Pearl in tears and tatters: Fight or flight?

The choice of a certain majority to the question of fight or flight is displayed in earnest

We are at the moment a basket case in the world economy. With $ 85 plus billion as an economy sinking of such an economic ship does not create any ripple effect for anyone outside other than for the inhabitants inside. At this stage, multiple options are still open. What took us to this position must be understood without fear and fervour and all such needs addressed with real understanding. Accountabilities and moral responsibilities should be visible. In parallel, the further slide should be arrested and steps are taken. 

Restoring confidence all around is not an easy matter, yet that exactly is what is needed through action. Tears are plenty, and begging bowls are quite visible but are we displaying a scenario of headless chickens? Are we also missing a deeper game taking place as a quite gullible public? In recovery, that one has to engage in some different acts is perhaps not up for debate. However, what needs to be done certainly begs creative thinking. Considering the significant polarisation that exists ensuring unified engagement is a step that needs addressing from the start. Without the hearts and minds in place for the long haul, it is going to be difficult indeed. 

Witnessing endless queues near the passport office is a live indicator. The choice of a certain majority to the question of fight or flight is displayed in earnest. One feature in the psyche of a Sri Lankan is how easy it is to take Sri Lanka out of the Sri Lankan. Do the decision-makers see supporting flight as the best way to overcome the situation considering the few extra dollars that come our way the moment they land on different soils? Each one departing is also one less mouth to feed considering the food scenario as well. 

Our position is unique and definitely at present faced by maybe less than 3% of the global economies. Overcoming this is a herculean task. To have the result that this 3% needs, we must understand that we need to do things that only 3% are willing to do in any usual situation! Is this a sobering thought? However, though this sound daunting, economies that are floating at different levels are powered by a minority who are doing things 

differently.

Taking organisations and the economic status of developed societies in which they are based, show that two elements are connected to the economic performance – advances in sciences and the change in technologies within. When humans got down from horses and mules and embraced railroads through ‘Rocket’, both these conditions could be seen. Instead of galloping with a limited speed, the economies sped into a new level of eminence. Though the message was clear the economists would not till 1987 be able to say with conviction the value of technology changes economic growth. This was when the exogenous theory of development articulated by Robert Solow carried the Nobel Prize for Economics for his incisive analysis taking the Unites States as an example. 

Economies gain a competitive advantage through the ability to create, assimilate, collaborate and exploit knowledge. At this juncture, it is worthwhile reflecting on our present plight in context. For a long time – yes – we have taught science, and fostered some research but have we observed advances being made and consequently technology being changed. Across Sri Lanka, what you see are donations of different types from a mix of countries in different types. These donations range from factories, buildings, and dams to garbage trucks. Plenty of soft structures are available, which are external donations that we follow religiously without much understanding. We have to go back seriously into the past to demonstrate that we have by ourselves indeed pushed advances in irrigation, healthcare, structures, and even taxation. 

The recent years have only shown us to be loyal followers with me-too behaviours. The money spent on science has resulted in contributions to economies elsewhere. Many an example could be indicated when the media with much pride celebrate the success of Sri Lankans abroad. Such pieces of evidence are quite frequent and tell us a story of talent neglect at home.

While speaking of a new economy it is not something Sri Lanka speaks of today as now we are openly indicating negative growth rates. All of a sudden the positive growth figures have vanished into thin air. We do not have an economy at present worthy of speaking about. All our performances cumulatively – mine too in some way over 36 years of working life – have brought us to this perilous state. It may be that we have been engaged in the consumption of all forms as the main form of action in realising only ulterior motives than projecting the economy forward. No wonder so many – may have found their abode elsewhere to be more effective and meaningful. What can I do here has been an oft-repeated statement by those who have achieved certain levels of education? The nation has not inspired nor given pride of place to the educated and the honest to perform.

Today we observe students learn with sights placed on greener pastures that appear to be anywhere but here! Parents spend time, money, and energy to somehow get their children to a position through free or fee-based education so that they would find their placements easily elsewhere. At times our institutional efforts too are enabling mobility, little perhaps understanding that mobility is more of a one-way street. Can anyone seriously challenge this thesis and tell me that I am wrong and inaccurate. If this is true, the question begs – how are we to find the next generation of leadership? To whom would the mantle of leadership go? Are rogues empowered to look at the future thinking that it is still theirs under these conditions?

As we stare down the barrel, a different narrative and script need to come in. It is not an argument of whether one can do anything in six months or so. The time to bring in different thinking is now. Each passing second pushes us to a deeper hole from where the extrication is going to be increasingly difficult. The effort requires perhaps changing exponentially. Whether our linear minds are comprehending these dynamics is the question. Reflecting, some economies now enjoying positions at the top had times when they were at depths having to eat dog meat, dying of hunger in rail stations, etc. Some scenarios are simply unbelievable. 

Transformation of sleepy fishing hamlets to modern metropolises has been achieved. Simply the secret of success has been understanding and executing precisely what is right for the moment taken from a mind that understood action that would dramatically reverse fortunes. Bold, creative, and innovative action can deliver. In some way, we too have hit rock bottom with some still predicting even worse situations to emerge. We have plenty of incentive to be creative at this juncture and to value being innovative as the only option. What is sad as well as worrying is the course of discourse outlined in the evening while consuming peak power is not at all confidence building. 

I am quite sure that people do not get any kick by seeing endless queues in media plus the garnishing of news by the no-dead so far while being there. What is sad is the cause of discourse outlined in the evening news bulletins is not at all confidence-building. Reporting from the Parliament is not worth writing about. What appears to be the total commitment to ensuring certain positions well into the future.

This is a situation where what JFK mooted a long time back comes to mind – Do not ask what the country can do for you but ask what you can do for the country. Yes, we know that a certain group among us has taken the nation to the cleaners and as a result, we are in this position. Some of us have also followed wrong policies and had contributed to the negative position of the economy and allowed vulnerabilities to materialise. We were also the silent majority who saw and felt yet were silent on the ‘misdemeanours’. All these scenarios have converged to place all individuals firmly in a position where the writing on the wall is quite clear. There is now no option for the silent majority to be silent. The wrongdoers should not roam free either. No room to follow wrong directions and policies. A do-or-die situation exists. Otherwise, we all are contributing to the demise of the Pearl!