The human face of recession.

[tec0]

I don’t know clearly the philosophy of more is better is not working and we end up with more is more and it cost a hell of a lot more too... Still I believe that we must question functionality and capability, then we might end up with the nasty surprise that both these aspects are neglected in our current structure.

The fact is we need to restructure the function of government and the way it works. Also allow the people to actually have a say in local matters like roads, food, water, healthcare, security and job creation. Allow us as South Africans to have access to funds to rebuild structures concerning agriculture, training and security. More importantly, to allow us to actively partake in the administration of these above mentioned aspects.

The truth is the people needs to be empowered.

[tonyflanigan]

“We will tighten our deployment procedures to ensure that we deploy comrades with political integrity and professionals competence,” he (Jacob Zooma) said.

So we not gonna have a guvmint ennimore!

Extracted from:

http://blogs.dispatch.co.za/dispatchnow/2010/01/16/will-cadre-deployment-come-to-an-end/#more-14734

[Butch Hannan]

I have written on my website a post called "Contract For Politicians" which you might enjoy reading. It is very much a tongue in cheek piece but strangely enough might actually solve our problems. I have also written another piece called "Africa Is Bleeding" which in this thread context is worth a read.

Butch Hannan

[Butch Hannan]

Dave A,
I could not agree more with you about this. My late brother in law was an engineer at a coal mine and told me the following story. They did a comparison with a mine in the USA. The comparison was based on tons mined and number of people employed. The South African mine employed 1600 people compared to 700. The South African mine decided to reduce its employees to 1200. When this figure was reached the wheels started coming off the operation. Closer investigation of the USA outfit showed that the coal cutter was driven by an engineer who maintained the machine himself and his remuneration was very production orientated.
Maybe the problem is that we have 400 windbags producing a lot of wind that we cannot harness. Do we as South Africans understand the word " Productivity" and actually what it means.
Butch Hannan

[desA]

Maybe the problem is that we have 400 windbags producing a lot of wind that we cannot harness.

I would advocate the installation of wind turbines at the seat of government.

[tec0]

Well if anything this is what we don’t see.

Plans to bring in new technologies like electric cars that run on water.
Plans to fix hospitals, national security, and corruption.
Plans for: Training, Job creation and agriculture.
Plans for: Establishing a working municipality system.

Nothing is being done but our government is costing us more and more money...



So the question is, is our government functional and is our administration qualified?

[Frankincense]

"So the question is, is our government functional and is our administration qualified?"

...are the people controlling the governments of the world via regulations and international loans with conditions really interested in seeing people being taken care of and growth taking place?...actually from what I see the agenda is to get rid of alot of the people....especially "third world" people....and some other stuff I have mentioned ...

Look at our Haiti : Haiti’s legacy of debt began shortly after gaining independence from France in 1804. In 1825, France, with warships at the ready, demanded Haiti “compensate” France for its loss of a slave colony. In exchange for French recognition of Haiti as a sovereign republic, France demanded payment of a modern equivalent of $21 billion). They took 120 years to pay it off and owe IMF 80% of thier annual GDP too.


First, to understand the American Red Cross, we will have to look at its leadership, known as the "Board of Directors" their terms began in 2009.



*Gail J. McGovern (President, CEO)

*Ann Kaplan (Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee; Vice Chair of the Compensation and Management Development Committee)

*Suzanne Nora Johnson (Executive Committee; Chair of the Compensation and Management Development Committee)

*Paula E. Boggs (Audit and Risk Management Committee)

*Allan Goldberg (Chair, QRC Subcommittee, Audit and Risk Management Committee)

*Sanford "Sandy" Belden (Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee; Executive Committee)

*Steve Wunning (Vice Chair, Audit and Risk Management Committee; Compensation and Management Development Committee)

*Cesar Aristeiguieta (Audit and Risk Management Committee)

*H. Marshall Schwarz (Audit and Risk Management Committee)

*Melanie Sabelhaus (Chair, Philanthropy Committee; Executive Committee)

*Richard M. Fountain (Vice Chair, Philanthropy Committee)

*Jerry "James" Goodwin (Philanthropy Committee)

*Richard Patton (Philanthropy Committee)

*Bonnie McElveen-Hunter (Chairman, Executive Committee)

*Joe Pereles (Vice Chairman, Executive Committee)

*Laurence E. Paul (Vice Chairman – Finance, Executive Committee)

*Jim Keyes (Vice Chair, Governance and Board Development Committee)

*Youngme Moon (Governance and Board Development Committee)

*Anna Maria Larsen (Governance and Board Development Committee)



There... Now that we got the Board of Directors out of the way...

Let's get to the meat of the story, shall we?




Starbucks is a company that sells coffee.

I think this is common knowledge, but did you know that one of Haiti's primary exports is coffee?

Minimum wage disputes have long been an issue in Haiti, the previous minimum wage was 70 gourdes ($1.75) per day, that the Parliament voted to increase to 200 gourdes ($5) per day.

This attempt was rebuffed by president René Préval, and an agreement was reached to set the minimum wage at 125 gourdes per day instead.

This decision came upon Business concerns over the economic ramifications of raising the minimum wage.

Haiti's special economic situation revolves around its low payed workers, the duty free exports to the united states, and its proximity to the united states markets.

Interestingly enough, Paula E. Boggs, Executive vice president, general counsel and secretary of Starbucks Coffee Company, is also on the Audit and Risk Management Committee of the American Red Cross.

The Haitian leadership has been plagued over the years with scandals of kickbacks, embezzlement, and extortion.

None so prolific as the financial abuse of the Haitian owned Telecom company, whose funds were imbezzled by then president Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

It should come as no surprise that the Hatian telcom market is so lucrative, considering the numerous Haitians living within the continental United States who call their relatives in Haiti.

The Kickbacks were in the form of "Connection Termination Charges" that were placed onto the US callers, and the funds were handled by the Latin American division of AT&T, whom Aristide ordered to move to a numbered offshore bank account in Panama, while he was in the United States.

The international TelCom Industries has been trying to get the Haitian Government to Publicize the State owned Telcom company for quite some time...

Now that they have been hit by this Giant Quake... The Haitian Government may have no choice in the matter.

Oddly Enough, Gail J. McGovern, the President/CEO of the American Red Cross, also holds a Top managing Position at AT&T.

The rebuilding effort in Haiti will likely require huge amounts of money, and expensive machinery.

The Restructuring of the Manufacturing base in Haiti will require precision tools and other services.

This effort will more than likely cost millions of dollars.

One Company that has graciously committed to help in the rebuilding efforts, is Caterpillar Inc. the manufacturer of heavy construction machinery.

And, Lucky for them, Steve Wunning the Vice Chair of Audit and Risk Management Committee and member of the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the American Red Cross... Just so happens to be the Group President of Caterpillar Inc. and ALSO, the Director of Kennametal Inc. (Precision tool manufacturer)

The serious situation in Haiti is exacerbated by the poor health records for the country.

AIDS in Haiti effects one in ten.

The medicines that will be required by the Red Cross to help the suffering of the Haitian people will in all likelihood cost millions of dollars.

Luckily, Merck has a viable AIDS treatment drug, "Isentress" (Raltegravir) that could help, in addition to being a HUGE supplier of other pharmaceuticals.

Such an Odd coincidence, that Allan Goldberg, The Chair for the QRC Subcommittee and member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee for the American Red Cross... Also happens to be the Executive Director at Merck and Co. Inc.

...the Deeper I look into this thing, the Nastier it gets.


Ann Kaplan (Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee; Vice Chair of the Compensation and Management Development Committee) serves on the Boards of Financial Guaranty Insurance Company and the Goldman Sachs Bank.


Suzanne Nora Johnson (Executive Committee; Chair of the Compensation and Management Development Committee)
is an American corporate lawyer and executive. Until 2007, she was Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs, Chairman of the Global Markets Institute, head of the firm's Global Investment Research Division, and a member of the firm's Management Committee.

I know peeps would say :Who better to head up the RED CROSS than a bunch of lawyers and bankers...lol..they're qualified..plumbers and electircians couldn't do it...lol.....

Oh well...certain people in control want to benefit from demise...so we have odious loans and impoverishment and wars....

This whole thing of financing a war from "an event"...then sending in the same bankers/people who produced the weapons to rebuild the roads and infrastructure stinks..and is lame...but will continue...

Chevez has actually accused the USA of using HAARP to create the quake.....which is also lame but possible.

Better must come...

...ooops....I vered ...I really should stick to the Zulu boys Zuma and Julius...our "Influencial leaders"....

[Dave A]

You do know why they're directors, surely. The Red Cross operates on donations, and big donations come from big companies. Any bets on who the top donor companies might be?

"So the question is, is our government functional and is our administration qualified?"

...are the people controlling the governments of the world via regulations and international loans with conditions really interested in seeing people being taken care of and growth taking place?...

Now this I like - a very good point and we don't have to go to Haiti. Good ol' RSA could do as well.

Is our government functional, our administration qualified, and do the ordinary citizens really influence governance?

Let's face it - the fat cats at the top of the ANC hierarchy are really doing well for themselves. Perhaps not such a problem if the ordinary citizen was getting a share of the spoils.

Aha! But what about all the houses being provided and all the social grants? This is government looking after the people, surely.

Or is it just a sop, buying votes to stay in power to keep the loot rolling in?
What if instead of handing out houses the money had been put into stuff that produced paying jobs? Then people would be able to buy their own houses.
They'd be able to determine their own destiny instead of being dependant on handouts.

Maybe I'm being too harsh or perhaps there are better examples, but when I look at what our government is up to, I can't help thinking every time our elected representatives and appointed civil servants need to make a decision the first question they ask is "what is in it for me?" and then, perhaps, they'll wonder "is it good for the citizens of this country?"

Of course when you believe "what's good for me is good for the country" there is no dilemma

[Frankincense]

[desA]

Once the politicians get the money-machine well-oiled, they forget about the 'ordinary people', as they have no need for them.

At some point, their position is bought & paid for, even if it requires influence to secure said position. It is the same in most countries - some are just more obvious than others.

NGO's & their servants are only ever in it for themselves. Even the lovely World Vision International has become a money-machine, with less than 10% of donor funds reaching intended recipients. It is also no longer a 'Christian' organisation.

[tec0]

Well, what is government doing? Right we all know that the power increase is coming and we all know that of small to medium businesses will be hit the hardest. Especially people using electrical equipment to earn their money.

Now with a power increase like this every aspect of your production will become more expensive and you will not be able to be competitive enough against “imports” So more to the point if “they” can “import” your product by end of 2010 they will do so because chances are it will be financially feasible.

It is these factors that come to play along with the following:

It is known that that negotiations exist where our power facilitator hopes to “shut down” production so that there will be enough power for the “Soccer World Cup” Imagine the losses these companies will face. But there will be “penalties” these “penalties” Our power facilitator will have to pay these “penalties” and they are estimated to be in the billions. <- we are paying for that.

So clearly, the South Africans will be picking up the bill after 2010 and we will pay and continue to pay a yearly increase until we cannot pay anymore. This is the “big plan”

The point I am making is that the South Africans are paying for everything but, where is our national security, health care systems and long term job creation? Where are our benefits?

[AndyD]

South Africa is not Europe or the USA with very large middle classes where these costs are spread across a larger percentage of the population. The smaller the group the more it's going to hurt.

[Dave A]

Andy, you might have nailed down the real reason the increase has to be so big.

[tonyflanigan]

@ Dave and Andy. Will the financial impact on contributing South Africans still be as great if our non-electrical producing neighboring countries pay for the electricity that is supplied to them?

[AndyD]

@ Dave and Andy. Will the financial impact on contributing South Africans still be as great if our non-electrical producing neighboring countries pay for the electricity that is supplied to them?

Do I detect a pointed statement rather than a question here? What neighbours we supply and how much they pay is not something I know much about. Do you have a link to some facts and figures about this?