Category: Politics & government

Categories
Politics & government

[1237] koo-koo-ka-choo Mr. Khairy

Sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon.
Going to the candidate’s debate.
Laugh about it, shout about it
When you’ve got to choose
Every way you look at this you lose.

— Mrs. Robinson. Simon & Garfunkel

Today in The Star, Khairy runs away from debate:

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP’s economic adviser Tony Pua said his statement on the civil service had been misconstrued by Khairy Jamaluddin and he challenged the Umno Youth deputy chief to a debate on May 30.

Pua said he was issuing an open challenge to Khairy to participate at the public debate on “Civil Service Excellence — Quality Vs Quantity” to be held at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, “or at any place and time of his choosing.”

However, in an immediate response, Khairy said that he would not entertain Pua’s challenge to a debate, adding that it was an attempt by the Opposition to divert the subject to something else. [Khairy misread statement on civil service, says Pua. The Star. May 26 2007]

Remember the last time Khairy tried to challenge another DAP politician?

That was mate in one, not unlike this chicken run on the civil service.

Anyway, roasted chicken anyone?

Categories
Economics Environment Humor Politics & government

[1228] Of too witty to be serious

Panda Kong:

Copyrights by The Economist. Fair use.

Roar!

IF THE guest list determined a meeting’s value, the Strategic Economic Dialogue between China and America on May 22nd would be a roaring success. Almost half the Chinese cabinet is trooping to Washington, DC, for the second of the twice-yearly discussions, conceived by Hank Paulson, America’s treasury secretary, between the world’s largest economy and its fastest-growing one. The process was designed, in large part, as an antidote to the latest case of Asiaphobia among America’s politicians. [America’s fear of China. The Economist. May 17 2007]

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

p/s — also at The Economist:

Conservationists—and polar bears—should heed the lessons of economics.

[…]

One reason for this taxonomic inflation is that the idea of a species becoming extinct is easy to grasp, and thus easy to make laws about. Subspecies just do not carry as much political clout. The other is that upgrading subspecies into species simultaneously increases the number of rare species (by fragmenting populations) and augments the biodiversity of a piece of habitat and thus its claim for protection.

In the short term, this strategy helps conservationists by intensifying the perceived threat of extinction. In the long term, as every economist knows, inflation brings devaluation. Rarity is not merely determined by the number of individuals in a species, it is also about how unusual that species is. If there are only two species of elephant, African and Indian, losing one matters a lot. Subdivide the African population, as some taxonomists propose, and perceptions of scarcity may shift. [Hail Linnaeus. The Economist. May 17 2007]

Categories
Economics Politics & government

[1226] Of Wolfowitz to quit

It is only right:

Paul Wolfowitz is to quit as president of the World Bank following a bitter promotion row involving his girlfriend.

After lengthy talks with the bank’s board, Mr Wolfowitz said he would quit the global lending body on 30 June.

He had faced widespread calls for his resignation after being accused of a conflict of interest over a pay rise given to ex-bank employee Shaha Riza.

The White House, which had backed Mr Wolfowitz, said President George W Bush reluctantly accepted his decision. [World Bank head Wolfowitz to quit. BBC May 18 2007]

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

p/s — some of us are still waiting for Anwar Ibrahim to explain his involvement.

Categories
Economics Politics & government

[1223] Of Malaysian budget in May?

Man. It is just May and the Second Finance Minister Nor Mohamed Yakcob has already mentioned the “b” word.

KUALA LUMPUR: Budget 2008 will hand out more benefits to wage earners, Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said.

He said the Government would ensure that the prices of common consumer items would be affordable and not burden the lower-income segment of society. [Budget 2008 benefits to help lower-income group. The Star. May 16 2007]

This talk of a people’s budget so soon publically is weird. For goodness’ sake, we have not even past the second quarter yet. Talk about forward planning!

Maybe it is a sign that election is coming?

Categories
Liberty Politics & government

[1217] Of there goes Giuliani

Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do.

— Rudolph W. Giuliani, ‘Freedom Is About Authority’: Excerpts From Giuliani Speech on Crime. March 20 1994.

While authority to some extent is desired, ceding “a great deal of discretion about what you do” to the authority sounds wrong.

Well, it is not too hard to strike Giuliani off the list. Bye bye.

Anyway, how well do you know the candidates for the office of the President of the United States of America?

Head over to an NYT quiz to find out.