The authors critic on supply chains and the power of banks is correct,but the most subtle point he made has been over looked.

"Economic change also creates organisational change. KPIs have replaced collegiality. Bullying is rife. There's a raft of middle managers who make Richard III look like Kimba the White Lion, as workers toil in institutional psychic prisons."

Democracy has been founded upon equal opportunity and transparent government. As someone who tried at a senior level to reform my small segment of government, I am appalled at the decline of the "separation of powers between politics and the bureaucracy. I left in dismay 15+ years ago, but have watched the continued decline thru my partner who continued on. State governments no longer have a functional public service. The talent (believe me 15 years ago there was skilled talent) has been exorcized and replaced by "yes sir, how far do you want me to bender over" types who have no skills overthere than running fad management and KPI's to cover their bloated posteriors and use fear and bullying to an extent that would make "Tom Brown Schooldays" look like Sesame street.

During this China Syndrome pandemic, don't expect help from our overpaid bureaucracy… they don't know how and will need 12 months of expensive KPMG/PWC/McKinley consultant reports before they can advice us on what to use as an alternative to the now extent bog roll!

Of course they can all work at home, while the rest of us need to work or starve. They will probably even claim or be given payments to cover the home utility bills and office use!!

Yes the author is correct about global supply chain weakness, but fundamentally our chronic disease is an impotent, unskilled, ethic less, bullying senior management in the public service.

The only thing they are good at is wasting money and hobbling our economy and destroying our country with PC propaganda, particularly thru our schools and universities.

"I have experienced the ruthless greed of "standard" everyday people who do nothing but holding out their hands whilst condemning those who at least employ people !"

Posted by individual,

Hear! Hear! Plenty of them on the take in small ways that add up.