Political memory 021810

(from a conversation with old curmudgeon friends)

One of the advantages of age is that we are expected to, and now can afford to, voice our contrarian views.  Age also allows us the advantage of learning to live with ourselves, viewing our actions objectively even while we may continue to act subjectively.  We may not have seen it all, but we’ve seen enough to recognize the past when it comes around again.  Maybe memory loss is not such a bad thing.

The natural enemies of governments are the people governed.  This is true whether we consider State governments, political parties, trade unions or corporate management.  Eventually organizations come to view those governed sole purpose is blind support the governors.  My (country, party, union, company), right or wrong, is still mine, is the march to oblivion. 

America was an experiment of change and innovation.  This questioning of the status quo led to advancements for mankind.  Rejection of the past allowed two bicycle mechanics to fly but even they fell victim to the disease of governors when they attempted to obscure the contributions of others to age of flight.  Finally their small kingdom was steam rolled by greater innovations when they failed to adjust.

Economic adjustment is the challenge that governors are failing to face.  One fact is ignored by parties and people.  Governments have no money, make no money, or advance civilization.  States’ wealth picks the pockets and minds of their populations.  States’ populations are their sole resource. When the cry is to throw public money at a perceived crisis or quite the masses with infusions of government largess, it drains that resource. Debt, public or private, is not a bad thing when it is incurred as and investment in the future to be paid for in timely manner.  Debt incurred by deficit spending (planning to spend more than foreseeable income) for non-essential programs without planning for future payment, burdens future generation with declining standards and negative growth.  Someone must pay and the only ones to pay are the people.  When grandchildren are left to address their ancestors’ follies they are forced into a systemic Dark Age that precedes the rise of new orders.

Great powers are not destroyed but rather rot from the inside till they are no longer able to support their own weight. Governments, parties and corporations could stop their rot but will not as long as their focus is organizational self-interest rather than the real requirements of the people that foot the bills.

Those that govern must face the fact that they exist to serve their publics rather than the other way around.  The bills are now due.  Exploitation of the bill payers has carried the world to a crisis of economic warning that can only get worse without responsible governance.  It is sad that irresponsibility continues to rule politics and business.

I may not remember how it came to pass or I may pass before the final melt down but darkness is on the horizon. Before the question of “can we afford it” must be asked “do we really need it, is there a better way?”  Who will light a lamp?