Final Word from Wednesday, August 10, 2011
The installation of dictatorship in the West is a gradual process. So gradual andinsidious, in fact, that it will be welcomed by a large part of the population. Of allCzech politicians in executive functions, Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek hasthe greatest dictatorial proclivities, and yet his young party has an approval ratingof as much as 10-15%. His VAT trick, which makes more budget money availablefor theft, demonstrates to the criminal elite his eagerness to serve. If he successfullywaters down the public-procurement proposal - because it would be "too expensive"to implement all those extra rules - he will be supporting a "typical Double Jan"amendment that further endears him to all the Janoušek and Jansta types. Kalousekwill be their clear go-to man for when emergency measures need to be imposed.The question is: When the West chooses its dictators, who will do the choosing?
Glossary of difficult words
insidious - proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects;
proclivity - a natural tendency, inclination or predisposition, esp. to something bad or evil;
to water down - to dilute or adulterate something;
typical Double Jan - a phrase used by Mirek Topolánek to describe the Opencard project and the benefits derived from it by lobbyists Roman Janoušek and Miroslav Jansta;
to endear - to cause to be loved or liked;
go-to man - a skilled or well-connected person wiling to do things other people will not or cannot do.