Forum newsfeeds
Forum Newsfeeds


Sites for Teachers

Sites for Teachers


Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Learning English > Ask a Teacher

Notices

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 30-Jul-2004, 11:55
oichi
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default political joke

This is probably a question more of economics than of English but could you explain this political joke for me?
It's a comment made in the PBS news program about the Democratic National Convention.

Quote:
MARK SHIELDS: Just to complete my thought on the Social Security, the Fourth Commandment, Jim, honor thy father and mother, and John Kerry very imaginatively said that somehow prevents the privatization of Social Security.

I have never heard that. I don't think the council of Trent could have come up with that.

DAVID BROOKS: I think the Fourth Commandment put 2 percent share in private accounts, but not....
The joke I didn't get is Brooks's.
What does he mean?
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/polit...erry_7-29.html

Thanks.
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 01-Aug-2004, 17:52
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: UK
Posts: 25,454
Current Location: Phnom Penh
First Language: English
Member Type: English Teacher
Thanks: 6
Thanked 429 Times in 385 Posts
Tdol has disabled reputation
Default

I'm afraid it doesn't mean much to me either.;-(
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 02-Aug-2004, 08:52
oichi
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Thanks anyway tdol.
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 02-Aug-2004, 17:28
Casiopea's Avatar
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Country: Canada
Posts: 12,997
Current Location: China
First Language: English
Member Type: Other
Thanks: 0
Thanked 45 Times in 44 Posts
Casiopea is on a distinguished road
Default Re: political joke

I think the Fourth Commandement (i.e. the use of God and the Bible) put a 2% share in private accounts (i.e. wins votes for the Republicans), but not.... (i.e. for the Democrats).

Republicans would like to privatize social security; they also make a great deal of reference to God and the Bible, whereas Democrats usually don't. That John Kerry used the Fourth Commandment to condemn the Republican's want to privatize social security resembled what is expected of a Republican, but not what is expected of a Democrat.

In short, David Brooks' comment is about using the Bible (i.e. The Fourth Commandment ) for political advantage. You can use the Fourth Commandment to support privatization or you can use it to condemn privatization. Either way goes.

In my opinion, Kerry's use of the Fourth Commandment was definitely a play on this whole topic.

Vote Kerry, America! 8)
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 02-Aug-2004, 18:21
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: UK
Posts: 25,454
Current Location: Phnom Penh
First Language: English
Member Type: English Teacher
Thanks: 6
Thanked 429 Times in 385 Posts
Tdol has disabled reputation
Default

It loses something in translation.
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 02-Aug-2004, 18:28
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 727
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
twostep
Default David Brooks

David Brooks is a Sr. Editor for the New York Times and one of the golden boys of political reporting. He seems to tend towards the Republican side a bit. The term Cash and Kerry is one of his creations.
Trying not be political - one of the Republican rebuttals to Kerry's platform is the money issue on how to finance his proposed reforms. Bush is bringing religion to politics. You deduct 2 percent of the Fourth Commandment - that brings out the current problem is the government allow to interfere in religious issues such as student vouchers for religious schools, Democrats need to add the cost of their promises before making them.
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 01-Sep-2004, 00:10
oichi
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default thanks casiopea!

This is a VERY late reply but thanks very much Casiopea.
I think I understood what the joke was about.

The Republican National Convention is taking place now and that reminded me of this question I posted some time ago...
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 02-Sep-2004, 18:52
Casiopea's Avatar
VIP Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Country: Canada
Posts: 12,997
Current Location: China
First Language: English
Member Type: Other
Thanks: 0
Thanked 45 Times in 44 Posts
Casiopea is on a distinguished road
Default Re: thanks casiopea!

Quote:
Originally Posted by oichi
This is a VERY late reply but thanks very much Casiopea.
I think I understood what the joke was about.

The Republican National Convention is taking place now and that reminded me of this question I posted some time ago...
You're welcome. :D
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
political, joke

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How to comprehend the joke? japanjapan Ask a Teacher 9 15-Jan-2007 03:13
Floridians for All's other benefactors, NewHope Ask a Teacher 3 20-Oct-2004 08:38
a joke that turns you off blacknomi Ask a Teacher 9 09-Jun-2004 14:33


New To Site? Need Help?

All times are GMT. The time now is 23:25.


vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.2.0
Copyright © 2002 - 2008 UsingEnglish.com