Fearful, Fearless    13/12
by Cees Bruggemans                      

I have a problem. It is called a duality. Thinking South Africa (there is a much bigger other South Africa, worthy of its own psychoanalysis), breaks down into two clear groupings, those fearful (many by now petrified) and those not fearful (many to the point of casualness). There doesn't seem to be a middle way. This is just an anecdotal observation, but a powerful one, for where does this distinction in thinking originate?
It doesn't remind of dog lovers (nearly everyone can be made to love a dog, no matter the mongrel), but certainly of cat lovers (most human populations split in two, either loving cats, or hating them with a passion, but nearly no-one being indifferent to them, something to do with regal cat personalities which calls forth either genuine admiration or deeply felt abhorrence).
Some of my writings in the past year have triggered predictable responses, but often in direct opposition to each other, making me wish being able to introduce these opposing camps to each other, suspecting (going by their often primordial responses) that they are quite unaware of each other.
Is the glass half empty or half full? It goes deeper. Is there a future, or isn't there, and why?
The very idea of suggesting that things aren't completely lost, and may still work out, admittedly after making a few positive assumptions, is made off by some in total derision. Clearly naïve, not adequately informed, not understanding the real nature of the people running the show, or the population at large and thus sadly misguided.
There remain many among us who would prefer to be elsewhere, and emigrate, if only some country would have them (which in many instances isn't the case) or at least promises to give them the lifestyle they are used to as high-living middle class South Africans (forget it, count blessings while having them).
For many, often complex reasons, people feel themselves captive in a place where they no longer want to be, yet staying on, if only because family & friends are here, but deeply concerned about many issues outside their control, wishing themselves elsewhere, even another planet, just not here.
But just as I have had another earful from this very expressive crowd, in weighs the other, quite different in its reading of reality.
Things are NOT going to hell in a basket, the country has many strengths, many redeeming features, we are all daily going to work and making things happen, and that a few hapless incompetents are degrading the place shouldn't deflect from our long-term potential. So stick it out long enough and see common sense triumph, with our good assets, quality people, ability to make things happen.
Does this matter? Well, certainly as an analyst not sure which crowd will want to lynch him next, but building up some experience with predicting likely responses to a view taken & offered.
Life, though, isn’t a duality, except serially.
We are either in deep dung, taking us down, or doing swimmingly, even in the presence of mediocrity which eventually will come to see the error of its ways.
They say it is a curse to be able to see both sides of an argument. I can tell you all about it. Much going wrong, to the point of destruction. Yet many redeeming features keeping us afloat, if adrift, preventing sinking, and even allowing escape from our many predicaments, if only the right game changers could come around (which they are fated to do, as some firmly believe).
As it is difficult being all things to all people, except as lying politicians turning coats to whatever wind, this is one argument one can't win. Those who long ago decided that this isn't going to work, are not going to be convinced by mere words that there is hope.
Intriguingly, those who sense that there is long-term survival & revival, are not perturbed by scare stories, just mildly disappointed you have fallen so easily.
Can't win them all. But then few analyses really do have two sides to the story. The overall situation is salvageable or we will sink without trace. Each one of us has to make that call on their own, and live with it.

Cees Bruggemans                                 
Bruggemans & Associates                  

Website www.bruggemans.co.za
Email  economics@bruggemans.co.za This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Short Profile Dr CW Bruggemans
Chairman, Bruggemans & Associates Consulting Economists
Consulting Economist, Avior Capital Markets
Consulting Economist, Ince (Pty) Ltd
Consulting Economist, Hellmann Logistics (Pty) Ltd
Consulting Economist, Bureau for Economic Research (BER), Stellenbosch
Honorary Professor of Economics, University of Stellenbosch
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