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Gary Boivin's avatar

"A government can survive a scandal while people still associate it with competence and protection. Once that bargain erodes, the same propaganda that once sounded like authority begins to sound like evasion." Here in the U.S., it might have once been true that Trump could shoot someone in Times Square and still get elected. Stealing $1.776 billion, once THAT registers in the public mind, will be a final nail in his career's coffin. He is his own Meszaros.

Alex Knisely's avatar

Remarkably well-written, remarkably crisp, although the three-word sentence of subject, object, verb is so frequently deployed as to approach a tic.

But : "Hungary’s electoral system is complicated enough to send even political obsessives toward the garden." Send toward the garden ? In what language is this an idiom ? Not in English.

Nonetheless a remarkable performance, and an interesting analysis. Leveszem a kalapom előtted !

Péter Dósa's avatar

Thank you, Alex for your kind words! And for your feedback too! Duly noted, I tried a new approach to this essay, I started from a thought of a recipe. The idiom you mentioned is a brainchild of mine. I was born in Hungary, grew up in Ireland and been living in Spain for a few years and the grammar tends to mix between these 3 languages… Koszonom szepen!

Alex Knisely's avatar

Thank you ! But does "send toward the garden" mean, perhaps, "throw up their hands" -- as, in despair ? **headscratch**

Péter Dósa's avatar

Yeah! Also to need to go out for a break! I could’ve said for example to step out for a cigarette. Probably should have!

Alex Knisely's avatar

Köszi !

Mitch Ritter's avatar

Feeenom (tauotelek...I have trouble typing and pronouncing umlaut!)

Tio Mitchito

TM

Pterodactyl-Cape's avatar

I enjoyed the phrase! It isn’t a saying in English, but it gave me a clear mental picture.

Rik Murrietta's avatar

About the language, me too. I recently responded in French, when speaking to a Spanish speaker. combien, instead of quantos. 🙀

Rik Murrietta's avatar

I wondered about the garden metaphor too.

Pterodactyl-Cape's avatar

This was incredible and so very clear. (And hopeful, for one living under Orbán’s corrupt disciples) Thank you!

Rik Murrietta's avatar

Many thoughtful examples, that could possibly be applied here in the US. Unfortunately we only have two parties. Once again I find your writing clear and understandable. I understood the garden in context. One thing good about knowing different languages, is you get good at context.