Thought for today:
"Congratulations to Prince William and his wife, Kate, the mother of our future King of England. When he or his father comes to one day reign, hopefully the people of this country will have some decent politicians in charge; politicians who are brave enough to do the right thing for the country instead of themselves. We want politicians who implement the wishes of the people and who ride with popular policies for all instead of boarding the gravy train with eyes only on the perks of the job they can extract for themselves.
How refreshing to find that there are a still a few politicians in the world who actually serve the people and not themselves; so unlike Bush, Blair and rest of the bling crowd who spent the whole of their time in Office negotiating and preparing for a wealthy retirement after they'd been cottoned onto and voted out! It's a common grumble that politicians' lifestyles are far removed from those of their electorate.
Not so in Uruguay, however. Meet the President Jose Mujica, a President of the people and a president for the people. Jose, who lives on a ramshackle farm, drives a broken-down car and gives away 90% of his monthly pay to charity; professing that the remainder is sufficient for him and his family to live on. Laundry is strung outside the house and the water comes from a well in a yard, overgrown with weeds. Only two police officers and Manuela, a three-legged dog, keep watch outside.
This is the residence of the President of Uruguay. Jose Mujica shunned the luxurious house that the Uruguayan State provides for its leaders and opted to stay instead at his wife's farmhouse, off a dirt road outside the capital, Montevideo.The President and his wife work the land themselves, growing flowers. Long may he serve. Long live Jose Mujica!" William Forde: July 23rd, 2013.
"Congratulations to Prince William and his wife, Kate, the mother of our future King of England. When he or his father comes to one day reign, hopefully the people of this country will have some decent politicians in charge; politicians who are brave enough to do the right thing for the country instead of themselves. We want politicians who implement the wishes of the people and who ride with popular policies for all instead of boarding the gravy train with eyes only on the perks of the job they can extract for themselves.
How refreshing to find that there are a still a few politicians in the world who actually serve the people and not themselves; so unlike Bush, Blair and rest of the bling crowd who spent the whole of their time in Office negotiating and preparing for a wealthy retirement after they'd been cottoned onto and voted out! It's a common grumble that politicians' lifestyles are far removed from those of their electorate.
Not so in Uruguay, however. Meet the President Jose Mujica, a President of the people and a president for the people. Jose, who lives on a ramshackle farm, drives a broken-down car and gives away 90% of his monthly pay to charity; professing that the remainder is sufficient for him and his family to live on. Laundry is strung outside the house and the water comes from a well in a yard, overgrown with weeds. Only two police officers and Manuela, a three-legged dog, keep watch outside.
This is the residence of the President of Uruguay. Jose Mujica shunned the luxurious house that the Uruguayan State provides for its leaders and opted to stay instead at his wife's farmhouse, off a dirt road outside the capital, Montevideo.The President and his wife work the land themselves, growing flowers. Long may he serve. Long live Jose Mujica!" William Forde: July 23rd, 2013.
