blah, blah, blah...

fil·i·bus·ter
[fil-uh-buhs-ter]
noun
- the use of irregular or obstructive tactics by a member of a legislative assembly to prevent the adoption of a measure generally favored or to force a decision against the will of the majority.
- an exceptionally long speech, as one lasting for a day or days, or a series of such speeches to accomplish this purpose.
- a member of a legislature who makes such a speech.
- an irregular military adventurer, especially one who engages in an unauthorized military expedition into a foreign country to foment or support a revolution.

one of the many ways i earn a living includes transcribing for the territorial legislative assembly... the document we create with these transcripts is known in the political world as "hansard" which is simply a word for word record... this means i spend about four and a half hours a day, monday through thursday during the spring or fall sittings typing out what politicians say... i know, it's exhilarating work -- and by that i mean it's not...

never before have i been so aware of what goes on in the government where i live... i don't even think the members of the assembly pay as much attention to what is said... but we're paid to and it's a good thing -- that we're paid that is... over the last couple of days one of the ministers in the house has been filibustering and it has caused me to yearn for a pen or pencil to be inserted into my own eye... filibustering was a relatively new term to me when i started... it just sounded funny, but had little meaning to me... it is basically (as the above definition outlines) a way for politicians to wear out the clock; waste time; enjoy the sound of their own voice... they aren't trying to make a point... nothing they say is said with vigour or conviction or even purpose for that matter... they just speak and speak and speak some more to delay whatever could possibly happen next... seems silly? i know... it is...

but it is accepted, which blows my mind... it's a shame to think that our taxpayer dollars pay for this useless rhetoric and it highlights why sometimes our governments appear to be utterly meaningless... hours upon hours are wasted away for what? and these politicians that stand there and spout out these hours of drivel have nicely padded wallets and bank accounts to go home to after they finally conclude their endless speech about zilch...

the words "government" and "effective use of time" will never be used in the same sentence, other than this one...