That’s a sharp lesson in democracy.
If just 634 751 people (a mere 1.4% of the voters roll) had voted Remain instead
of Leave that would have changed the outcome of the British referendum. Whew.
Proof that everyone’s vote counts even when you believe the result is a given.
Hopefully the folk in SA are going to get that message and in August will do
something to shake up the far too cosy status quo here. So now what’s going to
happen? Of course no one knows precisely, but some fleet footed traders are
having a fine old time taking advantage of the immediate reactions of unwarranted
panic and indecision. Massive price swings taking place in currency and share
markets and unfortunately some innocents are going to get injured when their “advisors”
run them in and out of positions. The
markets will soon settle down into yet another “new normal” status as the
private sectors look to confirm and perpetuate their profitable arrangements with
counterparties regardless of which region they hail from. The closing down of
those relationships which exist only because of political expediency, bureaucratic
fiat and other people’s money should be welcomed.
South Africa is about to feel all
grown up and responsible. It is introducing its very own Carbon Tax just like
the big boys have. Despite the very tenuous evidence connecting the apparent changes
in global weather patterns to the small increase in the carbon dioxide fraction
in the air, the alleged risks have been a boon to revenue hungry governments. It
is unlikely that very much of the money collected by a Carbon Tax will be used to
research if there is really any modification to human development that might
slow or reverse that growing fraction. But it is certain that public money will
be spent funding jaunts for officials to fly first class to distant locations
to discuss chemistry and engineering with peers who will be equally clueless. National
Treasury has just revealed its draft regulations about how those wicked
industries belching carbon dioxide may, through good behaviour towards other
forms of this much maligned sixth element, reduce their tax liabilities. So yet
more pages for the tax schedules and big fat carbon footprints on the nice
clean rugs. Please recall that governments on the southern tip have been taxing
carbon since the 1860s though. Diamonds. Just saying.
The Automobile Association
believes that as many as 800 000 vehicles on our roads are either
unregistered or not roadworthy. Surely not! How can this be when just this year
car owners were told to take that giant step in the cause for road safety and prove
where they live before renewing their vehicle licence. That’s just as effective
in reducing the appalling accident rate as the appointment of a fellow
convicted for drunken driving as the head of safety and security in Port
Elizabeth.
How difficult and expensive can
it be in this age of programmable computer controlled switch gear for the phone
network to implement an integrated emergency number program? Twenty years ago
we were watching TV programs showing Americans calling 911 for help and
thinking that is good. Earlier than that even, Boy Scouts were taught how to find
999 on a rotary dial in the dark. But now comes the story that Wi-Fi rollout
has higher priority for state money. Free internet coverage for everyone? That’s
one to watch. Mind you after seeing (not on SABC though!) the unimpeded
progress of looters in Pretoria demonstrating their rejection of a mayoral
candidate maybe there is little point in having a number to call the cops. They
aren’t much interested.
Bringing on in-form Lions players
used to the Ellis Park oxygen deficit was a game-winning strategy last weekend
for the ‘bokke. Coach Coetzee boasted of his experience of taking Cape teams to
the Highveld over the years and he was correct. The air in PE however is not
thin and the Irish are pretty steamed up. Maybe those of us with cardiac
complaints should spend tomorrow afternoon listening to Mozart (proven to be
therapeutic apparently) and not watching what will be a very tense affair. The
cricket from Barbados tonight may be no less worrying though.
James
Greener
Friday 24th
June 2016
