Gov't needs to cut lifestyle

Steve Lyston, Contributor

Politicians and executives at all levels need to come out of their comfort zones and their current lifestyles and go into one or a few of the developing nations and live with poor in the depressed and deeply poverty-stricken areas for four months, and have first-hand experience of the way of life for people living in these conditions.

I have said it before in many articles that to be an effective manager, you need to go into the environment directly and see how other people live, in what conditions they function with the 'resources' they have.

How many United Nations, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund personnel at all levels, politicians and other executives in strategic positions know what it is to be poor?

When such persons visit the different developing countries, at which hotels do they sleep? Which airline do they use (if any)?

Take a page from the series 'Undercover Boss'; then you will truly understand what humanity faces on a daily basis, and see the effect of policies they formulate and the decisions they make. They will see and feel the results of the waste that takes place on a daily basis and will recognise the unequal distribution of resources. They will also see the result of their neglect of the poor.

A simple thing such as high bank charges, how many of the executives can justify their increase? Some ninety-five per cent of those who use the bank are the poor. The five per cent of the 'haves'/rich that use the bank only do so for the sake of investment loans and daily housekeeping. The majority of their funds are offshore or in hedge funds which are protected. They only have to pay management fees.

Biblical principles outline that the rich man must pay higher taxes than the poor does. Furthermore, they are to give more as God prospers them.

More is the need for money to deal with social issues such as free education, free health, water, sanitation and training; or even actively assisting veterans with health care and getting homes in which to live.

Equal distribution

There is no money shortage. It is through proper management of the resources and the assurance of its equal distribution among the people that will ensure that everyone is given the opport-unity to live a prosperous life, giving them the opportunity to serve in every strata of society. Globally speaking, there is only one set of persons serving on boards or benefiting from the current system.

If there were money shortage, where are the billions coming from to elect political leaders. Where are the billions coming from to facilitate research that become useless the moment they are completed? Where do they find money to give aid in the time disaster, which, incidentally, is the only time the poor are remembered?

Why are dogs living better than human beings?

When new executives are elected, millions are spent to refurbish their offices. Often-times, the money used to refurbish is more than the value of the building. From where did the money come?

Every executive is given favour by God within the position they are place to help humanity. It is not about their intellect; they are placed in authority to help humanity. Many of the executives are racking up unnecessary expenses and the poor are the ones who often foot the bills or pay the consequences.

The time has come for them to begin cutting their luxuries and the wastage. We cannot reduce poverty or talk about sustainable development when only one set of persons are being required to make sacrifices.

Make no mistake, many of the executives know that if the poor are given the opportunity to succeed, the profits will decrease, but they must understand that unless the poor of the society are financially strong - that is, if the 'feet' of the society are not moving - then the rest of the body can't move.

Waste of money

A great deal of money is being spent to do research on the oddities of a duck's private parts. Millions are being spent on erecting statues while there are children who cannot even afford textbooks. There are many people who are carrying out research when all it takes is simple common sense - even to research what are the causes of crime; and results showed that lack of employment and social injustices are the main factors. Instead of fixing the issues, or going to live in the communities themselves for a period in order to be a better manager, they are passing laws to contain and control.

Lyston... There are more persons fighting for sexual rights than are fighting for the rights of the poor.

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