Posted by Rick Denney on September 18, 2001 at 12:39:06:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Colorado anyone?? posted by Matt G on September 14, 2001 at 12:47:37:
That word "fair" is the root of the problem. We have extended the concept of fairness so far that it takes away the discretion of the panel to do what they think is right for their orchestra. If they want an orchestra full of second-rate amateurs--that is their right. It's their money, and it is the absolute right of any employer to hire anyone he pleases, with certain exceptions outlined in law. So, do we take away that discretion in the name of fairness? Then we build ever more complicated mechanisms to ensure fairness. For example, I have no idea why it would be necessary to require that the auditions take place behind a screen just because one of the applicants used to work there. His reputation is valuable--is it fair to take that away from him?
This concept of fairness is why so many incompetents fill the halls of education and government. The authority for a boss to declare the obvious, that a particular person isn't doing the job and should therefore be gently but firmly led to another profession, has been taken away, because such discretion might be used unfairly. So what we end up with is mass incompetence (and, paradoxically, unhappy employees), which is fair to nobody. Go figure.
Rick "who is sounding a lot like Joe Baker today" Denney