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Newguest Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary
Roll me.....
Hi
One guy from a coalition Jubilee 2000 came to talk to a Congressman and said: There was one Southern Congressman who refused to look me in the eye and said: "Everybody's looking at me like I'm Scrooge, but this money's going down a rat hole. You'll be just buying more gold taps and Gulf streams for tinpot dictators. I'm trying to stop you but I can't get people on my side they have one drink with you and they roll me. You expect me to sit here and smile at you?" In the end that particular Congressman became an advocate.
What about "gold taps and Gulf streams"? Does "tap" has got something to do with "sinks" here? I know what "Gulf stream" is (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Stream), but why he's mentioning that?
"they roll me" - does it mean that people keep coming to him and he's got to deal with them and he doesn't want it?
I suppose the last sentence says that although he didn't like the Jubilee's 2000 idea he supported them in the end, right?
One guy from a coalition Jubilee 2000 came to talk to a Congressman and said: There was one Southern Congressman who refused to look me in the eye and said: "Everybody's looking at me like I'm Scrooge, but this money's going down a rat hole. You'll be just buying more gold taps and Gulf streams for tinpot dictators. I'm trying to stop you but I can't get people on my side they have one drink with you and they roll me. You expect me to sit here and smile at you?" In the end that particular Congressman became an advocate.
What about "gold taps and Gulf streams"? Does "tap" has got something to do with "sinks" here? I know what "Gulf stream" is (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Stream), but why he's mentioning that?
"they roll me" - does it mean that people keep coming to him and he's got to deal with them and he doesn't want it?
I suppose the last sentence says that although he didn't like the Jubilee's 2000 idea he supported them in the end, right?
Top answer
I started to wonder why he said: "down a rat hole" and I guess he meant that even if they won't demand the poor countries to pay their debts it won't help, because then all the dictators in those countries will spend even more money that they have on "gold taps" (something that you turn to wash your hands) and Gulf Streams - hmm, this one I don't get?
- I started to wonder why he said: "down a rat hole" and I guess he meant that even if they won't demand the poor countries to pay their debts it won't help, because then all the dictators in those countries will spend even more money that they have on "gold taps" (something that you turn to wash your hands) and Gulf Streams - hmm, this one I don't get?
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3 Answers
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I started to wonder why he said: "down a rat hole" and I guess he meant that even if they won't demand the poor countries to pay their debts it won't help, because then all the dictators in those countries will spend even more money that they have on "gold taps" (something that you turn to wash your hands) and Gulf Streams - hmm, this one I don't get?
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The speaker is actually referring to a different kind of gulf stream -- he's talking about Gulfstream jets, which are often purchased by the very wealthy. He seems to be saying that the money wouldn't be used for what it was intended for. Rather, it would just help the rich get richer, allowing them to buy decadent things like real gold fixtures for their bathrooms and private planes.
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Hi
Yes it helps. But as far as money is concerned I think the Jubilee 2000 didn't want to give them any money, but to remit their debts. So if they did it (remitted their debts), the dictators would have more money for themselves rather than giving it back as a debt. So, I guess the Congressman was against "remitting the debts". And as you rightly noted people wanted to take advantage of
Yes it helps. But as far as money is concerned I think the Jubilee 2000 didn't want to give them any money, but to remit their debts. So if they did it (remitted their debts), the dictators would have more money for themselves rather than giving it back as a debt. So, I guess the Congressman was against "remitting the debts". And as you rightly noted people wanted to take advantage of
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