I am really against politicians of any shape and size - although I do still vote Conservative as a middle england Mail reader.

Can any one give me an example of a politician actually doing good for their country, rather than just looking after number one? I don't think this thread will last long, as I can't believe anybody will get sucked in by the scum?

 

That'll be a no then!

 

I'm thinking, thinking, thinking........................................................................................................................................NO

 

Castro.

Cuba, despite the illegal American blockade, has better education and healthcare than the USA. Before Castro the conditions for the poor in Cuba were appalling.

What about Chavez, in Venezuela. He's nationalised the oil induistry there and used the revenue to provide education and healthcare to his own poor, and to help the poor of other nations. He made big contributions to the post-katrina relief effort, most of which the US govt tried to block.

Oh, and Thatcher. No, sorry. My mistake.:-D

 

Does Castro live in the lap of luxury compared to his poor people - yep I think he does - did he do it for the people or to make his own life that much better?

Don't mention Thatcher - she gets me horny!

 

Castro has a better standard of living than the average Cuban, but it's not nearly the difference relative to the average that, for example, George Bush enjoys over his populace. And as for Castro's motivation for the revolution, I'm sure you won't agree but I actually do believe that he did it to free his people from the tyranny they suffered previously. Kind of hard to prove one way or another but I don't know many reports from the more unbiased sources that saw him any other way. Granted most official American versions paint him in a very different light but they were more interested in creating a bogey-man for the public to fear to boost their military-industrial complex, but that's another argument entirely.

 

I honestly didn't have a clue about Castro - was acting the devils advocate just to see what your reaction was - sorry :twisted:

 

I thought he was very clever to con the USSR into building rocket launching sites in Cuba, even though the militarists wanted to have full out WAR over it.

Sure, he deals very harshly with dissent, as do all dictators that were originally democratically elected or took power in a revolution. And dont we do the same? Its like people have the right to defend their lives, governments have to right to defend their status quo...I know, the USSR. I'll quit now.

Hey I've got a thread open for any longwinded rants (except mine).

 

Cool, mate. Most people have a view of Castro supplied by the US media, and it's not entirely balanced, shall we say. HAving said that some of the sources I rely on are not entirely balanced, but with a very different slant. I suppose the truth lies somewhere between the 2, but I'd have to say it's closer to my interpretation than the other view.

But then, I would wouldn't I?

 

I've always felt that Jimmy Carter was a good, decent, honorable man, and he's done wonderful work since he left office. Arguably he wasn't an effective president, but that isn't the entire measure of a man.

 

Recent politicians? none that I can recall.

The last of the "good" politicians died out when Abraham Lincoln was shot. 'o ye of the republic, when ye of the republic faith was naught shaken by international affair.

 

Poor Jimmy just had a bad choice of staff. They raised the interest rate overnite to 20% and laughed about it. It put all contractors in Modesto except 2 out of business, bankrupted millions, and put millions out of work.Allegedly to stop INFLATION (probably caused by the gov in the first place. I have first hand knowledge. RE agents couldn't sell anything because no one could get financing. I had just gotten my RE brokers license and was starting my Loan Broker business. Had to quit almost immediately due to that.

I think he was good hearted and sincere. but he was surrounded by BASTARDS.

 

FW De Klerk and Nelson Mandela
As a South African we admire them. FW De Klerk for taking the big step into democracy and Nelson Mandela the first democraticaly ellected President of this country.

Local is lekker!

 

That's got me thinking. I'm going to start a new thread.

 

Not meaning any disrespect but what did Mandela do, apart from a bit of terrorism that he got banged in prison for?

 

He negotiated the downfall of Apartheid, initially from his prison cell. He changed the political landscape of Africa forever.

Then he let Thabo Mbeki take over and sell the country's utilities to the highest bidder and blackmail the poor.

But he wasn't all bad.

 

Thomas Jefferson.

 

Ask not what your country can do for you...

Ask what you can do for your country. JFK!!!!!!

I know he's gone, but I don't think there was a lot of smoke and mirrors with him, except for the assassination.

 

I agree with Kimiko about Jimmy Carter and the measure of the man is how well he continues to serve our nation as a trusted spokesman. But there were two reasons his presedency failed. First and formost he had the nerve to tell the American public we consume too much of the world's wealth and resources. And secondly he was undermined by the Military and the CIA.

 

Oh Really!

Castro and Cuba? Common Trumpet you cannot be serious. Why do you think all those poor cubans are risking thier lives on a raft to get to Florida. Cuba's standard of living is on a par with the U.S. circa 1930. You have bought the media hype. And Chavez is a tyrannical dictator who stole an election that was certified by none other than that "upstanding ex President" Jimmy Carter. Carter has been wrong about literally everything that he has an opinion on!! Idiot liberals!