Re den.list-d Digest V2003#23

[Short Ron <ron.short@marshalls.co.uk>]

On the subject of corruption and ignorance Myron states read The Dolphins
are Back. I have never read this book but have heard Myron make reference to
it at a U.K. Deming seminar back in 1999.He used it as an example of
government ignorance. From what I remember the New Jersey Government had
commissioned a new storm drain which discharged into the sea at New Jersey.
On it being used the shore line and the sea became heavily polluted
seriously effecting aquatic life. A local body was set up to investigate
this matter as the government where not interested and insisted what they
had done was correct and in no way had contributed to the fact the shoreline
was heavily polluted. If my memory serves me right the public of New Jersey
discovered that under certain water conditions the states foul sewer could
contaminate the storm drain leading to the pollution situation. The
Government totally dismissed this scenario. This I relate to the ignorance
factor. As regard corruption and not having read the book I cannot comment
but nonetheless can assume that maybe the contractor who built the drain was
related to a government official and that is why he got the job, hence
corruption. One thing Myron did say was that all Governments are guilty of
imposing minimum standards and imposing penalties on those who do not
achieve them, in short they don't offer improvement, improvement then falls
on the heads of individuals as in the story of The Dolphins are Back,  as a
result of public pressure the situation was rectified and the shore line
became non polluted and all the aquatic life returned, maybe Myron could
kindly elaborate a bit more on the Book.

Ron 
 

Ron Short
Works Engineer
Marshalls Mono
Falkirk works