Current Affairs Archives - Page 6 of 26

Is the World of Abundance, No Work & Universal Basic Grants Dawning?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 15 December 2016 0 Comment

All revolutions whether economic, political or social, cause fundamental dislocations to society & in the case of political revolutions, such as the Russian Revolution, or the French Revolution for that matter, major loss of life.

With the impending birth of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the fate of the livelihoods of the bulk of the world’s population is in jeopardy.

What does this imply for humankind? No work and hence no income in a sea of abundance or will this be ameliorated by the awarding of a Universal Basic Grant to all inhabitants on the earth?

Let us open the Pandora’s Box.

Main picture: A tiger shaking itself vigorously

The Pitfalls of Land Reform in South Africa

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 14 December 2016 1 Comment

The resolution of the land question in South Africa is often touted as the solution to black frustration at the inequities of land ownership. For understandable reasons, I am in agreement that the issue has not been adequately addressed but it would certainly be wrong to suggest that this is a nirvana. Instead it could well be the road to perdition.

In spite of a shining example on our northern border where agricultural production is now 10% of what it was 16 years ago, the ideologues and race baiters such as the EFF are impervious to the economic consequences of wholesale indiscriminate redistribution of land in South Africa.

This blog reveals one instance where such a transfer led to disastrous consequences.

Detachment is not option.

Main picture: Lukas Meyer, an employee who has not been paid for five months

Fidel Castro: Animal Farm REDUX

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 8 December 2016 2 Comments

If Cubans were under the belief that Fidel would liberate them from the oppression of the Batista Regime, they would be sorely mistaken. One dictator was merely being supplanted with another even more oppressive tyrant.

Main picture: Fidel at an outpost in the Sierra Maestra Mountains

Fidel Castro: A Flawed Hero

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 6 December 2016 1 Comment

The world has witnessed outpourings not only of grief at Fidel Castro’s passing but also admiration for his achievements. In South Africa, this has been especially pronounced amongst supporters of the ANC, EFF & Cosatu. The fact that Castro supported the ANC to obtain freedom for the Blacks in South Africa will never absolve Castro for repression, oppression, persecution and enslavement for his own people.

The bald facts are that Castro was a dictator: pure and simple.

Main picture: Fidel Castro at MATS Terminal in Washington in 1959 Continue reading

South Africa: Can we dare to dream again?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 3 November 2016 0 Comment

Like a sketch artist’s first lines on a blank piece of paper, at first the object is unclear and undefined. Yet as each additional line is applied to the sketch, the subject gains focus & the confused canvas gains clarity. So it is with the unfolding Zuma / Gupta / State Capture / dirty tricks /trumped up charges saga. Thuli Madonsela in her noble endeavour applied multiple illuminating strokes with the release of her much anticipated State Capture report.

Yet, once again, there is insufficient granularity of detail in the sketch for a formal criminal charge to be laid. Instead, South Africa will have to wait again with bated breath for the final strokes to be applied: This time in the form of a commission of enquiry.

Thoughts and comments on the imperfect sketch so far and prognostications about possible future events

Main picture: President Jacob Zuma, Atul Gupta and the Eastern Cape Premier Noxolo Kieviet at a New Age breakfast in Port Elizabeth

Will this week be South Africa’s Berlin Wall Moment?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 2 November 2016 0 Comment

In hindsight, will the first week of November 2016 represent such a critical moment in South Africa’s fractious history? From a noble ideal to remove the shackles of apartheid from the majority of South African citizens, the ANC has descended into a cesspit of venality, corruption and the abuse of the organs of state for nefarious purposes.

Yet this week has already witnessed the unravelling of implicit and unwavering support for the ANC by even its most ardent stalwarts.

As such, could this month, which commenced so auspiciously for democracy in South Africa, be the advent of a new dawn?

Main picture: South Africa is burning, a metaphor for corruption, malefeasance and the capture of the organ of state

Retirement and Medical Costs in South Africa

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 2 November 2016 0 Comment

With the recent release of the proposed Medical Aid tariffs for 2017, medical costs were once again thrown into the spotlight.

What are the drivers of increases and what is the prognosis over the next twenty years?

The Parlous the State of Education in South Africa

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 21 October 2016 0 Comment

SADTU along with some school children have been attempting to invade schools to stop them from writing ANAs, Annual National Assessments. They reckon that they are a waste of time but I suspect that the ANAs will expose them. In any case, they do not like doing any extra work whatsoever.

Main picture: Teaching in South Africa

Envisioning the Future

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 11 October 2016 3 Comments

With Janine at the Life Groenkloof hospital in Pretoria, I have been spending about four hours a day in my BMW. The time has not been wasted. The time has been used to envisage the future and to question why things are performed in the current manner. Trapped within my car with me, Alesha has been forced to endure my thought processes and speculative rantings.

Amongst the topics discussed have been whether the university degree in its current format was dead, the future of the car radio & modern forms of electricity generation.

Pictures: All of the pictures in this blog do not relate to the topics addressed but rather they reflect the wonder and beauty of nature

Presidential Debate #2 erases the last vestiges of restraint

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 10 October 2016 0 Comment

After being woken at 2am by the hospital to report that my wife’s condition had deteriorated and was now on a ventilator, I had no option but to watch the American Presidential Debate on CNN as I was unable to sleep.

How could Trump absolve himself from the controversy swirling around him regarding an offensive, lewd, lascivious comment which objectifies and demeans women? How did Trump handle such a crass comment? Did this debate merely confirm my previous opinions of the candidates and would it shift America’s public opinion?

Main picture: Presidential candidates square up Continue reading

The Opinion Pieces are an eclectic bunch on current affairs & history often with a human interest aspect. The Movie/DVDs reviews are mainly on documentaries with a smattering of movie reviews.

Category Archives: Current Affairs