ARTICLE: "Who's a technocrat?"
"The dictionary definition; or the one our politicians use to run ministries/sectors..."
"My God, shouldn't one definition apply to all?"
"This is the Islamic Republic my friend and to each his/her own definition."
"OK, then fire away."
"Dictionary definition of a technocrat is someone who is technically skilled, so for example an economist would be termed a technocrat if he is skilled which I reckon is determined by his/her academic background which implies that he/she is aware of all economic theories, many divergent in terms of their prescriptions to deal with a given problem..."
"I would like to interject here, economics has different areas of specialization like in medicine where you have a heart specialist, a pulmonologist, a..."
"If you want the Prime Minister to heed your advice you need to give examples from cricket."
"OK, a good wicket keeper may not be a good batter or a bowler... and in economics to head any institution would require specialized knowledge, sprinkled with relevant experience - the one without the other is no technocrat."
"No, no, no, in cricket there is an all rounder, The Khan was a bowler but could be a great batter so an all rounder..."
"Dictionary definition of such a one in economics is Jack of all trades and master of none."
"If by the use of the word Jack you are referring to the two brown sahibs who were lured by the Prime Minister to work for Pakistan..."
"No, no and no."
"Be honest, we have zero implementation of defamation laws..."
"I was merely using an English expression so if you don't like it use any other name..."
"I reckon our politicians' love for technocrats, and I am including civilian and military governments, stems from their love of the American system where the President hires his own team of technocrats who owe loyalty to none but the appointee, without being encumbered by party considerations..."
"Hmmm, but then we the tax payers are footing the bill for the cabinet as well as the 14 special assistants, five advisers..."