Normally, people emulate their
betters. If they see that their neighbor is doing better than they are they
will modify their own behavior, adopt some of their good habits, in order to
improve themselves. Evidently, it is not very easy. Old habits die hard.
The same ought to apply to
civilizations and cultures. If you accept that, in the clash of civilizations,
in military conflicts and competition, some cultures do better than others, we
assume that the defeated will naturally want to improve themselves by emulating
their betters.
Obviously, there are caveats and
qualifications here. Some cultures worship their ancestors. They refuse to
change their ways of doing things because they fear offending great-great-great
grandfather’s spirit. One recalls that after World War II, the French
intelligentsia feared nothing as much as the possibility that the country would
adopt more empirical British cultural habits. To forestall this nightmare they all embraced the other victor, the Soviet Union of Joe Stalin.
Anyway, by now we should all know
that Communism does not work. It produces nothing other than misery. The
evidence piles up. Most people have gotten the message. And we also know that
confiscating private property, a bedrock Communist principle, also does not
work. We have the example of Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe to show us what to avoid.
And yet, today South Africa has
set about to confiscate the lands held by white people. It is following the
example set by Zimbabwe. At a time when the city of Capetown is about to run
out of water, the government of South Africa has decided to violate the property
rights of white farmers… on the grounds that the land naturally belongs to black people.
The Australian News service has
the story, via the Gateway Pundit and via Maggie’s Farm:
SOUTH Africa’s parliament has voted in favour of
a motion that will begin the process of amending the country’s Constitution to
allow for the confiscation of white-owned land without compensation.
The motion was brought by Julius Malema, leader
of the radical Marxist opposition party the Economic Freedom Fighters, and
passed overwhelmingly by 241 votes to 83 against. The only parties who did not
support the motion were the Democratic Alliance, Freedom Front Plus, Cope and
the African Christian Democratic Party.
It was amended but supported by the ruling
African National Congress and new president Cyril Ramaphosa, who made land
expropriation a key pillar of his policy platform after taking over from ousted
PM Jacob Zuma earlier this month.
The next time you are thinking of
investing in South Africa, think again.
As for drawing a lesson from past
experience, apparently this concept has escaped the legislators in South
Africa.
The ANC were always socialists, allied with Communists, as was Nelson Mandela (NYT. 2013). This is just the fetid political effloresence of that bankrupt ideology. I hope the ANC gets what it wants, good and hard.
ReplyDeleteI have said many times in many places that Hunter's Country House in Plettenberg Bay was the best inn in the world. And I will miss the wines, too. Pity.
I think you will find this of interest. This is a post by a South African now living in the U.S.:
ReplyDeletehttps://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2018/03/is-south-africa-going-way-of-zimbabwe.html
This is highly likely to turn out badly.
When I was in High School Rhodesia had the highest literacy rate in Africa, 48%. Higher than Moroco, Egypt, Libia... I read about 11 years ago it had dropped (for Zimbabwe) to only 23%!
ReplyDeleteThis is happening already. Farmers are brutally murdered. Google the pictures of 'Plaasmoorde' or 'South African farm attacks'. South Africa is killing it's white farmers at a chilling rate and the world does not care. Because we all love Mandela so much. Who needs food? Who needs water? Apparently, South Africans can live without.
ReplyDeleteAustralia should open the borders for South African farmers, that will be a win-win for both.
If SA were smart, they'd make sure the farmers stayed and kept running their farms.
ReplyDeleteHeinlein's "Bad Luck" is now on its way to SA.
WHO DOOMED ZUMA AND HOW ?
ReplyDeleteIT WAS THE INDIAN GUPTA VERMIN !
The world has to learn from the experience of the Gujarati/Marwari Bania loot of South Africa – via the Gupta Mishtan Bhandar Model.
FRAUD IS IN THE INDIAN DNA !
Guptas are a race of Banias/Marwaris.They have the same Modus Operandi,in India.They have bankrupted all the State owned banks and STC and MMTC.
Their skill lies in Political Management – which is a euphemism for BRIBERY. They provide the term loan and working capital loans,for politicians and their rallies/campaigns.They are also the custodians of the black money of Indian Politicians – which is rotated in real estate,smuggling, drugs, entertainment, bollywood,Switzerland and the stock market (on the name of the Banias).
These Banias do NOT do any Knowledge capital business.They only do businesses, where the ONLY USP of success,is “Political Management”
The same Modus Operandi,is used by the Guptas in South Africa.
Their business operation is STRATEGIC SERVICES in PROCUREMENT – which involves brokering and consulting on PROCUREMENTS BY STATE OWNED ENTITIES – like Transnet, OR businesses with subsidies and grants – LIKE THE MILK DAIRY BUSINESS OF THE GUPTAS,OR Resources – as in the Mining venture,of the Guptas (where you pay a bribe,and get a Gold concession, for the price of a coal concession) and STRATEGIC CONSULTING, wherein they conned SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS, TO GIVE UP THE INDIA ROUTE IN THEIR FAVOUR
The CRUX in all of the above,is that the COUNTERPARTY is the STATE and the STATE IS UNDER THE THUMB OF THE POLITCIAN AND THE HAND OF THE POLITCIAN (WHICH HAS THE THUMB),is in the POCKET of the GUPTAS.dindooohindoo
As an extension of their STRATEGIC SOURCING,STRATEGIC CONSULTING, THEY ALSO DO STRATEGIC PLACEMENTS – wherein they place politcians as key pointmen in Ministries,and also,have their men in key posts,in Global Audit and Consulting firms
That is Y there is no Interpol RCN,on the Guptas,and they are plonked pretty, in Dubai.All the money is already transferred out of South Africa, and the immovable assets left behind in South Africa – were left WITH THE INTENT,To be seized by the state.
Of Course,the Guptas also left behind Zuma – and the Zondo commission,is playing the Bongo,and is clueless.