Yielding to the delegates

You, gentle reader, would have no idea of this, but every government has phalanxes of officials whose responsibility it is to figure out when and who gets to dig up what on city streets every day. No matter what the cause, the digging is always a mess, it disrupts traffic, is a hazard to pedestrians and, therefore, we governments are pretty much on a constant quest to find better ways of getting the job done. Surely, it was with this admirable goal in mind when Singapore asks this International Organization (henceforth, “IO”) to undertake a comparative study. Unfortunately, Singapore is only an Observer in this IO; the secretariat nods politely and moves on. What ho! France, who is a full Member, is also enthusiastic, raises his flag at the meeting, and supports the proposal. Again, a polite nod. Finally, an American businessman also expresses interest, but he is not even an Observer – just a ¼ nod will do for him. As the meeting draws to a close, memories of proposals I have quashed, budgets which I have shrunk, rebukes I have delivered flash before me. I raise the flag, note the comments of my colleagues and throw the project into a positive light. The Secretariat perks up, the item is on the work plan; and, a year later, the IO produces the report. A day’s work done.