CHOOSING ONE'S OWN REALITY

 

Mr Raab complains that the threshold for bullying is too low. He fails to understand that it is in fact very high and that the standard of behaviour expected of a government minister is indeed a high mark, as it should be. Any government in any democratic society, if it is to remain in power, must display the highest standards of integrity and accountability. If not, then it is without any credibility at all. The low standard as set by Mr Johnson cannot be tolerated, and it would seem that all his chosen ministers, who still remain in government, do not understand what honesty, integrity and accountability actually mean. The privilege of power in a democracy demands the highest comportment and behaviour in every aspect. Without that high threshold the United Kingdom will continue to be viewed as a sideshow to the rest of the world. How can the United Kingdom hope to remain a powerful voice for democracy elsewhere if it has no standards at home? The bar for integrity has to be set high for a reason. The petulant Mr Raab and his conservative colleagues seem to forget that.

Managing a government department should be performed with professionalism and real leadership. Requesting excellence from one’s co-workers and cooperation can only be achieved by displaying the highest standards oneself. If leading by example has any value or meaning, then the highest standards must prevail. Mr Raab’s behaviour is clearly so low that he doesn’t realise the problem. He believes himself to be a perfectionist, rather than a bully. A perfectionist would never be complained of, nor would they display aggressive and intimidating behaviour of any kind. Mr Raab needs to grow up. He apparently attended Dr Challoner’s Grammar School, Amersham whose motto is AD ASTRA PER ASPERA – Through hardship to the stars. I’m not sure whether there is any great lesson to be learned from that, but in any event Dominic Raab must view it as an endorsement to pushing his way through to success of some kind, come what may. In other words, being a bully. I suppose it’s one way of approaching life. Kellyanne Conway claimed in January 2017 that you chose your own reality, your own alternative facts. She was one of Mr Trump’s counsellors at the time. Mr Raab has clearly adopted this as his current motto in keeping with his reach to the stars.