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And in local news, the Hong Kong govt’s three-month public consultation on giving us full-on democracy is in – and the majority of HK wants universal suffrage by the next election in 2012.
Which is why The Donald has formally asked Beijing to read the report, take it into consideration, and grant us democracy by 2017 – or, you know, whenever it deems necessary. If ever. No need to set a timetable if you don’t really feel like it.
Oh. Well, that was a big fat waste of everyone’s time.
The fix was always in, of course. The Chief Executive doesn’t have to answer to the public, and neither does half of LegCo – and conveniently, that half just happens to be pro-whatever-Beijing-wants.
It’s rather cute, actually. See, LegCo needs a two-thirds majority to implement universal suffrage, and with half of it in Beijing’s pocket, that will pretty much never happen until Beijing says so. Funny how that works out.
It may be as well. The bride and I were discussing it last night over instant noodles, and she declared that it was no big loss. “Big deal,” she said. “Why does everyone think that full democracy will make Hong Kong govt better? If we had it this year, we’d have elected the same guy anyway, and he’d do all the same things and still suck up to Beijing. Or we’d elect some other loser.”
“But democracy makes leaders accountable to the people,” says Anson Chan from the TV screen.
“Feh,” snorts the bride. “Look at everything George W Bush has got away with since he was elected, and tell me that again with a straight face. Accountability my ass! Let’s make popcorn!”
The lesson: If the definition of leadership is to set the example, then Junior Bush is ruining democracy for everyone.
Well, maybe not. But I have to admit, as far as HK goes, I’m less bothered by the lack of democracy in HK and more by the spectacle of The Donald pretending to care what anyone thinks and pretending to ask Beijing for democracy as if there’s a chance they’re ever going to say anything besides “You can’t handle that kind of freedom, and we should know”.
Which isn’t to say that I think we should just roll over an accept it. For me, the only good reason to bug the govt for democracy is just to annoy Beijing. And because I have zero tolerance for snotty patronizing authority figures, be they Chinese bureaucrats or idiot child-king presidents. But yeah, I think the bride has a point. A democratically elected govt is only as good as the people who run for election.
But then I don’t really care for any of the people running for president right now, so I would say that, wouldn’t I?
Return to sender,
This is dF
Which is why The Donald has formally asked Beijing to read the report, take it into consideration, and grant us democracy by 2017 – or, you know, whenever it deems necessary. If ever. No need to set a timetable if you don’t really feel like it.
Oh. Well, that was a big fat waste of everyone’s time.
The fix was always in, of course. The Chief Executive doesn’t have to answer to the public, and neither does half of LegCo – and conveniently, that half just happens to be pro-whatever-Beijing-wants.
It’s rather cute, actually. See, LegCo needs a two-thirds majority to implement universal suffrage, and with half of it in Beijing’s pocket, that will pretty much never happen until Beijing says so. Funny how that works out.
It may be as well. The bride and I were discussing it last night over instant noodles, and she declared that it was no big loss. “Big deal,” she said. “Why does everyone think that full democracy will make Hong Kong govt better? If we had it this year, we’d have elected the same guy anyway, and he’d do all the same things and still suck up to Beijing. Or we’d elect some other loser.”
“But democracy makes leaders accountable to the people,” says Anson Chan from the TV screen.
“Feh,” snorts the bride. “Look at everything George W Bush has got away with since he was elected, and tell me that again with a straight face. Accountability my ass! Let’s make popcorn!”
The lesson: If the definition of leadership is to set the example, then Junior Bush is ruining democracy for everyone.
Well, maybe not. But I have to admit, as far as HK goes, I’m less bothered by the lack of democracy in HK and more by the spectacle of The Donald pretending to care what anyone thinks and pretending to ask Beijing for democracy as if there’s a chance they’re ever going to say anything besides “You can’t handle that kind of freedom, and we should know”.
Which isn’t to say that I think we should just roll over an accept it. For me, the only good reason to bug the govt for democracy is just to annoy Beijing. And because I have zero tolerance for snotty patronizing authority figures, be they Chinese bureaucrats or idiot child-king presidents. But yeah, I think the bride has a point. A democratically elected govt is only as good as the people who run for election.
But then I don’t really care for any of the people running for president right now, so I would say that, wouldn’t I?
Return to sender,
This is dF
