26-07-2003 22:49									#61
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quote: Which nations do manage it then?

Looks across Atlantic

	26-07-2003 22:51									#62
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I agree with Bodds for once! (not really)

I think it's a shame that people are made to feel like foriegners in their own country by people like Bodds.

	26-07-2003 22:55									#63
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Damn there was a page 2!!!

	26-07-2003 22:59									#64
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Last time I checked, plenty of white people in the world couldn't speak English either.

	26-07-2003 23:00									#65
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I hope it was a coincidence you posted that after I posted.

	27-07-2003 00:07									#66
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quote: Originally posted by DinoDoc The same as Cockney's. I don't see a compelling arguement for the council to pay for the translator.

Because the public chose him.

That's how it works. In his election campaign he or his party would have had to meet the expense. However once he becomes an elected representative he can claim for those translation expenses arising from his public duty. Such expenses are not excluded, and there is no requirement to speak English to be a councillor. You just need a democratic election victory.

If it proves to be very expensive, he'll probably get crucified for it at the next election, and the resulting publicity will hit the ratings of other LibDem councillors too. Therefore they have a vested interest in him improving his English.

	27-07-2003 00:41									#67
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quote: Originally posted by Lazarus and the Gimp Because the public chose him.

Picking up where this point left off: The people voted for the Lib Dems, not him.

	27-07-2003 01:51									#68
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I don't really see a problem if the translator is only a temporary measure, but this councillor should work his ass off to learn to speak English if he's serious about representing people who are, after all, English and thus speak the language themselves.

As a matter of interest, how long has he lived in Britain? That's a major point that should be considered with regard to his non-existant English. It understandable if he's only been in the country for a few months.

For example, our last President, Mary Robinson, was elected to office and she admitted that her knowledge of the Irish language was extremely bad. Not a lot of people speak the language in every day situations, but it's still used in formal occasions. She started intensive courses in Irish and within a few months was extremely proficient.

I believe that if he wants to take this job seriously, he should learn English. If he has no intention of doing so, I would question his willingness to integrate into British culture. In effect he would be telling his constituents that are immigrants "look at me, I don't have to make an effort to integrate. Why should you?"

BTW, he was granted asylum simply because his business was attacked!? People have their businesses attacked every day in Ireland! Wow, the British will really grant asylum to anyone!

	27-07-2003 02:00									#69
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quote: Originally posted by DinoDoc Picking up where this point left off: The people voted for the Lib Dems, not him.

When I voted in the local elections it clearly stated the names of the candidates by the party, and there no doubt would have been other Lib Dems on the ballot (There were four on mine I beleive).

	27-07-2003 03:08									#70
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quote: Originally posted by DinoDoc Picking up where this point left off: The people voted for the Lib Dems, not him.

I wouldn't presume to think I know that. He may have been personally known to many (it's just a council ward, after all). Alternatively, the fact that he has an "ethnic" name may have swayed others either way.

It makes little difference, however.

	27-07-2003 03:10									#71
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Should we have personal disclosure on ballot forms?

"G.W. Bush. Arrested three times. DUI conviction. Grasp of English tenuous. Rich parents."

	27-07-2003 03:23									#72
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quote: G.W. Bush. Arrested three times. DUI conviction. Grasp of English tenuous. Rich parents.

	27-07-2003 03:44									#73
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Actually, the best form of defence is to hold the higher ground and maintain a flexible structure to repel enemy attacks from all possible positions.

	27-07-2003 03:53									#74
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What if you are in Holland?

	27-07-2003 04:15									#75
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Then you face downwind and burn your huge piles of hashish. Stuns and confuses the enemy

	27-07-2003 04:23									#76
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Or you hire Rambo.

	27-07-2003 04:29									#77
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Rambo is no good at defense. Rambo needs a big war and Columbians that fire blanks from 1 metre away.

	27-07-2003 07:08									#78
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quote: Picking up where this point left off: The people voted for the Lib Dems, not him.

In first-past-the-post elections - unless you're particularly stupid or American - you vote for a candidate, not a party.

	27-07-2003 07:21									#79
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Joy. Next Bods will say that Jews or Muslims or athiests can't be elected to office because the majority of people claim to be Christians.
****, how anyone can be so ****ing stupid I don't know. You scream and whine about how it's 'democracy' when the BNP get elected to their ****ty little offices, and then when someone you don't like gets elected, oh no, we can't have him, he's not one of us.
****ing retard.
I don't give a slap about whether or not he speaks English. Of course the government should pay for a translator. They pay for David Blunkett's needs, for a start. You think he shouldn't be there because he's blind and therefore 'can't do the job'?
Just because he doesn't speak English doesn't make him stupid. He can think just as well as any one of us, make decisions just as well. And he's not a ****tard like you are, Bods.

	27-07-2003 12:16									#80
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You guys should have the same laws we have. Only citizens can hold elected office. We're not going to let our selves be governed by a bunch of god damned foreigners.

Last edited by Oerdin on 27-07-2003 at 13:25

	27-07-2003 13:20									#81
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The right to stand for elected office is open to Commonwealth citizens, not just anybody. The invitation is open to members of the old family of the Empire. We are all closely linked in terms of history, after all.

Put simply- if you understand the rules of cricket, you can stand.

A couple of other points. Mr Ali states that it was the council's solicitors who advised him to charge his translation expenses to the council (rightly so, in my opinion). He requires no assistance with written English, so I wouldn't imagine he'll need translation for spoken English for long.

	27-07-2003 14:15									#82
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quote: Of course the government should pay for a translator. They pay for David Blunkett's needs, for a start.

Is not being able to speak English a physical disability?

	27-07-2003 14:45									#83
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quote: Originally posted by *End Is Forever* In first-past-the-post elections - unless you're particularly stupid or American - you vote for a candidate, not a party.

In the US you vote for a candidate. It is Canada where you have to vote for a party.

	27-07-2003 14:51									#84
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quote: Originally posted by Lazarus and the Gimp Put simply- if you understand the rules of cricket, you can stand.

Damn! That's me out then!

	27-07-2003 15:12									#85
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quote: Originally posted by Boddington's Is not being able to speak English a physical disability?

No. So what?

	27-07-2003 15:13									#86
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There's your difference.

	27-07-2003 15:16									#87
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So what?

	27-07-2003 15:26									#88
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quote: Originally posted by Oerdin You guys should have the same laws we have. Only citizens can hold elected office. We're not going to let our selves be governed by a bunch of god damned foreigners.

Seeing what it gets you, I'd suggest rethinking that rule.

	27-07-2003 15:28									#89
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quote: Originally posted by Lazarus and the Gimp Put simply- if you understand the rules of cricket, you can stand.

That's a gross discrimination of EU citizens from other member states.

	27-07-2003 15:30									#90
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EU citizens aren't commonwealth citizens so they can't run anyway.