This is the problem when people put forward views in the area of politics, there are so many adamant views based on stupidly simplistic 'logic', some is just pathetic vitriol, particularly when it comes to public servants.
Myth Bust #1: The Public Sector is Evil
Being part of the public service doesn't make an employee more lazy or inefficient than private employees.
It actually depends on the person and the job.
Oh my god. Mind blown. No way.
For instance, employees of the DPP would be less "lazy", naturally more "efficient" and "effective" than many private or public employees of many other fields. It's a high performance, high demanding job with some of the most talented, educated, effective and generally sharp people in the country. Same applies to those who work at the Treasury, or those who work as Doctors in Public Hospitals, or the scientists working for the CSIRO. You know what? The journalists at ABC are actually incredibly high quality. ABC also produces incredibly high quality journalists which then move on to commercial networks, or even networks around the world like CNN.
These are the people some of you happily brush as lazy, scum etc.
I'm sure there's people here who live in a fantasy world believing they are far more intelligent, useful, effective, blah blah blah and therefore have a right to criticise the "public sector scum". I'd hazard a guess that those making rude posts are most likely far less useful to the Australian economy. (Ie, look in the mirror).
Myth Bust #2: The Public Sector is Inefficient and a waste of taxpayers money
It's fine to have an opinion, sure, but seriously, be grounded in reality. Public and private both can be efficient and inefficient. It depends on the people running the show, the circumstances and a whole other host of factors.
The assumption that the public sector is inherently inefficient, or naturally more inefficient than a private counterpart is a misnomer, only to be proven beyond a joke by the fact that our public health system is one of the most efficient systems ever ran in the world. Period.
We are also one of the most influential countries in the world in terms of soft power (ie, cultural output, tourism etc.), lead by the ABC - which has been the principal institution. Yes, it has actually been incredibly profitable for us - perhaps in too much of an indirect way for people to understand.
This leads me to...
Myth Bust #3 ABC doesn't rate like Commercial networks therefore it has no use and is a waste of money
It's easy to put forward a stupidly simplistic formula that ratings suck = failed network.
A better method of argument is to ask:
1. What's the objective of having ABC?
2. Is it still a relevant objective?
3. Is it succeeding in its objective?
The ABC is not set-up as a competitor to private broadcasters in the sense of "programming should be whatever wins us ratings". Historically its objectives have been based around programming serving the public interest in the sense of providing cultural programming, educational programming, coverage for smaller sports, gender and racial diversity etc. It also provides significant coverage for regional areas, and for the youth.
Very importantly, it provides a significant amount of Australian made programming which has helped develop stars that are now on the big screen and known globally. It cannot be underestimated how important it is to develop actors, producers and other people in the arts. Almost every globally famous actor/producer/musicians worked for ABC TV/Radios/Community TV/Home & Away/Neighbours, all of which are owned by the Government or receive significant public funding.
What it effectively does, is provide Australia with an increase in something that is called Soft Power. Highly underestimated by people, it is the most critical area of development in the last few decades, it has been a feature of heavy focus amongst each of the super powers and is considered as important as 'heavy power' (military power). Soft Power is the cultural influence a country has, and when you are a country which can produce significant cultural influence on others, there is a significant boost to be made to the economy. Don't underestimate the value of essentially free global advertising that has been achieved because of our focus on developing the arts through ABC and other publicly funded programs/institutions. People know Australia, through Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Baz Luhrmann, through our famous other artists, musicians and journalists. People also know Australia from Australian made programming by the ABC. This actually helps sell us as a country, it increases tourism, it increases business ties, it increases diplomacy. It helps grow our economy. That's the point of development institutions.
Killing off the ABC will take a substantial hit to our economy in many ways that most of you probably do not phathom. The inability to properly appreciate the profitability from investing in soft power is a genuine problem when voters ultimately decide on Governance, but are too simplistic to realise the lengths we are going to accept what is essentially shooting ourselves in the foot multiple times.
Then there's all the other things, like programming for education, social justice etc. Something that is always undervalued in comparison to the supposed 'economic crisis'.
You want to talk economic inefficiency? Kill off the ABC. The only problem is, people in the future suffer, as in children, future generations. But who really cares about that right? We'd rather live in uninformed denial based on "the vibe".
My biggest gripe here is, if you're going to be exercising your right to free speech with tripe, fine, that's your prerogative, but don't go slamming current employees and many of which are now sacked employees with crap like "lazy" or "lazy bastards" or "clowns" or "scumbags". It's insensitive and downright stupid.
This topic is essentially uninformed people, making uninformed comments, supporting a Government who cuts education making sure we get more uninformed people. It's a catch-22 of stupidity.
I don't even work in the public sector, but there's something wrong with our country when people keep spouting idiotic ideological one-liners instead of actually analyzing the situation with some semblance of intelligence and reasonableness.
