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Prosperity is the people's manifesto 2012 and beyond
Franklin Johnston
Friday, February 11, 2011
For 50 years we have been seduced by clichés and catchphrases. We have been offered relativist ideas to hold. The notion of "better" is a vague concept and "transformation" is worse as it can go either way. They mean nothing - certainly nothing you can measure, they are all part of the feel-good range, very emotive and catchy but meaningless. These have been offered by parties as porridge for our consumption. The Jamaican people want what the successful nations have. Prosperity is our 2012 agenda. Do not focus on the negative "poverty". We have obsessed about "poverty eradication" for years. Let's banish the phrase. We are now about building "prosperity!" Let us now elaborate our indicators, benchmarks and targets for success in this mission. It is measurable and can be compared. It may not make you happy as you may get two per cent on your savings in 2020 but you never had savings before, so give thanks. For 50 years they have told us what they will do for us. Let us now tell them what we want them to do for the nation!
Whose country is it anyway? Why do they think they know better than us when they had half a century and did diddly-squat!
THOMPSON... good senator material
1/1
We will take this nonsense no more.
(1) Changing the politics
We need some constitutional change and party policies to reform the politics. There are many MPs who want the job badly, but the best MPs are those who do not need it, which eliminates most of the present lot. There are too many who "have to win" for other reasons as it's the best pay cheque they ever had. They have debts and owe for favours rendered and being in office allows them to make restitution. We must avoid these:
* Make the MPs' job full-time, bring it under labour law and require parties to advertise nationally and have professional selection processes. Wouldn't people like Minister Samuda prove that a politician needs no test of loyalty to party as he will go wherever there is a better offer?
* Reduce the number of MPs to 45 and make their role the representation of a constituency. An MP's caseload is light. How many MPs have brought bespoke bills or issues to Parliament since 2007? Don't count complaints about roads, jobs, water, health, education and poverty which are issues in all areas and exist because of Cabinet failure and local issues well handled by a councillor. If Cabinet were effective there would be none such.
*Increase the number of senators so as to provide room for experienced professionals to head ministries and build prosperity.
* Parties to register under the Companies Act. Donations list disclosed to the taxman, none from foreign bodies, campaign funding limits; no outside campaigners in a constituency.
Who should coordinate it?
Our first responsibility is for civil society to craft a "People's Manifesto".
* A national enterprise?
*Will the PSOJ coordinate it or pay for it to be so done?
*Who will be the primary stakeholders on behalf of us all?
How can we validate it?
Islandwide...citizens associations, neighbourhood watches? Clubs and community organisations?
I don't have the answers but I know if we leave politicians to their own devices for the second 50 years, especially as many as those who presided over the first 50, our path is dark.
But even if they are all changed our rulers need to be told what we have in mind. Of course, we want a big house on the hill like theirs; surround-sound throughout and wall-to-wall flat screen; 4x4's for every occasion and for our school kids, but we will ask for much less.
What should be in it? How do we ensure it is adopted by the parties?
*Don't vote for anyone who does not.
How shall we characterise our needs so they understand?
*What examples and approximations can we use to get the point across?
(2) Building prosperity
* Education. Training and funding for all basic and primary schools and offering school districts to local management consortia. A national proficiency certificate in the four Rs which can be taken at any centre by young or old. The reward is to be paid 50 per cent above the minimum wage. Quarterly statistics to be published on entrants and successes.
* Food. The state should actively subsidise farmers and set up a commodity exchange to moderate gluts and scarcity by trading. National targets by crop to be set and each quarter progress be logged against targets.
*Government. Divest non-essential services to employees or the private sector.
* Business. Tax rates of 10 per cent for firms relocating here or investing US$1m in agriculture, manufacture or services.
Dr Herbert Thompson
Dr Thompson's re-election as president of NCU is a tribute to this brilliant man and several wise boards of directors. His vision and the re-engineering of his institution make it a hotbed of innovation - best in class. Good senator material!
Dr Franklin Johnston is an international project manager with Teape-Johnston Consultants currently on assignment in the UK.
franklinjohnston@hotmail.com
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/colum...#ixzz1DeFlFqW2
Franklin Johnston
Friday, February 11, 2011
For 50 years we have been seduced by clichés and catchphrases. We have been offered relativist ideas to hold. The notion of "better" is a vague concept and "transformation" is worse as it can go either way. They mean nothing - certainly nothing you can measure, they are all part of the feel-good range, very emotive and catchy but meaningless. These have been offered by parties as porridge for our consumption. The Jamaican people want what the successful nations have. Prosperity is our 2012 agenda. Do not focus on the negative "poverty". We have obsessed about "poverty eradication" for years. Let's banish the phrase. We are now about building "prosperity!" Let us now elaborate our indicators, benchmarks and targets for success in this mission. It is measurable and can be compared. It may not make you happy as you may get two per cent on your savings in 2020 but you never had savings before, so give thanks. For 50 years they have told us what they will do for us. Let us now tell them what we want them to do for the nation!
Whose country is it anyway? Why do they think they know better than us when they had half a century and did diddly-squat!
THOMPSON... good senator material
1/1
We will take this nonsense no more.
(1) Changing the politics
We need some constitutional change and party policies to reform the politics. There are many MPs who want the job badly, but the best MPs are those who do not need it, which eliminates most of the present lot. There are too many who "have to win" for other reasons as it's the best pay cheque they ever had. They have debts and owe for favours rendered and being in office allows them to make restitution. We must avoid these:
* Make the MPs' job full-time, bring it under labour law and require parties to advertise nationally and have professional selection processes. Wouldn't people like Minister Samuda prove that a politician needs no test of loyalty to party as he will go wherever there is a better offer?
* Reduce the number of MPs to 45 and make their role the representation of a constituency. An MP's caseload is light. How many MPs have brought bespoke bills or issues to Parliament since 2007? Don't count complaints about roads, jobs, water, health, education and poverty which are issues in all areas and exist because of Cabinet failure and local issues well handled by a councillor. If Cabinet were effective there would be none such.
*Increase the number of senators so as to provide room for experienced professionals to head ministries and build prosperity.
* Parties to register under the Companies Act. Donations list disclosed to the taxman, none from foreign bodies, campaign funding limits; no outside campaigners in a constituency.
Who should coordinate it?
Our first responsibility is for civil society to craft a "People's Manifesto".
* A national enterprise?
*Will the PSOJ coordinate it or pay for it to be so done?
*Who will be the primary stakeholders on behalf of us all?
How can we validate it?
Islandwide...citizens associations, neighbourhood watches? Clubs and community organisations?
I don't have the answers but I know if we leave politicians to their own devices for the second 50 years, especially as many as those who presided over the first 50, our path is dark.
But even if they are all changed our rulers need to be told what we have in mind. Of course, we want a big house on the hill like theirs; surround-sound throughout and wall-to-wall flat screen; 4x4's for every occasion and for our school kids, but we will ask for much less.
What should be in it? How do we ensure it is adopted by the parties?
*Don't vote for anyone who does not.
How shall we characterise our needs so they understand?
*What examples and approximations can we use to get the point across?
(2) Building prosperity
* Education. Training and funding for all basic and primary schools and offering school districts to local management consortia. A national proficiency certificate in the four Rs which can be taken at any centre by young or old. The reward is to be paid 50 per cent above the minimum wage. Quarterly statistics to be published on entrants and successes.
* Food. The state should actively subsidise farmers and set up a commodity exchange to moderate gluts and scarcity by trading. National targets by crop to be set and each quarter progress be logged against targets.
*Government. Divest non-essential services to employees or the private sector.
* Business. Tax rates of 10 per cent for firms relocating here or investing US$1m in agriculture, manufacture or services.
Dr Herbert Thompson
Dr Thompson's re-election as president of NCU is a tribute to this brilliant man and several wise boards of directors. His vision and the re-engineering of his institution make it a hotbed of innovation - best in class. Good senator material!
Dr Franklin Johnston is an international project manager with Teape-Johnston Consultants currently on assignment in the UK.
franklinjohnston@hotmail.com
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/colum...#ixzz1DeFlFqW2