Each time a medical breakthrough is announced, we cheer loudly. We are willing to pay any amount to save a life. We are willing to spend millions on research to find cures for all the diseases that this Universe can throw at us. This has increased the average life expectancy significantly - from around 50 in 1900 to close to 76 now. It is more in some countries - 78 to 80. So, when I saw the news clipping this morning on how France has come to a standstill because of nationwide strikes to protest against the proposed increase of retirement age from 60 to 62, I was not surprised. The people were upset that the Government is reducing retirement benefits by increasing the age of retirement. Most countries are struggling to meet their pension commitments as populations age across the world.
Italian granite and marble was something that would adorn the houses of the really rich in the late 1980s. The actual marble and granite came from across the world and were cut and polished in Italy. The finished product (tiles and slabs) were sold all over the world by Italian companies at over 6 to 10 times the price of the raw granite/marble. There were no complaints then. So, why is there such a noise today when Fiat wants to shut down its plant in Italy? I have always maintained economics is a great leveller!!!
Closer home, in India, the Common Wealth Games are over and a probe has been ordered in to the alleged corruption in the procurement of goods and services for the games by Government Officials. China has stated last week that Norway has sent the wrong signals by awarding Liu Xiaobo the Nobel Peace Prize.
Wherever you turn, you will find something not going too well or disagreements leading to rhetoric and, many a time, violence. Violence on a scale that causes destruction to life and property.
To me, all this shows that there is a lack of leadership and an absolute lack of tolerance in us. Leadership, that is both inspiring and engaged, is essential to manage these kind of issues in every country. Such a leadership will also bring about the much needed tolerance in our society. Most country leaders are not leading from the front anymore. Leading the country has become more a job than a passion. Leadership seems to be coming through coups, by father passing on the mantle to the son or daughter (whether he/she deserves the position), through violence, through machinations...and the list goes on. As a society, we seem to be passive to these poor leaders that we select. When the CEO of a company misses the mark for few quarters in a row, the Stock Market and the Board of Directors/Shareholders, move quickly to replace him/her. Should there be such a system for our political leaders too where their quarterly or half yearly results are published and debated? Where they are replaced if they fail to manage the country well?
Just like the CEO needs to position a company well in the market so that it survives, it is the job of the Political Leader (call him/her the President or Prime Minister or King or Queen) to position the country well so that it survives in this world. If a company does not give its CEO more than 6 months to prove himself/herself, why should we give 4 or 5 years to these Political Leaders? Is it because countries are larger than companies and so, they will need more time...fine, let us give them a year and then after that judge them every quarter or half year. These unrests are happening because our leaders are not thinking ahead.
These Political leaders need to position their respective countries appropriately for their strengths and take accountability for their actions. The topic of outsourcing has caused so much noise and rhetoric. Beyond all this rhetoric, I am sure we all heard the American President say that the US must position itself firmly in Research & Development and use its strengths in this. Bingo Mr.President!!! Hope more countries look towards creating a workforce in their respective countries that is relevant to the new social order.
I am reminded of a story. A Chinese emperor was growing old and was worried that his son was no where near having the qualities of becoming the King. So, he called for his son (the Prince) and told him to go to the forests and seek out an old monk who would train him to be the King. The Prince went off in to the jungles and located the old monk. He walked up to the monk with a swagger and introduced himself and told him that the Emperor had sent him (the Prince) to be trained by the monk. The old monk asked him to go in to the forest, listen to the sounds that he heard, and come back and report to him. The Prince sniggered, rode off in to the forest and came back in the evening. He told the old monk of the sounds of the rivers, the rustling trees, the breaking twigs, the singing birds, etc. The old monk shook his head in disapproval and sent off the Prince again. Months had gone by and the Prince still did not hear the sounds that the old monk expected. The once over confident Prince was completely out of depth. As he was lying on the grass one day thinking of the really long months he had spent in the forest, he suddenly heard the sound. In joy, he rode back to the old monk, walked up to him (without the pomp that he had shown months ago), bowed and told the old monk of how he had heard the sound of the flower blooming...the Old Monk smiled and stopped him and said, "You are now ready to be the Emperor. The person who sees the unseen, hears the unheard and speaks the unspoken, is the Leader that this world needs."
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