Comments on: People have power http://lordsoftheblog.net/2008/04/01/people-have-power/ Life and Work in the House of Lords Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:38:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: baronessdsouza http://lordsoftheblog.net/2008/04/01/people-have-power/comment-page-1/#comment-353 baronessdsouza Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:48:10 +0000 http://lordsoftheblog.wordpress.com/?p=207#comment-353 Senex, Zimbabwe was expelled from the Commonwealth about 4 years ago - mainly due to the failure to have free and fair elections. The Commonwealth is a complex organisation and I think could best be described as a communicating group of democratic nations that have strong historical ties. Given that all these Commonwealth countries have either been colonies or dominions they share a common parliamentary and legal system. This allows for a great deal of exchange between the various professional and political groups. While attachments are often sentimental there are also (diminishing now) preferential trade agreements. The value of the Commonwealth I think is that it provides a regular forum for debate and discussion on almost every conceivable topic and nations that regularly talk to one another tend not to fight one another! Senex, Zimbabwe was expelled from the Commonwealth about 4 years ago – mainly due to the failure to have free and fair elections.

The Commonwealth is a complex organisation and I think could best be described as a communicating group of democratic nations that have strong historical ties. Given that all these Commonwealth countries have either been colonies or dominions they share a common parliamentary and legal system.

This allows for a great deal of exchange between the various professional and political groups. While attachments are often sentimental there are also (diminishing now) preferential trade agreements.

The value of the Commonwealth I think is that it provides a regular forum for debate and discussion on almost every conceivable topic and nations that regularly talk to one another tend not to fight one another!

]]> By: Senex http://lordsoftheblog.net/2008/04/01/people-have-power/comment-page-1/#comment-352 Senex Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:59:28 +0000 http://lordsoftheblog.wordpress.com/?p=207#comment-352 Baroness Dsouza: As I understand it Zimbabwe is still a member of the Commonwealth. Does this in anyway affect a countries Constitution and Parliamentary system or is it simply a trade association. Baroness Dsouza:

As I understand it Zimbabwe is still a member of the Commonwealth.

Does this in anyway affect a countries Constitution and Parliamentary system or is it simply a trade association.

]]> By: baronessdsouza http://lordsoftheblog.net/2008/04/01/people-have-power/comment-page-1/#comment-351 baronessdsouza Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:03:37 +0000 http://lordsoftheblog.wordpress.com/?p=207#comment-351 Senex - your response is of course optimistic and cheery and right! But as one country regains democracy another may be moving towards dictatorship.There is no, and will never be a, perfect system of rights and obligations, of governments acknowledging the nature of the contract between them and their citizens. However, if one believes that information leading to knowledge is the bed rock of a more democratic system - then global communication must rank as an unstoppable force for change and freedom? Senex – your response is of course optimistic and cheery and right! But as one country regains democracy another may be moving towards dictatorship.There is no, and will never be a, perfect system of rights and obligations, of governments acknowledging the nature of the contract between them and their citizens. However, if one believes that information leading to knowledge is the bed rock of a more democratic system – then global communication must rank as an unstoppable force for change and freedom?

]]> By: Senex http://lordsoftheblog.net/2008/04/01/people-have-power/comment-page-1/#comment-350 Senex Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:50:21 +0000 http://lordsoftheblog.wordpress.com/?p=207#comment-350 Mugabe set out with the best of intentions believing he could affect change in Zimbabwe for the better. He failed badly! I think he knows this now. There is a positive note to all of this. What is broken can be mended with the right will and encouragement. After Mugabe goes or given his longevity, expires, the nation and its people can start over again. Mugabe set out with the best of intentions believing he could affect change in Zimbabwe for the better. He failed badly! I think he knows this now.

There is a positive note to all of this. What is broken can be mended with the right will and encouragement. After Mugabe goes or given his longevity, expires, the nation and its people can start over again.

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