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Saturday 21 November 2015

I have no absolute evidence for anything.



‘One of the problems in this country, and the reason the children’s sector hasn’t really improved since Victorian times, is because those who deliver services don’t challenge the civil servants. The power and the money is in the hands of civil servants. They’re very clever people but they’re not wise, and they’re not life-experienced.’ She pauses. ‘Look, I have no absolute evidence for anything...
Camila Batmanghelidjh

A wildly extravagant claim about Victorian times. Maybe she also thought she could do without evidence such as... oh I don't know... receipts?

6 comments:

Demetrius said...

Didn't Richard Wagner write an opera called "The Flying Dustman"? It might do well at Covent Garden.

James Higham said...

Absolute evidence - interesting terminology.

Sam Vega said...

I have just read through the entire article, and the quote you have picked is one of the real gems - and there are many. It sums up the whole situation (and possibly her character) in one short speech, and as such it is worthy of a great playwright or novelist.

She starts off spouting pure ignorant bullshit; classic waffle from a person whose confidence outstrips their knowledge of the topic. (There was, of course, virtually no "children's sector" in Victorian Britain.) Then, she catches herself. Maybe, at the pause, she has caught the look on the interviewer's face, or maybe she is reflecting on how utterly daft she sounds. So, the descent into bathos. "I have no absolute evidence for anything...". By which she means, of course, that she has absolutely no evidence for anything.

I find Batwoman, or rather the whole situation, really fascinating. It sums up so much of what is wrong with our whole society.

Sam Vega said...

Sorry to depart from the topic here, but this

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3328577/Overly-enthusiastic-delivery-man-surprises-customer-leaving-parcel-waiting-ROOF.html

relates to your "dangling parcel" post, and I'm not sure whether you review old posts.

My theory is that your picture has started a competition among postmen.

Anonymous said...

A great many influences packaged in that quotation. Certainly Councils seem to do a poor job looking after children - how many go to uni, get driving lessons etc. Loco Parentis not, on the Parish yes. Certainly local officials do not call out or embarrass ministers in public, they just do as told.

Then there is the veiled and unspoken Brixton word, another riot strikes fear into a ministers heart, a few quid bribe is cheap at the political price (not their money anyway). Not of course any such was a motivation. Then there is Ms C, about whom one can say many harsh things but one thing is sure. She was 'life experienced', she played the pols at their own game.

A K Haart said...

Demetrius - but do people know what a dustman was in this age of bin men?

James - I don't think she really gets the evidence thing.

Sam - I find her fascinating too and she is probably worth another post. She seems to give the game away, the shallowness of it. I saw the roof parcel too. Ludicrous thing to do.

Roger - too many parents do a poor job of looking after children as well. Thanks to the media, officials tread a tightrope every time. Ms C may have played the pols at their own game, but weren't they gullible?