Cautionary tales

Peter Wu

7 March 2012

There are no two ways about it, politics is by nature a dirty business. Firstly, power corrupts. Tales of abuse of power, conduct unbecoming of a high office, and mis-appropriation/mis-use of public funds abound (UK has several politicians falling into this category).

Secondly, office politics is not only vicious, it stinks to high heaven. But you have no choice but to deal with it. One chap I used to work with said he spent about 30% of his time dealing with politics. Do you think people sitting around the table in a cabinet or caucus meeting get on with each other? Far from it. Many are plotting against a colleague for a higher posting.

Thirdly, to get into politics, you have to use all the tricks in the book – dirty ones included – to put your opponent down during a campaign. That’s when all kinds of shit – perceive or real – start to fly. You don’t have to look very far to find an example. Look at Henry Tang. He was exposed as an adulterer, and the owner of a house with an illegal structure. His wife again saved his ass by owing up to it. Was she responsible for it? Poor lady. She deserves a Damehood.

The worst kind and the smelliest of shit is extra-marital affairs and lewd behaviour. Why? Because it invariably grabs our attention and sells newspapers. People are by nature nosey. That explains why all ‘kiss and tell’ books sell so well. Do you think this kind of expose will bring down the candidate? Sometimes it does, like Herman Cain. Sometimes it doesn’t – like Bill Clinton. Regardless, they certainly provide fodder for many a jokes, or materials for the late-night TV shows like David Letterman.

You know, when we see an expose like that done on Henry Tang, it tells me politics has come of age in HK. In China, you don’t hear any. That’s because all the whistle-blowers or potential whistle-blowers had their heads chopped off well before they can blow the whistles. Don’t forget, China is still a communist country in name and a totalitarian regime in nature.

I know politics is a magnet to many. That’s perfectly fine. It takes all sorts. But make sure you chop the heads off your enemies before you put your name in the hat. Sing out if you need some help in head-removals. I can call on my triad friends to help you out. Or take out a new identity. It’s not that difficult to do these days.

If I enter into politics, I will put on a cowboy hat, do a complete facial make-over and change my name to ‘John Wang’. I will win the election hands down in the States.

http://www.nndb.com/people/605/000023536/

John Pedro Wang