Ons Lewe Lekker in Utopia

The first time I heard this song I thought it was ironic, but it is anything but. On 94.7 there was a report from Homecoming Revolution that many South Africans are returning to the country, despite electricity cuts. One guy who had lived with his family in London for 10 years said power cuts didn't worry him [they are happening all over the world]. He said he the standard of living in South Africa (weather, costs of living) was better than many other First World countries, but he was concerned about Zuma and crime.

I'm yet to be convinced that the number of South Africans returning exceeds the number leaving. I know, off the top of my head, of three South Africans that have left or are in the process of leaving (right now). I don't know any South Africans who are on their way back.

The government meanwhile can apparently not be accused of fibbing about the seriousness of the power crisis. Standard and Poor apparently said that the condition is less serious, however we will struggle for the next 2 years or something. Ummmmm...power cuts for the next 7 years...and that's not serious? All growth is predicated on energy growth. And the problem isn't just local electrical energy supplies; it's a wider condition of limited resources (petroleum to name one).

Under these increasingly constrictive conditions a positive unfazable mindset will be a vital asset.

Mbeki: 'We can't pretend...'

Right now the President is giving his 'State of the Nation' speech and very few people are even watching. I'm not. I thought I would but I have things to do. I hear mumbling in the background coming off the big screen. A few faces - one - is glued to the screen, hand rubbing forehead occasionally. A few more faces were looking up at the President but they have since gone back to their desks. This is the true state of the nation.

Last night on the news the press was invited into the President's santum sanctorum. He was plugging away at his keyboard (not very convincingly) while on the screen words two large for conventional use - like this big...no, even bigger...probably for the benefits of the cameras and viewers...were appearing on screen. But we all know that President's don't write their own speeches, especially important one's like this. They have a whole team of advisers and spindoctors. It's not about reality; it's about being touchy feely, being manipulative, saying what's popular, allaying or leveraging fear, saying what you think should be said.

I have personally met Tony Leon's spindoctor and suggested to her that instead of him positioning himself vis-a-vis an opponent (thus ackowledging their authority), he should stand for something. Politics shouldn't be (or even appear to be) merely responsive but proactive.

I digress.

Whilst pretending in front of the press that he was working on his speech, Mbeki said: "There are important issues in our country, like electricity, and other things. We can't pretend they aren't happening..." A 5th grader could tell you that. But the irony of course is that that is exactly what government is doing. Pretending to be government. Pretending to govern. Pretending to be doing what they are not.

State of the Nation

“I am also angry because we have lost another golden opportunity to build on success.” - Jake White.

“We are, however, concerned about the apparent lack of consultation between Saru and Jake White. It is important for Sasol [NVDL: and South Africa] that the current level of performance of our national rugby team is maintained.’’ - Bheki Khumalo, group general manager of Bok sponsor Sasol,

NVDL: At the same time the headline on Business Day today decry South Africa's sliding on a global competitiveness scale. No wonder.

Bush's Approval Rating At Record Low (POLL)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Deepening unhappiness with President George W. Bush and the U.S. Congress soured the mood of Americans and sent Bush's approval rating to another record low this month, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

The Reuters/Zogby Index, which measures the mood of the country, also fell from 98.8 to 96 -- the second consecutive month it has dropped. The number of Americans who believe the country is on the wrong track jumped four points to 66 percent.

Bush's job approval rating fell to 24 percent from last month's record low for a Zogby poll of 29 percent. A paltry 11 percent gave Congress a positive grade, tying last month's record low.

"There is a real question among Americans now about how relevant this government is to them," pollster John Zogby said. "They tell us they want action on health care, education, the war and immigration, but they don't believe they are going to get it."

For the rest of this Yahoo News article, click here.