The Toxic Dump

Obama is the 44th US President. I wish him well. One hell of a job and those who put the US in this mess, the establishment, the media and his political opposition will bay for his blood from day one. He knows this and is able to manage, although some painful compromises will emerge; such is democracy.

The US will handle it their way which will not include national violent revolution although some idiots may try something stupid! I hope Namibia will support him and give him a chance to make change. The first necessity is to come clean and admit the problems – internationally.
The financial climate remains mired in lies, denial and selfishness. The media and experts still avoid the word ‘depression’ when all evidence and common sense say it is. OK, let’s call it a ‘deep slump’ and abbreviate to a most unattractive but relevant word – a ‘dump’, a financial dump. The financial forecast shows an intense economic cyclone with industrial output disappearing into a black hole!
But this denial is the point. As this crisis has progressed experts have demonstrated that they all knew that the financial bubble was unsustainable and criticise those in power for doing nothing. Some experts did predict well but were ignored. A dramatic failure of democratic process as political sell-by dates and survival require that ‘short-term popularism’ is upheld at the expense of doing right in the longer term. The US and the world have got what they deserve.
Subordination to ‘mob democratic decision’ has other facets in social, political and environmental spheres where future dangers are either self evident or reason and logic suggest that current policies and practice are leading to parallel catastrophes.
On the social front collapse of community and family is creating new groupings, gangs and criminal associations, religious extremists, political extremists and many others, laced with the societal ills of alcoholism, drugs, anti-social behaviour, loss of respect for authority and violence, especially towards women and children. The ‘solutions’ address the symptoms, not the cause.
Political intolerance is rising as financial and social status is based on ‘what you have’ rather than ‘what you do’. Exclusion is increasingly based on allegiance and compliance rather than principle or right or wrong; justification for actions become based upon select group dynamics not the ‘national good’. Fine speeches preaching tolerance are admirable but actions and rhetoric from the politically ambitious pandering to the ‘masses’ totally devalue such good intent.
Climate change is affecting the social and political environment. As with the financial catastrophe, the evidence is there but those in power will not react until too late; then will over react! The financial dump will stimulate social and political ‘dumps’.
But the ‘big one’, planetary environment where evidence is conflicting but reason and logic suggest the natural environment that allows mankind to breathe, drink and grow food is inexorably changing. Rising carbon dioxide, melting polar ice and glaciers, salinity changes, temperature changes, over-exploitation of natural resources, pollution of the seas and virulent bacteria and viruses are changes that are happening; their causes seem obvious but are they? Who cares if Bangladesh or the Maldives sink beneath the waves? Who cares if the air gets toxic? Who cares if there are no fish?
Political timescales worry about today, not tomorrow. Let’s get the institutional begging bowls out to counteract perceived losses. Money solves all the problems! Let’s have one big ‘toxic dump’ and enjoy the trip.
The lucky move to Planet Zog on ‘Interplanetary Air Namibia’ while our grandchildren rot! Have a nice dump! – csmith@mweb.com.na