Final Word from Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Poor Vlasta Parkanová! She tried so hard not to be just another
pretty face in politics (her words), and now she risks being just
another run-of-the-mill citizen subject to the same laws as
everyone else. Where did things go wrong? She clearly got in with
the wrong crowd. Part of her problem is that the Kalousek-Háva-
Kopřiva-Barták defense alliance decided to buy CASA transport
planes that the army didn't want. The 18% cut for themselves
wouldn't have otherwise been such an issue. It's the same with
the Pendolinos and the Opencard. These contracts all grew out of
the desire to steal, not out of the need for the product. Changing
times require a new paradigm. A new breed of politicians will
come forth (if they aren't already among us) who realize that the
needs of the people and the country must come first! No more
buying superfluous items! And then when they take their 10%
cut, no one will notice.[Czech Republic Miroslav Richard Jaroslav Martin]
Glossary of difficult words
appropriation - the action of taking something for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission; a sum of money devoted to a special purpose;
run-of-the-mill - ordinary; lacking unusual or special aspects;
to get in with (someone) - to become friendly with (someone), usually to gain an advantage;
cut - share; percentage;
breed - a sort or kind of person or thing;
superfluous - unnecessary, esp. through being more than enough.