Mrs M
yoda76NSW PREMIER – SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME WITH FAMILY?
July 11th 2007 02:09
Over the weekend NSW Premier Morris Iemma was criticized by former political leaders for spending too much time with his family and not spending enough time in the office.
Are they justified in their criticisms?
Well let’s just look at it shall we.
John Hewson, former leader of the Liberal Party, and Nick Greiner former Liberal NSW Premier are the ones who are criticizing Premier Iemma? Could it just be a political stunt? There’s no love lost between Labor and Liberal parties.
Acting Premier John Watkins has defended Premier Iemma….well that was expected.
Last week in Sydney wild winds blew off the top of a train and cut power lines on the Sydney Harbour Bridge causing major traffic and public transport delays. And yet, Premier Iemma did not come in from his holidays to handle the situation. Instead it was Transport Minster (and Acting Premier) John Watkins who handled the situation. Is that unreasonable?
No-one disagrees that parents should spend as much time as they can with their children. Children, no matter what age, need to spend time with their parents. And I don’t imagine that parents have children just to cast them aside….well one would hope.
So why is the NSW Premier any different?
Is Premier Iemma neglecting his duties as leader of New South Wales to spend time with his family? Well I doubt he alone can run New South Wales; that’s why there is an entire party behind him to manage the state’s affairs.
I would love to see Nick Greiner and John Hewson tell Morris Iemma’s children directly that their dad is spending too much time with them. I mean if they are going to say these sorts of things, they shouldn’t hide behind the media; they should get up close and personal. Go on, I dare you!
Earlier this year Jackie Kelly a federal MP announced that she would not contest the next federal election. Federal politics was placing a big burden on her family life and she told The Daily Telegraph Online "You don't get a second chance at motherhood and I feel I need to be with them now, at this stage of their lives."
Joan Kirner, former Victorian Premier, has been quoted saying that she chose state politics over federal politics because it meant less travel and more time at home with her children.
So here is Morris Iemma, a man, choosing to spend time with his family and not stay in the office until all hours. Good on him.
Are they justified in their criticisms?
Well let’s just look at it shall we.
John Hewson, former leader of the Liberal Party, and Nick Greiner former Liberal NSW Premier are the ones who are criticizing Premier Iemma? Could it just be a political stunt? There’s no love lost between Labor and Liberal parties.
Acting Premier John Watkins has defended Premier Iemma….well that was expected.
Last week in Sydney wild winds blew off the top of a train and cut power lines on the Sydney Harbour Bridge causing major traffic and public transport delays. And yet, Premier Iemma did not come in from his holidays to handle the situation. Instead it was Transport Minster (and Acting Premier) John Watkins who handled the situation. Is that unreasonable?
No-one disagrees that parents should spend as much time as they can with their children. Children, no matter what age, need to spend time with their parents. And I don’t imagine that parents have children just to cast them aside….well one would hope.
So why is the NSW Premier any different?
Is Premier Iemma neglecting his duties as leader of New South Wales to spend time with his family? Well I doubt he alone can run New South Wales; that’s why there is an entire party behind him to manage the state’s affairs.
I would love to see Nick Greiner and John Hewson tell Morris Iemma’s children directly that their dad is spending too much time with them. I mean if they are going to say these sorts of things, they shouldn’t hide behind the media; they should get up close and personal. Go on, I dare you!
Earlier this year Jackie Kelly a federal MP announced that she would not contest the next federal election. Federal politics was placing a big burden on her family life and she told The Daily Telegraph Online "You don't get a second chance at motherhood and I feel I need to be with them now, at this stage of their lives."
Joan Kirner, former Victorian Premier, has been quoted saying that she chose state politics over federal politics because it meant less travel and more time at home with her children.
So here is Morris Iemma, a man, choosing to spend time with his family and not stay in the office until all hours. Good on him.
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Comment by Aimzster
Reality TV
The Jeepney Stop
First Time Mum
Totally agree with you. We need more people who believe in family comes first in politics.
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Kman was one of the sorry people walkin over the bridge. I rang him at the time he usually gets HOME and he was still in nuetral bay, walkin, leaving the bus he usually catches miles behind him. This was a sad incident indeed.
Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
it's so hard for anyone to try and juggle politics with a normal family life...
But family should always come first no matter what...so I don't think he did anything all that wrong...
Had there been a major crisis, I'm sure he would have come off holiday to handle it...
That's my opinion anyway...
Great read!
Take care,
Nick
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Hi Kleonaptra,
I'm assuming Kman got home eventually.
Hi Nick,
I mean it was a transport issue....so what was he going to do other than consult the Transport Minister....well like I said the Tranport Minister is also the Acting Premier.
At the moment it is school holidays here in Australia so he timed his holidays to coincide. Can't hang a man for that can you?
Thanks for the visit and the comments.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
As it stands, he's rich and powerful and can easily afford to do what he is and get away with it.
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
You're totally right. Work/life balance is becoming more and more important to all Australians....and if our politcians are supposed to represent us, surely it should be important to them too.
I'm sure if it had of been a national emergency then he would have been there. But in this case would the outcome have been any different if he'd come in? Very unlikely.
Besides, I'm sure he was on the phone to John Watkins about it.
Kylie
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
He is, at the end of the day, accountable for the state's affairs. What I said was he doesn't do it all on his own.
Exactly what is he getting away with? He's still copping flak for it. He hasn't given up doing his job just because he wants to spend time with his family....the two aren't mutually exclusive.
He does have an enormous responsibility and gets remunerated accordingly. I'm not about to get into a debate about what politicians earn.
But, they do put in a hell of a lot of hours.
Just because he's a politician does that mean he shouldn't spend time with his family?
Running a state I don't think is an enviable position.
As for being 'connected with the people'...that was Kleonaptra's view of things. Not something Iemma said.
I happen to agree with Kleonaptra.
Hi Kylie,
I've been reading a book called "Let go of my leg". It's about stay at home mothers getting back into the workforce...giving advice basically.
Anyway....it mentioned in the book that there are advisors out there for CEO's of major companies advising them how to reconnect with their family and how to have a life outside of the office.
And yes, I'm sure if it had been a major disaster then he would have come into to deal with it. And yeah, I'm sure he was on the phone to John Watkins.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
on the other hand, he's a politician who is supposed to be getting things done, like all politicians he probably isn't doing avery good job, now I don't give a shit about his personal life, he uses my tax dollars to work, and that he should do, if he is spending too much time with his family odds are he's spending more than he should be.
You want the truth? He's the same asshole who makes it difficult for other men to spend time with their families. He's not spending time with his family because he's an all around ncie guy, though that probably is his intent, to fool people into supporting him (as politicians do). He gets paid bucket loads and can get away with this sort of stuff because people don't seem to understand that he's tricking them.
In the US congress there was this man who travels all the way back to his hometown from washington (a plane flight) to spend the weekend with his family. Of course he has his fair share of 'wow, look how nice that man is, spending time with his family', it also happens to be this nice man voted against incrasing the minimum income wage, voted against lowering maximum work hours and then when a law came about to increase the amount of time spent in congress (namely a law to make him work about an hour more each day) he was against it because he thought it wouldn't be right or fair since he wouldn't be able to spend time with his family.
Don't get me started on the obscenely high wages politicians 'earn' and the low taxes they pay, they are overpaid and it's proof enough they are overpaid because only wealthy people are running for office these days, they just want more and mroe money and what better way of doing it than being in control of how much you earn?
Seriouly, never ever look at a politician doing something in a nice light, because odds are they're hypocrtical about the situation, and they always will be, if they do something that sounds appealing to you odds are they're kicking you in the ass elsewhere.
Comment by Damo
HMMMM?
Picture this.
I am on holidays and there is a bit of a disaster.
Do I come back suddenly and cope all the blame from what went wrong or do I stay away and let someone else cop the flack.
Oh yer baby. Time for some quality time with the family. I'll come back when it is all cleaned up. Well done boys.
That is what i call crisis management.
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
So you want to punish the kids because Iemma is a politician?
They do get paid obscenely high wages...I'm not talking about wages...I'm talking about family life. Don't confuse the two. You want to take issue with his wage, that's fine but you shouldn't say that just because you earn lots of money you shouldn't spend time with your family.
Politicians spend an obscene amount of time at the office. I ask you, what are they getting away with?
As for your US congressman example, well then the people need to vote him out at the next election. That's what the people should do if they are not happy with their elected officials...not deny them basic rights to see their family.
because only wealthy people are running for office these days,
Also, you really think Iemma is spending time with his family to fool me into voting for him?
Hi Damo,
No need to be so cynical Damo.
Honestly, what was he going to do in that situation? What could he have done that John Watkins couldn't have?
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Damo
I not saying that Iemma did this.
I am just saying what I would do.
I remember Gough Witlam getting flack for being slow to come back from OS when Cyclone Tracy hit. Critics came with the job.
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Critics....part of being a politician.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
The way I see it the man is a Politician not Superman. Like any other person he deserves to spend time with his family as well as take a time out - people are not designed to cope with that amount of stress with no break without having a breakdown. Perhaps from now new stipulations for Government should be only single people can be elected... and be part robot so that they can be working 24/7.
As everyone else has said if it was something really drastic he probably would have come back - in all likelihood it was probably something which was discussed amongst the powers that be anyway. His second in charge would have been able to handle anything too - and after all he was a simple phonecall away should the wheels have really fallen off. Him coming back would not have fixed the power any quicker or put the roof back on the train!
ash
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Government should be only single people can be elected... and be part robot so that they can be working 24/7.
That's right. Iemma coming back would have just been more of a PR exercise than anything else. In this situation, I doubt Iemma would have been able to do anything more than what John Watkins did to help the situation.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Food Slate
Like any good government, there should be other Ministers in place to manage the situation while/if he's away. A good leader empowers his people... and he did right to *allow* that person to handle the situation. Out of sight doesn't mean no one was calling him/Iemma every 20 minutes or so -- nor does it mean he wasn't providing counsel remotely. There will always be critics though...
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by yoda76
The Tube Blog
You're a peanut.
Mrs M
People are people, and only human. Iemma (or any other politician) should be able to not only take time off, but especially if it is to spend time at home.
I don't trust pollies who have no idea about what it is to raise a family (albeit in privileged circumstances). Everyone you mentioned above copped flak for taking a step back to be with their families. It's especially hard for women, as they always get the "they can't hack it and should never have been there in the first place" jubes. But hats off to them - I don't like them, but respect to them for choosing family over career.
Pollies are overpaid. We know this. But if I was in a position where my entire life was under scrutiny and was working more or less 24 hours a day, and being criticised for going home to my family - I'd want a good paycheck to make up for it.
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
Wonderful post. Some of the comments Good Lord. Give 'em hell girlfriend!
Mis
PS. My tombstone isn't going to read
"Was a wonderful family and sex therapist"
[hee hee]
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
I love a good debate
Your tombstone:-
"She told it how it was"
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
HAHAHAHAHA
"She told it how it was"
If you only knew ;0)
Love your debate posts btw
Mis