12 June 2012: George Friedman on Spain, Debt, & Sovereignty is a
valuable analysis of the problem of democracy being balanced by
technocracy - which is not just a European but a worldwide problem.
In the UK the Iraq war was approved by a democratically elected
parliament against the wishes of a large majority of the people - and in
the UK today the parliament looks likely to approve a redefinition of
marriage against the wishes of, it seems, a 70% majority of the public.
At the same time, though, there is apparently a large majority right now
in favour of the UK leaving the European Union by referendum - which
could well be against the (real) wishes of a majority of members of
parliament, as well as business interests, and nearly all the
"technocrats" (economists, financial experts etc).
In sum - popular majorities can be extremely dangerous to national, even
world, interests, but oon occasion they can be wiser than their elected
representatives. And technocrats - supposedly able to prevent
disastrous expressions of the popular will - can be gravely mistaken,
just like the public and politicians.
Finding a balance between the public, elected representatives, and the
"technocrats" in a manner best to ensure avoiding calamity urgently
deserves careful study.
One important factor - catastrophic mistakes are more likely when the
political, business and popular mood is depressed and pessimistic - all
parties then reach out clutching straws. This negative mood can be
dispelled if there is a sense of direction giving real hope.
In the present economic and fiscal circumstances Rahm Emmanuel, ex-Obama
Chief of Staff, now mayor of Chicago appears to have it right: "cut and
invest" - cut out the enormous waste in our societies (government and
private), but at the same time invest in what is needed for growth and
prosperity in the new era now beginning. Cutting waste is what is needed
to supplement the Keysian imperative against austerity in a time of
recession/depression.
John Pedler JP Diplomatic Consultancy, France dipconsult@hotmail.com. dipconsult.blogspot.com
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