaneously allowing prosecutions to go ahead knowing they were faulty. Literally the worst of all worlds: ongoing accumulation of liability, now with provable malice!
- lucianbr 2y ago
  Were there actual bad consequences for the upper management and politicians involved? I think the risk assessment you teach your children does not apply to british politicians. I heard some convictions of innocent people have been overturned, or are in the process of. But new convictions of the actually guilty... no news about any such thing. Maybe I'm just uninformed.
  - xenadu02 2y ago
    > Were there actual bad consequences for the upper management and politicians involved Fair enough. The investigation is still ongoing but as of now I don't think anyone who knew (or should have known) has been punished. The UK public are the ones on the hook for recompense.

I am already consider cynical by many, but reading about the scandal constantly reminds me how naive I am. Just how low can government and politicians get.

by ksec 2y ago

I am already consider cynical by many, but reading about the scandal constantly reminds me how naive I am. Just how low can government and politicians get.

exe34 2y ago

> Just how low can government and politicians get. As low as it takes for a profit!

gorft 2y ago
Upvoted you because last I checked, Fujitsu is a private entity being run for a profit.

bowsamic 2y ago

I actively avoided the news and outrage about this for my own sanity. It was just too shocking. The worst part is that I'd heard about it and got mad about it many years ago, and it wasn't until a TV documentary came out recently that anything happened.

bobnamob 2y ago
Echoing this, I've been passively following the inquiry but haven't watched the miniseries. I think it would leave me furious for weeks and push me into a depression rut. I'm trying to take the whole debacle as long term inspiration to be excellent at what I do - it's tough to stay positive when so many people involved (Fujitsu, PO upper management, the original prosecution) seem entirely morally bereft, with little chance of consequence.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

xenadu02 2y ago

I guess some people never learn from trying to cover their mistakes as children. I've explained this to my kids: often the initial mistake is minor and warrants nothing more than "please don't do that again". It is the lying and hiding that blow it up into a big issue. The odds of being found out are very high. There is little reward and lots of risk. When you have such a widespread and ongoing problem it becomes clear that such a large proportion of postmasters can't be criminals. Computer bugs are well known. Eventually it is going to come out that the computer is wrong. Why double-down? The earlier you admit a mistake and apologize the lower the impact and the less anyone cares. They had a built-in scapegoat that everyone understands and accepts: the vendor's software had bugs! We have daily meetings to yell at them to fix the bugs we promise and we will fix the problems ASAP. Or do the sneaky thing and fix the issues, stop prosecuting postmasters, and ignore the ones you prosecuted by mistake. Cynical, cruel, and immoral... but contains the damage. Instead the UK Postoffice seems to have just let the problems continue while simultaneously allowing prosecutions to go ahead knowing they were faulty. Literally the worst of all worlds: ongoing accumulation of liability, now with provable malice!

lucianbr 2y ago
Were there actual bad consequences for the upper management and politicians involved? I think the risk assessment you teach your children does not apply to british politicians. I heard some convictions of innocent people have been overturned, or are in the process of. But new convictions of the actually guilty... no news about any such thing. Maybe I'm just uninformed.
- xenadu02 2y ago
  > Were there actual bad consequences for the upper management and politicians involved Fair enough. The investigation is still ongoing but as of now I don't think anyone who knew (or should have known) has been punished. The UK public are the ones on the hook for recompense.