Politicians, if the hat fits...
FIFTY years ago no self-respecting politician, civil servant or person of social status would be seen leaving for work without a hat. The fashion faded out, some say, because of the impracticability of wearing hats in cars. Others say John F. Kennedy was to blame since he was the first president not to wear a hat at his inauguration. Could you really blame him, he boasted a fine head of hair.
Having noticed recently that some of our local politicians are now reversing trends and wearing dress hats to States meetings, many thoughts and questions flashed through my mind, and here are some of them.
I hoped no politicians would ever talk through their hats during the States meetings, or would have to eat their hats like Paddy Ashdown had to do when his predictions were so wrong in the 2015 General Election.
I wondered, when things didn’t go their way, whether they would resign their posts at the drop of a hat?
We all know the Treasury needs to raise more money and perhaps those with performing skills could pass their hats round as they engage in a bit of busking outside the States Chambers.
They might play musical hats too, particularly during this festive season, and remind each other that the last person wearing the hat when the music stopped would be called ‘out’.
Did politicians keep any hidden secrets under their hats, or was it somewhere where they kept a small office?
Would they ever be able to pull out any political rabbits from their hats during their term of office?
Would they keep abreast of new ideas so their policies never became old hat?
Could they ever be conflicted and wear two hats at the same time?
Would they take the blame when things went wrong – ‘if the hat fits, wear it’.
Would there ever be a competition to see who had the hat with the largest brim?
The hat brims seem to be getting larger already.
P. LE MESSURIER,
La Mare,
St Peter’s,
GY7 9RR.