Constant

inconsistency

"Thaaththa" Bindu Udagedara asked, "are you getting a salary increase?"

"Yes, of course", Percy, Bindu's father said, "why, Satellite herself said so last week...."

"That is exactly why I'm worried," Bindu said.

"Why?"

"Why" Bindu argued, "it was Satellite herself who said a few weeks ago that she can't win the war and increase salaries at the same time and asked us to prepare for sacrifices...."

"So", Percy reasoned, "maybe she reasoned she would give a salary increase instead of winning the war...."

"That's easier to do" Bindu agreed; "or maybe she felt sorry for all of us who can't even afford a cruise down the Kelani let alone the Nile and changed her mind...."

"Ah, yes" Percy said, "As a lady she is always entitled to change her mind...."

"But thaaththa", Bindu wondered, "isn't she inconsistent in what she says and what she does?"

"Oh no, she's remarkably consistent...."

"Why do you say that?"

"See, she declared there would be no salary increase and then announced she would grant an increase...."

"Though it might be a hundred rupees for everyone like what G..L. handed out at last year's Budget...."

"So", Bindu demanded, "why do you say she is remarkably consistent?"

"Because," Percy retorted, "when Satellite makes a promise, you can be reasonably sure that promise would be broken; at least, she is consistent in that...."

"Is it like," Bindu asked, "when she promises to be punctual, she is consistently late...."

"Or", Percy added, "when some major disaster strikes, she is away from the country...."

"But thaaththa," Bindu looked worried, "didn't she also promise to end the crisis in the North and East?"

"Ah, that", said Percy, "is one promise Satellite must try and keep...."

"Why do you say that, thaaththa?"

"Otherwise," said Percy, "she might eventually realise that Sri Lankan voters, consistently reject incumbent leaders, the only exception being the Old Fox sometime ago.... "