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Your MP, public servant or recycled rogue?
Franklin Johnston
Friday, May 06, 2011
THE frisson that we may start the second 50 years with the same politicians is scary. The JLP and PNP have not budged so the time has come for youth 17 to 49 to take the fight to them in the name of fairness and call on media and civil society to help create change. Act now! In the US, parties seek out good people in the public eye; they are recruited, campaigns are built around their training, achievements, family life, aided by the party machinery. Our parties conduct a kind of foreplay, choose a candidate, create a backstory for him and sell it to the public. How do we choose correctly? To start, get the MP job description and the person’s CV then match the man to the job – not just whom you like! You buy new shoes and you don't pare down your feet to fit the shoes – they fit or they do not.
Some politicians disgrace the office. Ministers such as Golding, Charles, Bartlett, Henry, Baugh have served; even Don Quarrie – does he still run for us? The return of men to office who were ministers 30 years ago is a sad comment on our bankrupt politics, lack of education, fairness and progress. In the years between, not one went abroad to learn how nations build prosperity – nothing new to offer. Consider this. Is the PS in the ministry the same one the minister left there in the 80s? No! The secretary in six-inch heels and his staff are also new, but said minister who failed 30 years ago is back in a new suit. If Minister Ed had the same staff now as then, tourism would die. We need term limits for MPs and ministers, as they can't be shamed into going. Let's punish them by our votes in 2012. Why do cabinets fail while businesses flourish and make billions in profit? They are run by savvy new people while Cabinet is run by veteran politicians! Check this! Does your firm recall the CEO from 30 years ago to run things? Do NWC, UWI, your school, church or service club see the top man from 30 years ago fighting to get back his old job? Politicians bring politics into disrepute! The leaders of the PSOJ, JMA are fresh talent, not retreads from 30 years ago. The top people of DunnCox, Myers Fletcher, KPMG, PWC are not the same ones who were there in the 1980s. All change! Top doctors, academics, teachers, sportsmen from the 80s passed the baton. How many commisssioners and chiefs of staff went by since Bruce was last here? Racehorses go to stud; politicians return after years at pasture and hang on. Need I say more?
Am I hard on old politicians? Maybe! It's not just about age, it’s also their sense of entitlement – we were owned once, never again! And there is evidence (vide psychologist Cattell's work) that fluid intelligence (logic, inductive, deductive flexibility) declines with age and crystallised intelligence increases with age, plateaus and also declines from age 60 on. Mike in his 70s is doing his best work – compared to others not to a standard – but it took him 40 years on our payroll. The century palm blooms once! No minister should serve, chair a board or committee beyond the civil service retirement age – one rule for all public servants! It is risky and unfair. Politicians must not get better terms when all are paid by taxes and MPs are not even objectively vetted for the job. Equal rights? A judge, principal, doctor have to retire at a set age; a brilliant CEO of a company too, but a minister is on our payroll into his dotage. Workers look forward to retirement; not corrupt politicians. Why? The power and the trough! It's God’s work if they rot in hell, our work is to vote them out! This election is about fairness, justice, opportunity for those who got good training and experience in the last 30 years and national prosperity.
The MP's job is to represent an area, be a legislator and a manager.
Consider this:
First, representing a constituency is easy. Why? Each has the same problems – roads, water, schools, jobs, crime – and no MP can solve them. Technocrats plan, Cabinets approve funds, the MP can't add one iota of resource but he may shake down contractors and dilute the money. He needs advocacy skill, empathy; may face corruption and intimidation, but he must not make deals with evil men to keep the seat. Some say an MP must be a bruiser. Nonsense! I say be of good courage, caring, frank and fair to constituents; if this is not the way, then we do not deserve democracy; we may as well treat each other like brutes!
Second, the task of legislator is making laws and policy. By his work generations may give thanks or suffer. He must be educated, experienced, able to master concepts.Vote in an MP who can handle these national tasks and like Minister Ken also looks good abroad.
Third, he may be called to manage a ministries bigger than most firms. A party needs a team of qualified, experienced managers from whom the heads of service, production and regulatory minstries can be drawn. No Cabinet has climbed this hill in 49 years. This lack of talent means in 2011 Bruce begs that aid for HIV/AIDS continue and we deprive more needy Africans. Shame on you! Not in my name! If you want romance, be a man and buy your own condoms! Do you want another half century of independence with these veterans? Why not try some new MPs? Act now. Stay conscious, my friend!
GANJA PHARMA: The patent for Sativex, a cannabis-derived medicine for cancer pain, by a British biotech firm GW Pharma, was just announced and its shares are doing well. Its over 35 patents in “cannaboid therapeutics” show promise for many conditions and Swiss firm Novartis distributes its products. Do we have Rasta scientists? Or do they just smoke ganja? The bad news is the EU is legislating on herbal remedies. Firms will be required to demonstrate efficacy and dosage. A sachet of fever grass or “siricy tea” must have standard amounts of its active ingredient – no more, no less. Our firms must gear up. Our innovators need state funding and investors so they can do trials, patent stuff, sign with global distributors and lead us to prosperity. But as with most exports (entertainers, sportsmen included), Cabinets like the kudos of embracing industry champions, but they will not give them R&D funds. The state must now invest in local innovators!
Dr Franklin Johnston is an international project manager with Teape-Johnston Consultants
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/colum...#ixzz1LYiFFupO
Franklin Johnston
Friday, May 06, 2011
THE frisson that we may start the second 50 years with the same politicians is scary. The JLP and PNP have not budged so the time has come for youth 17 to 49 to take the fight to them in the name of fairness and call on media and civil society to help create change. Act now! In the US, parties seek out good people in the public eye; they are recruited, campaigns are built around their training, achievements, family life, aided by the party machinery. Our parties conduct a kind of foreplay, choose a candidate, create a backstory for him and sell it to the public. How do we choose correctly? To start, get the MP job description and the person’s CV then match the man to the job – not just whom you like! You buy new shoes and you don't pare down your feet to fit the shoes – they fit or they do not.
Some politicians disgrace the office. Ministers such as Golding, Charles, Bartlett, Henry, Baugh have served; even Don Quarrie – does he still run for us? The return of men to office who were ministers 30 years ago is a sad comment on our bankrupt politics, lack of education, fairness and progress. In the years between, not one went abroad to learn how nations build prosperity – nothing new to offer. Consider this. Is the PS in the ministry the same one the minister left there in the 80s? No! The secretary in six-inch heels and his staff are also new, but said minister who failed 30 years ago is back in a new suit. If Minister Ed had the same staff now as then, tourism would die. We need term limits for MPs and ministers, as they can't be shamed into going. Let's punish them by our votes in 2012. Why do cabinets fail while businesses flourish and make billions in profit? They are run by savvy new people while Cabinet is run by veteran politicians! Check this! Does your firm recall the CEO from 30 years ago to run things? Do NWC, UWI, your school, church or service club see the top man from 30 years ago fighting to get back his old job? Politicians bring politics into disrepute! The leaders of the PSOJ, JMA are fresh talent, not retreads from 30 years ago. The top people of DunnCox, Myers Fletcher, KPMG, PWC are not the same ones who were there in the 1980s. All change! Top doctors, academics, teachers, sportsmen from the 80s passed the baton. How many commisssioners and chiefs of staff went by since Bruce was last here? Racehorses go to stud; politicians return after years at pasture and hang on. Need I say more?
Am I hard on old politicians? Maybe! It's not just about age, it’s also their sense of entitlement – we were owned once, never again! And there is evidence (vide psychologist Cattell's work) that fluid intelligence (logic, inductive, deductive flexibility) declines with age and crystallised intelligence increases with age, plateaus and also declines from age 60 on. Mike in his 70s is doing his best work – compared to others not to a standard – but it took him 40 years on our payroll. The century palm blooms once! No minister should serve, chair a board or committee beyond the civil service retirement age – one rule for all public servants! It is risky and unfair. Politicians must not get better terms when all are paid by taxes and MPs are not even objectively vetted for the job. Equal rights? A judge, principal, doctor have to retire at a set age; a brilliant CEO of a company too, but a minister is on our payroll into his dotage. Workers look forward to retirement; not corrupt politicians. Why? The power and the trough! It's God’s work if they rot in hell, our work is to vote them out! This election is about fairness, justice, opportunity for those who got good training and experience in the last 30 years and national prosperity.
The MP's job is to represent an area, be a legislator and a manager.
Consider this:
First, representing a constituency is easy. Why? Each has the same problems – roads, water, schools, jobs, crime – and no MP can solve them. Technocrats plan, Cabinets approve funds, the MP can't add one iota of resource but he may shake down contractors and dilute the money. He needs advocacy skill, empathy; may face corruption and intimidation, but he must not make deals with evil men to keep the seat. Some say an MP must be a bruiser. Nonsense! I say be of good courage, caring, frank and fair to constituents; if this is not the way, then we do not deserve democracy; we may as well treat each other like brutes!
Second, the task of legislator is making laws and policy. By his work generations may give thanks or suffer. He must be educated, experienced, able to master concepts.Vote in an MP who can handle these national tasks and like Minister Ken also looks good abroad.
Third, he may be called to manage a ministries bigger than most firms. A party needs a team of qualified, experienced managers from whom the heads of service, production and regulatory minstries can be drawn. No Cabinet has climbed this hill in 49 years. This lack of talent means in 2011 Bruce begs that aid for HIV/AIDS continue and we deprive more needy Africans. Shame on you! Not in my name! If you want romance, be a man and buy your own condoms! Do you want another half century of independence with these veterans? Why not try some new MPs? Act now. Stay conscious, my friend!
GANJA PHARMA: The patent for Sativex, a cannabis-derived medicine for cancer pain, by a British biotech firm GW Pharma, was just announced and its shares are doing well. Its over 35 patents in “cannaboid therapeutics” show promise for many conditions and Swiss firm Novartis distributes its products. Do we have Rasta scientists? Or do they just smoke ganja? The bad news is the EU is legislating on herbal remedies. Firms will be required to demonstrate efficacy and dosage. A sachet of fever grass or “siricy tea” must have standard amounts of its active ingredient – no more, no less. Our firms must gear up. Our innovators need state funding and investors so they can do trials, patent stuff, sign with global distributors and lead us to prosperity. But as with most exports (entertainers, sportsmen included), Cabinets like the kudos of embracing industry champions, but they will not give them R&D funds. The state must now invest in local innovators!
Dr Franklin Johnston is an international project manager with Teape-Johnston Consultants
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/colum...#ixzz1LYiFFupO