Liberal Democracies Feeling the Heat!

In personal lives, as with countries, we have problem creators who make others carry the can & ultimately solve the issues for them. Though democracy is worth fighting for any day, even worthy a cause to die for, sadly, most throw-up problems that are either not easy to solve or at others' cost only! Why berate those who take-up the cudgels; why not take the plunge to fight it out in the open arena & show the way?

We have regular union action even in developed countries that end-up inconveniencing only the general public who might well be more disadvantaged than the unionized in real life! The bottom line is those with the voice may not have the most grievances while others carry on stoically, that they are at least better off than many others. The days of working to look for a comfortable retirement are becoming a thing of the past, and with technology playing its part in almost all our daily activities, we cannot stop learning! The best and practical way forward is to be employable than fight for rights & benefits that no employer or even government can assure life-long!

Slowly, the ground rules are changing with more countries plugging-into free trade, and that cuts both ways. The hot news is even Fidel Castro admits communism doesn't work! It has profound meaning as one of the last bastions of state control is collapsing against the onslaught of energy released by the entrepreneurial exuberance even in China; the latter seems to have the best of all worlds, to get them ahead of others in the shortest-span of time. They are really eclectic, getting the best from everywhere, but making decisions on the go, to suit their ends! A tough cookie indeed!

These developments are eye-openers for things to unfold in future. Only those with clear focus, willing to act as one can succeed; too much time lost in semantics or a throw-away to the old way of taking own time for building consensus could mean regression & losing the race! The no-nonsense approach of China is clearly evident in the way they deal with foreign governments. They do not differentiate between political systems. When the head of Myanmar government visits them, they make it clear that they do not interfere in internal politics; it can be military junta or a dear leader from North Korea, those do not matter at all! A way to get the best of everything from everywhere!

Hence, it becomes increasingly clear that no country can put up a divided front and risk losing their way in a fast changing world; a harsh reality for liberal democracies where individual freedom rules the roost; washing dirty linen in public would only weaken them overall & set them backward! All have to work within the system & not upset the apple cart of progress with own agendas!

The road ahead is uncertain with richer countries beholden to China and other developing countries for cheaper goods. With Fidel Castro also throwing in the towel, it looks like almost all are jumping into the bandwagon of free trade to get ahead like China, which has set an example! The trouble makers would find it harder to get sympathy if it means setting the clock back in the march towards progress. All will have to put their shoulders to the wheel to get ahead or risk joining the new poor! Attitude & willingness to bite the bullet of new realities will decide who are still in the game or just willing to play second or third fiddles in the unfolding future that certainly looks ominous to some, used to easier, set ways of life! The pendulum will find the equilibrium only after the new realities hit the right targets!