Comments on: A little bit of politics http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/ The adventures of a British jazz singer in Malaysia. Words and music by Andrea Mann. Sat, 19 May 2012 08:47:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: kerudung http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-1788 kerudung Sun, 17 Apr 2011 06:32:19 +0000 http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-1788 This is what I have been browsing in lots of internet sites and I ultimately uncovered it right here. Incredible report. I am so impressed. Could in no way believe of these kinds of a matter is possible with it...I consider you have a wonderful know-how in particular even though dealings with such subjects. This is what I have been browsing in lots of internet sites and I ultimately uncovered it right here. Incredible report. I am so impressed. Could in no way believe of these kinds of a matter is possible with it…I consider you have a wonderful know-how in particular even though dealings with such subjects.

]]> By: Rachel Johnson http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-707 Rachel Johnson Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:16:02 +0000 http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-707 There's no voting at all in the UAE. The selected family members of the two most important - and up to the creation of the UAE warring - tribes and the most powerful emirates (Abu Dhabi and Dubai) are President and Vice-president of the UAE respectively. Other members of the families are head of military, health, business etc as well as having lots of businesses of their own. One example, the Minister of Higher Education is also Chancellor of a University and (get this) also owns it! No conflict of interest at all really. There's sort of law a.k.a. decrees, which can happen at any minute depending on mind of respective Sheik at the time. But if you're a decree breaker have enough wasta (not a made up word) you can go do the Diwan and argue with Sheik whatshisface to overturn the breach. Apparently outright authoritarian decision making powers in the hands of one person was an accepted form of rule, because if everyone sat around chatting and voting on whether to turn left or to stop at the next watering hole they'd all die of thirst first. There’s no voting at all in the UAE. The selected family members of the two most important - and up to the creation of the UAE warring - tribes and the most powerful emirates (Abu Dhabi and Dubai) are President and Vice-president of the UAE respectively. Other members of the families are head of military, health, business etc as well as having lots of businesses of their own. One example, the Minister of Higher Education is also Chancellor of a University and (get this) also owns it! No conflict of interest at all really.

There’s sort of law a.k.a. decrees, which can happen at any minute depending on mind of respective Sheik at the time.

But if you’re a decree breaker have enough wasta (not a made up word) you can go do the Diwan and argue with Sheik whatshisface to overturn the breach.

Apparently outright authoritarian decision making powers in the hands of one person was an accepted form of rule, because if everyone sat around chatting and voting on whether to turn left or to stop at the next watering hole they’d all die of thirst first.

]]> By: Peter Thompson http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-702 Peter Thompson Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:57:19 +0000 http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-702 Oh I see, so no one under 21 can vote at all. well, at least there's no discrimination then ;) Oh I see, so no one under 21 can vote at all. well, at least there’s no discrimination then ;)

]]> By: Andrea http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-701 Andrea Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:23:22 +0000 http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-701 no, according to Suraya who commented here, students can vote (ie mature students too - even though someone told me here that as soon as you become a student, you lose your right to vote. that could be in government, as opposed to private, institutions, though. I don't know). but my point is: under 21s definitely can't vote. so that rules out an awful lot of the student population anyway. no, according to Suraya who commented here, students can vote (ie mature students too - even though someone told me here that as soon as you become a student, you lose your right to vote. that could be in government, as opposed to private, institutions, though. I don’t know). but my point is: under 21s definitely can’t vote. so that rules out an awful lot of the student population anyway.

]]> By: Peter Thompson http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-700 Peter Thompson Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:19:43 +0000 http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-700 what about mature students, do they lose their right to vote while they are studying? And what is the logic of it anyway? If they do it because the realise that students are an uppity lot in general, then taking away their votes can only make it worse. Very odd. what about mature students, do they lose their right to vote while they are studying? And what is the logic of it anyway? If they do it because the realise that students are an uppity lot in general, then taking away their votes can only make it worse. Very odd.

]]> By: Peter Thompson http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-699 Peter Thompson Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:17:52 +0000 http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-699 yes, it does look good. I must either see it or read it. Actually, I don't know what I am any more. Years of Trotskyism (albeit a relatively liberal version) are as hard to slough off as is catholic guilt, but I don't believe it any more, other than as a lovely dream about a better world. As soon as I get in a debate however, my brain (made of beer tins as it is) slips back into those patterns of thought as easily as an otter sliding into water. It may be principles or it may be intellectual laziness. Spot the difference. yes, it does look good. I must either see it or read it. Actually, I don’t know what I am any more. Years of Trotskyism (albeit a relatively liberal version) are as hard to slough off as is catholic guilt, but I don’t believe it any more, other than as a lovely dream about a better world. As soon as I get in a debate however, my brain (made of beer tins as it is) slips back into those patterns of thought as easily as an otter sliding into water. It may be principles or it may be intellectual laziness. Spot the difference.

]]> By: Andrea http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-698 Andrea Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:17:08 +0000 http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-698 ahh, here's my answer, from studymalaysia.com: "Higher education at Certificate and Diploma levels are for students from the age of 17 with SPM (which is equivalent to GCSE ‘O' level) while the Bachelor's degree level is usually for students from the age of 19/20 onwards with postsecondary qualifications such as the STPM (which is equivalent to GCE ‘A' level) or Pre-University / University Foundation qualifications. " ahh, here’s my answer, from studymalaysia.com:

“Higher education at Certificate and Diploma levels are for students from the age of 17 with SPM (which is equivalent to GCSE ‘O’ level) while the Bachelor’s degree level is usually for students from the age of 19/20 onwards with postsecondary qualifications such as the STPM (which is equivalent to GCE ‘A’ level) or Pre-University / University Foundation qualifications. “

]]> By: Andrea http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-696 Andrea Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:00:50 +0000 http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-696 Pete, you really have to see that Tom Stoppard play. you sound like Max. ;-) http://www.thevillager.com/villager_237/stoppardandthepower.html and a final thought on the subject of student votes: people are denied a voice until they’re 21. so that does actually exclude any students under that age (I’d be interested to find out when people do their degrees here - do they generally go to college/university at 18?). Pete, you really have to see that Tom Stoppard play. you sound like Max. ;-) http://www.thevillager.com/villager_237/stoppardandthepower.html

and a final thought on the subject of student votes: people are denied a voice until they’re 21. so that does actually exclude any students under that age (I’d be interested to find out when people do their degrees here - do they generally go to college/university at 18?).

]]> By: Peter Thompson http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-693 Peter Thompson Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:45:53 +0000 http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-693 oh, the good old days oh, the good old days

]]> By: Peter Thompson http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-692 Peter Thompson Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:45:24 +0000 http://lostintransposition.com/2008/02/27/a-little-bit-of-politics/#comment-692 I'll have to have alook at their websites sometime. It'll be like reading Pravda I’ll have to have alook at their websites sometime. It’ll be like reading Pravda

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