Politics As Usual

Tonight has been a very casual night spent in front of the tv wearing my comfortable flannel pj's with some hot pizza and a comfortable blanket.

After doing some much neglected yard work, I caught up on some of the programs I have recorded over the past couple of weeks but haven't watched.

I chose two episodes of Yes, Prime Minister that have been sitting in my DVR for too long. This is a show that PBS runs on Saturday nights. I have set the recorder to capture it each weekend and then I can watch it whenever I have an hour's free time. Like tonight.

Anyway, the show ran on the BBC in the late 80's. So, yes, it is based on British politics from almost twenty years ago. But what makes the series timeless is that politics (and politicians) never change. The bureaucratic process is always a mess; political infighting is a constant; political leaders are often clueless and are only interested in obtaining headlines while engaging in damage control. Moreover, the issues are still the same here and now as they were across the pond two decades ago: bungled foreign policy, an exponentially national debt, a belligerent opposition party, and diminished funding to the arts (tonight's dilemma).

So, those interested in the comedy of politics (excuse the redundant redundnacy), check out this show.

There are three primary characters: Sir Humphrey Appleby, minister of the civil service who is duty bound to the process of government. That is, appearing to be busy is more important than being busy itself. His central belief is that nothing gets done in the sunlight of government; true governing is done behind closed doors without citizen involvement. He serves the Prime Minister, Jim Hacker, a lovable but aloof politician who wants to create a legacy but isn't quite sure how to serve the public's immediate whims and perpetuate a stable government at the same time. Caught in the middle is the PM's secretary, Bernard Woolley, who simultaneously wants to be loyal to his personal boss, the PM, and to the institution he has sworn allegiance to- the civil service (ruled by Sir Humphrey).

Sir Humphry is an elitist snob who goes out of his way to say nothing of significance even though he may ramble on for five minutes.

Two of my favorite rants:

Sir Humphrey Appleby: I must express in the strongest possible terms my profound opposition to the newly instituted practice which imposes severe and intolerable restrictions on the ingress and egress of senior members of the hierarchy and will, in all probability, should the current deplorable innovation be perpetuated, precipitate a progressive constriction of the channels of communication, culminating in a condition of organisational atrophy and administrative paralysis which will render effectively impossible the coherent and co-ordinated discharge of the function of government within Her Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Jim Hacker: You mean you've lost your key?

Sir Humphrey: It's clear that the Committee has agreed that your new policy is really an excellent plan. But in view of the doubts being expressed, may I propose that I recall that after careful consideration, the considered view of the Committee was that, while they considered that the proposal met with broad approval in principle, that some of the principles were sufficiently fundamental in principle, and some of the considerations so complex and finely balanced in practice that in principle it was proposed that the sensible and prudent practice would be to submit the proposal for more detailed consideration, laying stress on the essential continuity of the new proposal with existing principles, the principal of the principal arguments which the proposal proposes and propounds for their approval. In principle.

But what makes the series truly unique is the uncanny but predictable way in which Jim Hacker, despite his ineffective and hands-off manner of governing, always gets his way. Each episode ends with Humphrey or Wooley conceding defeat stammering, "Yes, Prime Minister."

Believe me, it's a brilliant show.