09-11-2016, 12:58 PM
Cliff Varnell Wrote:David Guyatt Wrote:Carsten Wiethoff Wrote:Cliff Varnell Wrote:You are apparently unaware that diplomatic posts are traditionally given to the winning candidate's donors.
All American Presidents dole out ambassadorships to those who supported them.
You are criminalizing normal American political arrangements.
I readily admit that I was unaware of this practice. I still find it corrupt, even if it may not be against US law. I may well be that Trump will engage in the same practice, which I still will find corrupt. We have to see, and it will not be easy, for all.
For we Europeans Carsten, it is corrupt and would lead to public outrage and resignations, if not criminal charges.
For America it is simply business as usual.
Which is another way of saying that corruption in American is the way of life.
Just curious -- how are British diplomats chosen?
They're usually recruited by the Foreign & Commonwealth office from university and rise on the greasy pole of that institution as civil servants.
Political appointees are far less common here in the UK, but not unknown. One that comes to mind was the "Prince of Darkness", Peter Mandelson who was appointed by the awful Neil Kinnock, one time Labour Party leader as his "spin doctor". Tony Blair later appointed him Minister Without Portfolio and then a State Secretary and finally nominated him for Enoblement. He is today Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, Lord Prince of Darkness.
Lots of rumours and speculation that he was very, very close to Britain's intelligence establishment, who ensured Blair's victory in 1997.
The shadow is a moral problem that challenges the whole ego-personality, for no one can become conscious of the shadow without considerable moral effort. To become conscious of it involves recognizing the dark aspects of the personality as present and real. This act is the essential condition for any kind of self-knowledge.
Carl Jung - Aion (1951). CW 9, Part II: P.14