Mandarins, Gurus & Czars.
Discussion
Just been watching the Great Offices of State, Michael Cockerell, on BBC FOUR.
Every episode he's used these terms ad infinitum, as do many other political pundits in the media.
What do the terms mean? why are they used? and what is the difference between them? Is there a pecking order? Their use appears to be inconsistent and largely meaningless to me, so was wondering if there is actually a structure, and for whom?
Every episode he's used these terms ad infinitum, as do many other political pundits in the media.
What do the terms mean? why are they used? and what is the difference between them? Is there a pecking order? Their use appears to be inconsistent and largely meaningless to me, so was wondering if there is actually a structure, and for whom?
Balmoral Green said:
Just been watching the Great Offices of State, Michael Cockerell, on BBC FOUR.
Every episode he's used these terms ad infinitum, as do many other political pundits in the media.
What do the terms mean? why are they used? and what is the difference between them? Is there a pecking order? Their use appears to be inconsistent and largely meaningless to me, so was wondering if there is actually a structure, and for whom?
Mandarins are permanent keepers of the flame, Czars are temporary figure heads, and Gurus are the occasional message architects.Every episode he's used these terms ad infinitum, as do many other political pundits in the media.
What do the terms mean? why are they used? and what is the difference between them? Is there a pecking order? Their use appears to be inconsistent and largely meaningless to me, so was wondering if there is actually a structure, and for whom?
Police State said:
Balmoral Green said:
Just been watching the Great Offices of State, Michael Cockerell, on BBC FOUR.
Every episode he's used these terms ad infinitum, as do many other political pundits in the media.
What do the terms mean? why are they used? and what is the difference between them? Is there a pecking order? Their use appears to be inconsistent and largely meaningless to me, so was wondering if there is actually a structure, and for whom?
Mandarins are permanent keepers of the flame, Czars are temporary figure heads, and Gurus are the occasional message architects.Every episode he's used these terms ad infinitum, as do many other political pundits in the media.
What do the terms mean? why are they used? and what is the difference between them? Is there a pecking order? Their use appears to be inconsistent and largely meaningless to me, so was wondering if there is actually a structure, and for whom?
Czars are permanent heads. Mandarins were lackys sent by the King to do the paperwork.
elster said:
Police State said:
Balmoral Green said:
Just been watching the Great Offices of State, Michael Cockerell, on BBC FOUR.
Every episode he's used these terms ad infinitum, as do many other political pundits in the media.
What do the terms mean? why are they used? and what is the difference between them? Is there a pecking order? Their use appears to be inconsistent and largely meaningless to me, so was wondering if there is actually a structure, and for whom?
Mandarins are permanent keepers of the flame, Czars are temporary figure heads, and Gurus are the occasional message architects.Every episode he's used these terms ad infinitum, as do many other political pundits in the media.
What do the terms mean? why are they used? and what is the difference between them? Is there a pecking order? Their use appears to be inconsistent and largely meaningless to me, so was wondering if there is actually a structure, and for whom?
Czars are permanent heads. Mandarins were lackys sent by the King to do the paperwork.
Edited by Police State on Thursday 25th February 22:42
Balmoral Green said:
Police State said:
Mandarins are permanent keepers of the flame, Czars are temporary figure heads, and Gurus are the occasional message architects.
Hey, that's pretty bloody good, in the way these words are used in UK political terms, I can recognise that.I have a UVPC double glazed small top window (you know the flip up one's), and it has some moisture in there (prssure washer I think), and it drives me nuts. Is there a quick fix?
Police State said:
elster said:
Police State said:
Balmoral Green said:
Just been watching the Great Offices of State, Michael Cockerell, on BBC FOUR.
Every episode he's used these terms ad infinitum, as do many other political pundits in the media.
What do the terms mean? why are they used? and what is the difference between them? Is there a pecking order? Their use appears to be inconsistent and largely meaningless to me, so was wondering if there is actually a structure, and for whom?
Mandarins are permanent keepers of the flame, Czars are temporary figure heads, and Gurus are the occasional message architects.Every episode he's used these terms ad infinitum, as do many other political pundits in the media.
What do the terms mean? why are they used? and what is the difference between them? Is there a pecking order? Their use appears to be inconsistent and largely meaningless to me, so was wondering if there is actually a structure, and for whom?
Czars are permanent heads. Mandarins were lackys sent by the King to do the paperwork.
Mandarins being the Civil Service
Czars being the head of state
Guru being the advisors.
Nothing wrong with using the terms for their own ways if that is the done thing now.
ExChrispy Porker said:
I thought Tsarist Russia ( Czar) was a byword for incompetence, corruption and a failing government. I often wonder why people are so keen to adopt the term.
Well it was more about Peter the great setting up an aristocracy to be like the European Royals.Having all the glitz and glamour, not really caring about those "below" them.
A bit like champagne socialists I suppose.
Great, I remove my post to repost it and you beat me to it and quote it. 
It was only in the last few years that things got sticky, peasant revolts and such and poor decisions to control rioters. The Tsar was thought of in the same way as the Emperors of Japan and still are to this day by those finally coming out from behind the shadow of the communist years.
It was only in the last few years that things got sticky, peasant revolts and such and poor decisions to control rioters. The Tsar was thought of in the same way as the Emperors of Japan and still are to this day by those finally coming out from behind the shadow of the communist years.
elster said:
Police State said:
elster said:
Police State said:
Balmoral Green said:
Just been watching the Great Offices of State, Michael Cockerell, on BBC FOUR.
Every episode he's used these terms ad infinitum, as do many other political pundits in the media.
What do the terms mean? why are they used? and what is the difference between them? Is there a pecking order? Their use appears to be inconsistent and largely meaningless to me, so was wondering if there is actually a structure, and for whom?
Mandarins are permanent keepers of the flame, Czars are temporary figure heads, and Gurus are the occasional message architects.Every episode he's used these terms ad infinitum, as do many other political pundits in the media.
What do the terms mean? why are they used? and what is the difference between them? Is there a pecking order? Their use appears to be inconsistent and largely meaningless to me, so was wondering if there is actually a structure, and for whom?
Czars are permanent heads. Mandarins were lackys sent by the King to do the paperwork.
Mandarins being the Civil Service
Czars being the head of state
Guru being the advisors.
Nothing wrong with using the terms for their own ways if that is the done thing now.
Police State said:
well, that's the context in which BG askes the question, and the consequent answer was given. In reality the two comparisons are not that far apart that you should fail to see the relation; the only truly different example is the question of 'Czar', which of course is used differently.
Read my post a bit lower down.Edited by elster on Thursday 25th February 23:26
Police State said:
I have a UVPC double glazed small top window (you know the flip up one's), and it has some moisture in there (prssure washer I think), and it drives me nuts. Is there a quick fix?
No.The sealed unit has failed, you need to replace it with a new one, or alternatively there is a process whereby the moisture and any residue left behind can be removed, it's called 'Get The Fog Out' (Google it) but on a one off unit it probably won't be a cheap enough fix compared to a new unit.
Balmoral Green said:
Police State said:
I have a UVPC double glazed small top window (you know the flip up one's), and it has some moisture in there (prssure washer I think), and it drives me nuts. Is there a quick fix?
No.The sealed unit has failed, you need to replace it with a new one, or alternatively there is a process whereby the moisture and any residue left behind can be removed, it's called 'Get The Fog Out' (Google it) but on a one off unit it probably won't be a cheap enough fix compared to a new unit.
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