Strike, help, what is going on?

I am curiously watching the news to see what is going to come from the strikes in South Africa. I support the workers who are all just hoping for a better life and rewards for their hard work and efforts, and on the other side you have children who have to write exams and are scared they will not have enough time, and the intimidation and so so many things happening. So many dimensions and everybody only sees the view that affects them. This all in the light of the massive pay increases given to parliamentarians and higher level officials, it is no wonder that people are disillusioned. The only ones paying the price for this is the poor. The top government officials get enough money, the workers lose, but will hopefully gain in the end and the poor lose all the way!

I can see that SA is still in so many ways a place where everyone just wants his own wealth to increase. Freedom fighters fought for many years to be liberated from white oppression and then the new government repeats so many of the patterns of the old. Ensuring that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer and of course the higher level officials with power have to take the cream, because they can.

When will we learn that a nations is only "good" if the poor has access to a better life. We can never make someone get off his jack and work, but we don't have to make it impossible for them to get into the market either. Employment creation is not government's work, and will never be, but a healthy pro-small-person-with-little-money environment makes it easier for someone to try. I am from a middle income environment and I consider myself hard-working and creative, and I am having a battle making a business work and to earn enough to survive in a country where the cost of living rises daily. H0w does a pooooooooor person with no access to capital and that struggles for daily survival just start a business, or get work. Let us be realistic, we are still alive in SA because God is gracious and many people are praying for the country. It is not due to the government efficiency or anything else.

The answer to our Nation lies in the hearts of the people of the country. Those with access to capital and who own businesses should always look at how to increase their staff, pay them better and improve their skills and education. We are constantly helping our cleaning ladies to start businesses or the garden man to do something or our employees to go further. Yes, it costs, as we have to get new people then, but what a pleasure. Meet someone new and give them the same opportunity. Start looking beyond your own survival and own riches and you will see that there is something better than a fat belly, fancy car and expensive shoes - to give of yourself. It is the greatest discovery that you will make. Why did you risk your life to liberate the country, was it to become a parasite or to make a significant impact?

till later....

skalla