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bob
New Member

South Africa
2 Posts

Posted - 03/18/2009 :  05:38:04  Show Profile Send bob a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I would just like to get an outside perception of the buildup to the South African Elections coming up shotly, what's the latest propaganda out there?

Bob

[Moved to the General Discussion folder - Dave W.]

R.Wreck
SFN Regular

USA
1191 Posts

Posted - 03/18/2009 :  13:11:00   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send R.Wreck a Private Message  Reply with Quote
South Africa has elections? Who knew?

The foundation of morality is to . . . give up pretending to believe that for which there is no evidence, and repeating unintelligible propositions about things beyond the possibliities of knowledge.
T. H. Huxley

The Cattle Prod of Enlightened Compassion
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H. Humbert
SFN Die Hard

USA
4574 Posts

Posted - 03/18/2009 :  13:25:57   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send H. Humbert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Yeah, I know this will probably make Americans look insulated and self-absorbed, but the only thing about South Africa that I can say with vague certainty is that's it's a country located somewhere in the South of Africa. So as far as what propaganda has reached us, I'll say "none."

Why don't you fill us in? What's special about the upcoming elections?


"A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true." --Demosthenes

"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool." --Richard P. Feynman

"Face facts with dignity." --found inside a fortune cookie
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Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend

Sweden
9688 Posts

Posted - 03/19/2009 :  03:00:29   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Send Dr. Mabuse an ICQ Message Send Dr. Mabuse a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Wasn't the sitting President prosecuted for corruption? Or at least one of the upcoming presidential candidates. There's been a fierce power-struggle between the two strongest candidates. Neither of them seem to overly concerned about the over all well-being of the People of South Africa, as far as thier own power and wealth is concerned.

I get the impression that no matter who wins, everyone else loose, because they'r both religious nuts in their own right. I've not followed SA closely, so I might be wrong though.

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Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend

Sweden
9688 Posts

Posted - 03/19/2009 :  03:57:21   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Send Dr. Mabuse an ICQ Message Send Dr. Mabuse a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Originally posted by Dr. Mabuse
Neither of them seem to overly concerned about the over all well-being of the People of South Africa, as far as thier own power and wealth is concerned.


I just realised that this is business as usual in American politics.



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filthy
SFN Die Hard

USA
14408 Posts

Posted - 03/19/2009 :  06:57:41   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send filthy a Private Message  Reply with Quote
It has been said that war is the only way Americans can be taught geography. Get into a war with us, and soon we'll be able to tell you all about it. Kind'a shameful, really.

Alas, I know nothing about SA politics and indeed, barely understand our own. I fear I can't help.

Welcome to SFN, Bob!




"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)

"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres


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The Rat
SFN Regular

Canada
1370 Posts

Posted - 03/21/2009 :  06:47:39   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit The Rat's Homepage Send The Rat a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Can Sarah Palin see South Africa from Alaska? And why 'south', does the country of Africa have a Mason-Dixon line too? [/dingbatreference]

Bailey's second law; There is no relationship between the three virtues of intelligence, education, and wisdom.

You fiend! Never have I encountered such corrupt and foul-minded perversity! Have you ever considered a career in the Church? - The Bishop of Bath and Wells, Blackadder II

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filthy
SFN Die Hard

USA
14408 Posts

Posted - 03/21/2009 :  06:58:25   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send filthy a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Originally posted by The Rat

Can Sarah Palin see South Africa from Alaska? And why 'south', does the country of Africa have a Mason-Dixon line too? [/dingbatreference]
Um, yes, actually. It's known as The Equator.




"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)

"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres


"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude

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HalfMooner
Dingaling

Philippines
15831 Posts

Posted - 03/21/2009 :  16:21:13   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send HalfMooner a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Originally posted by filthy

Originally posted by The Rat

Can Sarah Palin see South Africa from Alaska? And why 'south', does the country of Africa have a Mason-Dixon line too? [/dingbatreference]
Um, yes, actually. It's known as The Equator.




Oh. We had to get Mason and Dixon to walk out there and actually survey ours. No help from nature with that fancy "equator" thing.


Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
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filthy
SFN Die Hard

USA
14408 Posts

Posted - 03/21/2009 :  17:04:46   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send filthy a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I think that maybe The Rat's running a subtle Poe on us, here. Read his post carefully and see if you catch it.

Yer busted, Rat!




"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)

"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres


"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude

Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,

and Crypto-Communist!

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marfknox
SFN Die Hard

USA
3739 Posts

Posted - 03/22/2009 :  14:53:16   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit marfknox's Homepage  Send marfknox an AOL message Send marfknox a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Basically the guy who is going to win (Jacob Zuma) is under corruption charges. From the perspective of an outsider, the general thought is that most politicians in most African countries are deeply corrupt, so the charges against Zuma don't come as a surprise to anyone who keeps up on South Africa. The only coverage I've seen is blurbs in the Economist which focus on Zuma because the ANC (African National Congress) party has the election wrapped up, so I don't know anything about the opposition. I can't say that I'm surprised that the ANC is apparently so corrupt since they have a monopoly on political power.

Here's an article from January in the Economist about the charges against Zuma: http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12948625

And anyone curious about the election can read more about it on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_South_Africa

"Too much certainty and clarity could lead to cruel intolerance" -Karen Armstrong

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Edited by - marfknox on 03/22/2009 14:54:00
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HalfMooner
Dingaling

Philippines
15831 Posts

Posted - 03/22/2009 :  15:48:54   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send HalfMooner a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Originally posted by marfknox

Basically the guy who is going to win (Jacob Zuma) is under corruption charges. From the perspective of an outsider, the general thought is that most politicians in most African countries are deeply corrupt, so the charges against Zuma don't come as a surprise to anyone who keeps up on South Africa. The only coverage I've seen is blurbs in the Economist which focus on Zuma because the ANC (African National Congress) party has the election wrapped up, so I don't know anything about the opposition. I can't say that I'm surprised that the ANC is apparently so corrupt since they have a monopoly on political power.

Here's an article from January in the Economist about the charges against Zuma: http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12948625

And anyone curious about the election can read more about it on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_South_Africa
Yikes. And I thought American politics was rough-and-tumble. That Economist article is an eye-opener. Thanks for posting the links, marf.


Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive.
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Machi4velli
SFN Regular

USA
854 Posts

Posted - 03/31/2009 :  12:53:05   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send Machi4velli a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Originally posted by marfknox

Basically the guy who is going to win (Jacob Zuma) is under corruption charges. From the perspective of an outsider, the general thought is that most politicians in most African countries are deeply corrupt, so the charges against Zuma don't come as a surprise to anyone who keeps up on South Africa. The only coverage I've seen is blurbs in the Economist which focus on Zuma because the ANC (African National Congress) party has the election wrapped up, so I don't know anything about the opposition. I can't say that I'm surprised that the ANC is apparently so corrupt since they have a monopoly on political power.

Here's an article from January in the Economist about the charges against Zuma: http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12948625

And anyone curious about the election can read more about it on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_South_Africa


I was going to suggest the Economist myself, there have been quite a few articles in the magazine regarding the ANC and South African politics, not sure what is available online, I think some of their online content requires membership.

Essentially, the ANC was the party of Mandela during the fight against Apartheid. He was the first president since multi-racial elections began (early 1990s) and, as far as I know, the ANC has pretty much controlled the South African government since. And, as marfknox said, the message we are getting is that the ANC has become corrupt in many ways (I have only seen significant coverage in the Economist, so this is all from one source).

"Truth does not change because it is, or is not, believed by a majority of the people."
-Giordano Bruno

"The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, but the illusion of knowledge."
-Stephen Hawking

"Seeking what is true is not seeking what is desirable"
-Albert Camus
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