Thursday 22 January 2009

The legacy of Nicholas Chauvin

There are several important things to remember about Napoleon. He was diminutive but had huge ambitions and a libido to match. Those who liken me to the great emperor are flatterers. He also went bald when young. But in the practise of warfare it was one of his officers who surpassed him - Nicholas Chauvin. Chauvin was so devoted to his country that he may have damaged Napoleon's chances of victory. This was the point I was trying to make in my comments to the Local Government Chronicle last week. I referred to the "instituional chauvinists" of Devon and Cornwall who have, so foolishly, chosen to reject the growing empire of SouthWest One on the grounds of seeking to keep local jobs for local people. What blinkered fools they are. Just like the institutional terrorists who lurk within our great organisations. In this new year I intend to campaign against all these accursed "ists" - the psychiatrists, protagonists, pragmatists, reflexologists, therapists, timpanists, materialists, sentimentalists, dermatologists and institutionalists. You have been warned.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Alan, you are such a PLONKER! Why do you have keep on embarassing us? Some of us have to work with all those people in Devon and Cornwall that you have now successfully alienated. Thank you nor nothing.

Charlie Darwin said...

And we thought SCC had seen the light and told you to shut up! For any Somerset folks that want a real cringe ... read the article at http://www.lgcplus.com/Business/2009/01/region_snubs_shared_services_venture.html