We are drowning in it, it is all around us and now affects even our private lives. It is especially prevalent in the current issues surrounding mining - what really is it anyway and what is the difference between a "bullshit" and a lie ?
There is an interesting article on this subject ("On Bullshit by Harry Frankfurt Princeton University Press, 2005") but essentially:
The liar knows the truth and the facts but knowingly makes false statements to deceive or mislead, in order to achieve his desired goals.
The bullshitter however is a fence sitter, and neither lies nor tells the truth. He may not even know what the truth of the matter is, he simply makes it up, maybe using a touch of fact and a bit of absolute fiction, but makes statements to suit his current purpose putting them across as actual facts.
We hear of "bullshit" almost daily by the not so vulgar term "spin" - many (not all) politicians are masters of the art as are many of the mining companies when they attempt to justify the destruction and social upheaval they cause. The current NSW Government has raised the art to a new level.
I think it is a sign of a sick society when one can actually make a career out of "bullshitting" - we know this career path as a "spin doctor" or maybe "media liaison" or some other seemingly innocuous name. Indeed our politicians actually often refer to "spin" as though it is a normal part of social etiquette - whatever they call it, it is still "bullshit".
With relevance to local mining issues, we see Duralie mining management now wanting to use a pristine creek to dump their contaminated waste water despite the fact that their conditions of operation expressly forbid the pollution of local waterways. Their containment dam, it seems, is full. They may argue that "this is their only option"..
Of course this is bullshit - they must have had a plan to get rid of waste water from their dam sometime so one option is to use this "plan" and simply do it. If the plan is failing, it is the mismanagement of the mining operation that allowed this to happen, so it is their responsibility to solve the problem. Perhaps they could reduce operations or put the water back from where it came or move it elsewhere or remove all contaminants.
I can almost hear the cries now.."we cant slow down - what about those who may be put out of work". Again bullshit - of course unemployment is a concern for all as is unemployment caused by the shutdown of a car factory for instance but we dont all rush out and buy cars in response to that. The employment of those related to the mine is NOT the responsibility of the wider community (that may be directly affected by the unconscionable actions by the mine) - it is the sole responsibility of the mine management - and any forced unemployment in this case is a direct result of mine MISmanagement.
Another cry I hear .. "What about the cost and economic effects of slowing down". More bullshit - the cost to the mine caused by their own actions is of no concern to the wider community. As for the economic flow on - whether or not this mine operates has an insignificant affect on the wider economy - we got on quite well before it was there, including those now employed by the mine, and will get on quite well again if it was not there. The longer term economic costs of river and waterway pollution have not even been considered.
There are no factual reasons to pollute - they simply have to clean up their own mess.
A real time example of bullshit in action will be if the ONE SINGLE person in Government - Sartor - allows the discharge to take place even after placing stringent environmental controls over the mine operation.
It is also interesting to note that we actually have in place legislation to "protect" the environment, rural landholders and farmers, and the "rights" of individuals. However, The decision of one man (and I use that term lightly) can throw all this legislation away - our laws might as well be a simple "if Sartor says so - its ok"
We now have the situation where mining companies have more rights than landowners, and its ok when mining totally destroys river systems and fertile farming land - we can build very expensive desalination plants and import our food.
Another example is where our Government makes a big issue over Japanese whaling when they condone the convenient wholesale poisoning of our own wildlife in the name of "feral animal control". (1080 poisons all vertebrates in the food chain)
Another topical issue is where Governments place "heritage" controls on development while selectively ignoring these controls when it suits them.
Happy wallowing..