Humans are ambitious

Ambition seems to play a big part in motivating humans to do stuff.

The ambition for power, or wealth, or fame or all of them. To pretend otherwise is to delude ourselves.

Altruism or selflessness may drive the actions of many for a time when there are common goals or obstacles to be overcome. Once these are attained, however, we revert to the former.

Contrary to how some want to portray things, there's nothing wrong with ambition. Acknowledge it, create agreed rules of the game, and let's get on with it.

Black Hole

Seeing the image of the blackhole must have evoked many emotions and thoughts,

Awe,

Admiration,

Celebration,

Spirituality,

Wonder and deep thinking about the science behind it all.

Perhaps disbelief from the flat-earthers

It is clear, however, that this is a concrete demonstration of the human spirit,

What is possible from belief in our capabilities,

A constant endeavour to reach farthest in space and time, to hone our skills, improve our equipment

A belief in possibilities

Human ingenuity, from the telescopes, to the organising, to the code that created the algorithms

At this point it is fair to ask, to think, is there anything that is truly impossible?

Miracles

They say you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than winning the lotto. Or seeing a miracle.

To be sure, there's nothing wrong with playing the lotto or expecting and praying for a miracle.

There's everything wrong with hitching all your plans, or those of your organisation, or the whole country, on this.

Alternative democratic traditions

In the US presidential system, the incoming administration can (and does, except perhaps if it’s a continuation of a Democratic or Republican governance) implement wholesale personnel and policy changes, subject only to the constitution and the oversight of Congress. Clear, simple, well-known, longstanding tradition.

In the UK, there is a persistent professional civil service, which generally endures and survives changes of government. It provides continuity, assurance, stability and implements the policies of the government of the day. Clear, simple, well-known, longstanding tradition.

And then there is a third, muddled, alternative. A bit of a cross between the two traditions, where whim, disguised settling of scores and jobs for pals tend to rule. Why not opt for one or the other tradition and be open about it?

Zimbabwe should just use the Rand

Zimbabwe’s economy is not as strong as it was many years ago. It has lurched from one crisis to another, without a credible solution in sight.

Zimbabwe’s biggest problem is around the currency and runaway inflation. Currency solution after currency solution has failed. It’s all about credibility and trust, and the simplest solution seems unpalatable to the authorities. Zimbabwe’s ruling elite should swallow its collective pride and join the Common Monetary Area. This is the economic reality. And while at it, the country should also join the Southern African Customs Union. After all, South Africa is Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partner and, most likely, remittances from Zimbabweans living and working in South Africa are probably the biggest external transfers

These two acts would restore credibility and stabilise the economy. Sure, the country would economically be beholden to South Africa, but in many ways it is even now, with limited benefits

Perverse economics

In the United States, where the economy is doing relatively well by current global measures, a conservative president, Donald Trump, is putting pressure on the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates and re-introduce Quantitative Easing (QE). This, because he feels the current monetary policy stance of the Fed is putting brakes on the economy.

In South Africa, where the economy is performing very poorly by many measures: extremely high unemployment, economic growth anemic, high levels of poverty, etc. the progressive president, Cyril Ramaphosa, is reluctant to apply pressure or persuasion on the Reserve Bank to lower interest rates. This, because of a fear that financial markets will perceive this as interference with the mandate of the SARB.

At a pure economic level, President Trump is correct and President Ramaphosa wrong and weak. The South African economy would do with a boost to consumption spending and investment, and the current misguided monetary policy stance of the SARB is putting a constraint on both.

False economy (saving)

Managers at borders employ fewer lines at passport control to achieve personnel savings. What they don't realise is the cost in tourists who don't return can far outweigh any benefits in short-term savings for the economy.

It's the same with supermarket cash out lines, or bank teller deployment. The unpleasant experience deters future and current customers and the loss in potential future earnings outweighs the immediate cost saving.