Yes, Zuma's words are OK, but only to the point where he'd shut his eyes for the gang of careerists who've glued themselves to the ANC and used the corruptibility of the "third circle" around Mandela. A circle of newly upjumped apparatchiks who are doing a fine job filtering the feedback between the people/activists like yourself and the political elite. Their agenda is more than clear: to put a hand on everything that could bring money, without moving a finger to do any good for the people in the process, relying that they'd remain invincible electorially
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The big worry about entrenched power is that they get to entrench it further, look at Japan, and like you've mentioned gerrymandering and political appointments to the bureaucracy. The potential of losing office is pretty necessary to keep democratic politicians honest.
A resolute and unpopular step means you haven't sold the benefits of your plan and you're not acting to the will of the people. A leader who dictates will always struggle to do the things that a leader who communicates can do with ease. Many European countries cut services and raised taxes over the last few years, we're going through the same debate. Anything that's more extreme than that really has no place in a democracy short of a constitutional convention or referendum.
If you have a tendency to flail guns around when you get emotional, one day shooting someone in a fit of emotion shouldn't be considered "accidental" even if, at the time, you didn't mean to kill them. The guy had form, he was going to kill someone some day.
I listened to a programme on the SA elections the other day, there seems to be very different perceptions of the electorate coming from the different parties, it will be interesting to see who has got it right.
Is there something in the ANC constitution that would precent Zuma from being the ANC leader a third time? I know there's nothing to stop him being president, but is that a potential issue?
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I listened to a programme on the SA elections the other day, there seems to be very different perceptions of the electorate coming from the different parties, it will be interesting to see who has got it right.
Is there something in the ANC constitution that would precent Zuma from being the ANC leader a third time? I know there's nothing to stop him being president, but is that a potential issue?
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