From time to time we all need to have a good laugh, especially in times like these. One of my favorites programs (or perhaps I should say programmes) is the absolutely brilliant BBC series Yes Minister and it’s successor, Yes Prime Minister.
For those not familiar with the programs, they follow the trials of a UK government minister named James Hacker as he works hard to accomplish change and reform. At the same time his chief aide, Sir Humphrey Appleby works just as hard to prevent him from succeeding.
On the surface it is a story of the fact that the bureaucracy really runs the show while the elected officials are mere figureheads. But in depth it is a brilliant political satire that many former government officials have called much more of a documentary than a satire.
The show enjoyed a wide fan base, including then real world PM Thatcher who not only watched the show but actually appeared in a skit with the cast members.
In one episode Sir Humphrey explains to his protege why it is important for the civil service to run the show and why the people in charge of government aren’t qualified to do it for real. He points out that there are only 600 or so seats in Parliament and that this means you only need 300 to form a government
Of those 300, about 100 are too old to serve, about 100 are too young, which leaves 100 or so people to fill 100 or so positions, and thus qualifications have nothing to do with it. I’m not sure if this is how we fill positions in our government but it makes as much sense as any other explanation.
Here are a few clips to enjoy, though I urge everyone to go out and rent/buy the DVD’s and watch the whole brilliant series.
On foreign policy (in this case for the UK, but fits just as well for the USA)
On diplomacy
On how to get the result you want
On how polls work
Enjoy the clips folks. Both series are available on DVD.