where does the buck stop?

So, you're in public office, you owe your livelihood to the Government but you see things that, to your sense of public spirit, fairness and justice don't seem to add up. Why is this person taking payments from that person who stands to gain from a particular decision? Surely, you think, the decision, from a pubic official, should be bound by the laws of the land and the will of the people that you all serve.

Something fishy going on, but can you say anything? Your home, family, kids depend upon your income. Toe the line, accept this corruption, hold your nose and allow it to happen? It's very tempting. Too tempting or too easy perhaps?

But you're not happy about it. But the bills pile up. Life's commitments arrive as sure as eggs are eggs. You work hard and gain promotion and then it's you making the decisions. You who is targeted with financial reward for ticking a box when you know it's not right, but hell you said nothing. What difference will it make?

And then because you said nothing, because you're 'one of us', your star shines brightly and you get promoted way above your level of ability. You become chief executive of whatever it is. It doesn't really matter what it is. The NHS? The MoD? It doesn't really matter because what you do, other than fronting up the thing, is irrelevant to the operational activity of the thing - that's run by civil servants who didn't quite shine so brightly (but had exactly the same background).

And then, as you knew it would, it all fucks up. Because there was no leadership or backbone or commitment to improving services. Because you didn't have a hand on the tiller. Not that your hand on the tiller would have been any good because you don't really know what you're doing.

Anyway. You had a good run. You'll have to resign of course. Quietly if possible. But they'll pay you a few million to do so and your £150k a year pension is inflation protected.

Did you make a difference? Did you improve the service? Did you provide value for money?

Who cares? You're OK.