From the news: on governance

Governance is the arrangement of use of resources such that a better state of being is provided for those covered by the governance regime. 

As such, governance requires things like: 

• accurate and comprehensive knowledge of who is being governed, and what constitutes - for THEM - a better state of being; 
• a knowledge of, commitment to, and exemplification of ethics, and all other matters that would enable those governed to have confidence - and a good, real basis for that confidence - in their governance;
• exemplification of good governance in how the resources necessary are used - especially those humans involved in the task; 
• an ability to adapt to change, including leaving when changes mean on is no longer beneficial in the role of governance.
  

So ... how do what is being reported hold up to those requirements? 

Well, initially at least, not very well ...

In a staggering betrayal of all his electors, all party is trying to acheive, and simple human decency - a betrayal that mocks and undermines all criticism of those in the other main political party: 

• “Powerful US senator face bribery charges after raid turns up gold bars and cash”   https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/us-news/2023/09/23/us-senator-bribery/  
  This is unbelievably damaging and blatant corruption; 

Other examples are not so good either: 

• “Arundhati Roy: The Dismantling of Democracy in India Will Affect the Whole World”   https://portside.org/2023-09-21/arundhati-roy-dismantling-democracy-india-will-affect-whole-world   
  The text of the writer’s speech as she received the 45^th European Essay Prize on 12^th  September:
  “What’s happening in India is not that loose variety of internet fascism. It’s the real thing.”   
• “Libya dam collapse: engineering expert raises questions about management”   https://theconversation.com/libya-dam-collapse-engineering-expert-raises-questions-about-management-213546  
  This also shows: 
• by exception, the value of good laws and regulations. We have dam safety laws here in Australia that have been reasonable - not perfect - at preventing dam collapses (and there is room to improve the management of dams); and 
• the impact of the climate crisis, as https://www.juancole.com/2023/09/collapse-flooding-climate.html reports that climate changes made this event 50 times more likely and 50% worse.  

• “Dutton reminds us of Abbott, but not in a good way”   https://theaimn.com/dutton-reminds-us-of-abbott-but-not-in-a-good-way/   
• “Home Affairs boss stands down over leaked Liberal texts”   https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/federal-election-2022/2023/09/25/mike-pezzullo-texts-home-affairs/   and   “Unethical conduct by one of Australia’s most senior public servants risks further eroding trust in government”   https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/25/unethical-conduct-by-one-of-australias-most-senior-public-servants-risks-further-eroding-trust-in-government  
  I have long held concerns about the apparent pro-neoliberal/anti-human rights bias of this person, but I did not expect this;
  

Some reports would probably be considered of new evidence that shows a change is necessary, but the TRUTH is that anyone who really knew what these appalling sexual abuses were doing would have known that this casually and dismissively overused dehumanising power is destructive and counter to every principle of good governance:

• “Women prisoners refusing medical treatment and family visits to avoid strip searches - new report”   https://nit.com.au/20-09-2023/7757/traumatic-and-completely-ineffective-new-report-says-women-prisoners-arent-seeing-family-to-avoid-strip-searches   

On the other hand, there IS some new evidence in some areas:

• “We gave $7,500 to people experiencing homelessness — here’s what happened next”   https://theconversation.com/we-gave-7-500-to-people-experiencing-homelessness-heres-what-happened-next-212960    

There is also evidence on the needs to be met: 

• “Ten Challenges for the UN in 2023-2024”   https://www.crisisgroup.org/global/sb11-ten-challenges-un-2023-2024   
• (a The Guardian exclusive)   “Revealed: the ‘carbon bombs’ set to trigger catastrophic climate breakdown”   https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2022/may/11/fossil-fuel-carbon-bombs-climate-breakdown-oil-gas  
  

There are also some examples of good governance - even if those acts are being disputed by uninformed/ideologically blind:

• “France sets up fund through embassies to defend LGBTQ rights”   https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20230918-france-sets-up-fund-through-its-embassies-to-defend-lgbtq-rights   
  “France said Monday that it would set up a fund through its embassies to promote the rights of LGBTQ people, as it met like-minded nations at the United Nations.”
  
• “No, the RBA review won’t mean handing the bank’s decisions to part-time outsiders”   https://theconversation.com/no-the-rba-review-wont-mean-handing-the-banks-decisions-to-part-time-outsiders-214030  
  “The claims need to be corrected.   The Review of the Reserve Bank of Australia, conducted between July 2022 and March 2023, made 51 recommendations, which Treasurer Jim Chalmers is now considering.   The review consulted 137 people, including 27 current or past board members, conducted 224 meetings, surveyed 1,100 people, received 117 submissions, and met with 31 community, labour, business and industry groups and 14 former and current politicians.   We recommended that interest rate and other monetary policy decisions by the Reserve Bank be undertaken by an expert board with diverse perspectives and knowledge.   This board would be responsible only for monetary policy decisions and oversight of the bank’s contribution to financial system stability. Governance would be taken care of by a separate corporate governance board.”
  
• “Tiny homes have existed ‘under the radar’. But changing rules are making the lifestyle more permanent”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/25/tiny-houses-australia-councils-allow   
• “Five key changes to welfare and work rules in Labor’s employment white paper”   (note: a white paper is a proposal for future policy)   https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/sep/25/albanese-working-future-welfare-law-reforms-white-paper-jim-chalmers  
  “Pensioners and jobseekers will be able to work more without losing payments, while TAFE and apprenticeships will get a funding boost in Working Future reforms”  

So ... governance is still imperfect in this world - but some improvements are occurring.

 

Assumptions / basis 

In writing this, I have assumed / started from the following:  

• this blog states quite clearly that it is about political and human rights matters, including lived experience of problems, and thus I will assume readers are reasonable people who have noted the content warning in the post header;

Possible flaws 

Where I can, I will try to highlight possible flaws / issues you should consider:

• there may be flawed logical arguments in the above: to find out more about such flaws and thinking generally, I recommend Brendan  Myers’ free online course “Clear and Present Thinking”; 
  
• I could be wrong - so keep your thinking caps on, and make up your own minds for yourself.
  

 

If they are of any use of interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post. 

 

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Finally, remember: we need to be more human being rather than human doing.