pprof’s 2008 website

I just turned on the TV to watch a little bit of this political debate and was quite delighted to see my favorite politician, former Finance Minister Ivan Miklos. Yep, I thought, I know why I like him. He always approaches the subject in that matter-of-fact tone, mentions facts rather than rumors and pure conjectures.

His opponent in the debate, Minister of Culture Marek Madaric, in contrast, despite his businessman-like elegance, was pure fluff: We are doing whatever we can. Of course, we make mistakes. But we really are doing our best. And yes, we may have faltered in some cases but our efforts are for the greatest benefit of the society… (you get the point)

So what can this government do besides throwing in lofty phrases? Well, it can pass feel-good regulations. Regulations in education, healthcare, … you name it, they’ve probably at least attempted to regulate it. So what’s wrong with all these regulations?

Well, let’s say you have a problem with your child. No, you have a problem with students in your class. Does what you say to the child always make a difference? You don’t solve the problems; you talk. And as much as I love talking, I like getting things accomplished better. I like what’s matter-of-fact. I like offering someone a helping hand when they take the initiative rather than forcing some well-inclined (but inefficient) solution on the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

But I guess for the two years to follow we’ll still have to listen to the well-meaning voices of our “social(ist) politicians.” But for now, all I can say is “It must be the heat, or some rare disease, or too much to eat, or maybe it’s fleas.” (from West Side Story) Or else I can’t explain what they’re doing. And as for what they say, I’ll stick to Anne Bradstreet’s “I’ll stop my ears at these thy charms and count them for my deadly harms.”