The Hippocritic Oath

Chris Smith

20 July 2011

column

I watch our little world sometimes in total disbelief.

I see Ashton of the EU (or is it EC?) in Benghazi in Libya talking to rebels; is that technically not an act of war? I listen to her boss, that funny Belgian, telling ministers that they must ignore their domestic political policies in finding a solution for the Greek lot (and others) heading for inevitable default; I thought the people held the final cards?

And then I see our Attorney General, AlbertK of Kasikili fame, saying that the SADC tribunal should only be accessible by governments and not natural persons; he sort of misses the point that access by natural persons over (possible) governmental transgressions of SADC principle and law is what the tribunal is all about.

It seems that the rights of the individual and their choices are being eroded by those sworn to uphold constitutions and their various basic agreements of principle. Then look at how the various groupings of Africa are going to institute common currencies, legal systems and free cross-border trade. Have they not been watching what is happening elsewhere?

Then a wicked thought enters my mind! The only time that there have been common currencies, legal systems and free cross-border trade was in the days of colonialism. Yes, in half the world, pounds, shillings and pence were the common currency, there was a single legal system with ultimate appeal to the house of lords and trade, generally, was not subject to iniquitous taxes. Perhaps our leaders want to return to a new version of colonialism!! The super class rules all? Us subjects are reduced again to commodity status?

What that little Belgian says is that Europe, to have its currency and financial credibility survive must abandon national democratic agenda and become subservient to Brussels. The African situation, while less advanced seems to be heading in the same direction. But let’s look how Greece and the others got themselves into the cesspit of inevitable default.

Being in power is great. Lots of nice holidays paid for by others, private jet use, fat travel allowances and buckets of private cash. Keep this by employing lots of supporters, overpay them, promise massive pensions, under tax your partners in crime, the major businesses and their owners, fudge the accounts so you can keep borrowing. By the time it catches up with you, retire and let others bail you out – especially the normal people, who by the way were so stupid to let you get away with it in the first place.

Greece and others have done just this. Accumulated debt that cannot possibly be repaid. The other governments in the common currency area tell their more disciplined people, they must bail out the crooks.

The reaction is predictable so these same guys try to get the banks who stupidly lent to the Greeks and others to “take a haircut”. The outcome is unknown but I bet Greece is back to the drachma quite soon.

Whatever the outcome, it is quite clear that the EU regulatory controls on which the Euro was based were ignored in the interests of political continuity. Don’t rock the boat. Well the Euro boat is taking on water; will it sink?

Add to this the USA’s position and, I believe, false and overstated information from the Far East, as Namibians we should be very careful about our debt and economic security. Whatever happens is going to happen fast and uncontrollable.

Are we ready? There are local parallels to Greece. Hypocrisy does not fit well with democracy. We are warned.

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