Effing Economics... (Gimme, Gimme, Gimme)

So based on all that we are hearing,  the business community believes that the Minister of Finance should say 'Eff' everybody else and deficit finance for continuous growth regardless of the consequences to the economy, a la the very Tesheranomics that got us into this mess in the first place. Similar to the voodoo economics of the last Administration,  the concept they advocate seems to be spend until things get better, or to quote a famous advocator of this type of policy, accelerate out of the skid. But what happens if accelerating fails despite all best intentions and we do in fact crash, wouldn't we have just made it all that much worse?

According to the Unions the Government needs to say Eff' everybody and raise wages and benefits regardless of the impact of the inflation such an action would cause, despite the onrushing recession and anticipated global downturn. Their policy seems to be you could march your way out of anything. But what if this overreaching takes us to a place where demand and supply cannot sensibly meet, are these risky destabilization tactics worth the cost to society in the long run?

And according to the Clico/CL investors/shareholders/creditors, the powers that be need to say 'Eff' everybody else and cover the default regardless of the cause and despite the risk to the treasury, just so they could get paid. Similar to their initial imprudent investment policy of who dares wins that got them into the mess in the first place, these people fail to see that while their losses are tragic, no one held a gun to their heads to make them invest in the first place. The fact that the government is bailing out everybody over time ought to be good enough and these people need to have some patience before national opinion turns against them further. In a country run by greed where everyone thinks 'Eff' everyone else, I need to get paid, the posturing and anti-government rhetoric is not helping their cause in any way that adds value to anything other than their own agenda and someone needs to caution them to stop.

Given an opportunity recently to be part of a radio show dedicated to this issue I was appalled at some of the contributors whose cut throat suggestions included (among other things) utilizing the Heritage and Stabilization fund to pay down debt, and the one lunatic who suggested that we withhold pension increases and apply those funds to union demands instead. Tell me, based solely on the posture behind that idea, what is the difference between advocating that position and robbing someone with a gun?

Having gone on record applauding the Minister of Finance for displaying the strength of character required to resist taking the populous position similar to many in his government (making the minority happy at the expense of the majority),  I would again like to encourage him to keep on the road that he is on, the one that takes us to safe and secure growth in a balanced economy that 'Effs' nobody and ignores the yapping of the greedy, selfish and self serving mongrels in society who insist on making the most noise.

If we are to learn anything from the recent stock exchange crash and downgrading of the United States' credit rating it is that now is not the time for playing fast and loose with national finance. Mr. Dookeran needs to be sensible in his deliberations and not be swayed by the rabble of self interest. If I were to give him any advice at this time it would be to batten down the hatches and prepare for the coming storm or, as the old people say, make sure you measure three times before you cut.

To those holding up the frail, the elderly and the infirm as examples of those who should be given priority I agree, and legislation ought to be drafted to class those persons as 'special needs' cases so that they could be moved to the head of the line and have their payments expedited. To those who think that it is only they that matter and that everyone else could take a side, I recommend Mr. Dookeran taking a leaf from Dr. Eric Williams' play book -  let the jackasses bray.