22/10/2014
Whose Constituency is the Woman’s ‘Breast’? The Baby or Father?
WE barely dare say it, but the society seems not to have seen anything wrong with the conflict between fathers and their babies over ownership of the woman’s breast. Strangely, whether such an inquiry is warranted complicates issues and leads logically to the conclusion that it doesn’t warrant ATTENTION. On the grounds of variety in needs, may be it warrants ATTENTION. Source of nutrition for baby against source of pleasure for daddy. There appears to be an overly silent voice of society on this issue. Such is not welcome.
Don’t forget we know of our world as it is now largely because of the ideals of a science that one Archimedes founded called mathematics which is built on the pillars of simplicity, economy and rigour.
Of what use is such an ATTENTION when simplicity is preferred to complexity per the axioms of the science of mathematics? Who tells us society cannot be personified? Just as persons have rights, choices and values; society equally has orientations, preferences and customs.
Now, assuming without admitting that society is right with its silent yet glaring orientation of labeling it a ‘no go area’, then the well -known fallacy of circular reasoning is at play. Who makes up society? If it is the government, individuals, firms and the civil society, how do they hold one another accountable? This is the source of the simplicity- complexity dichotomy being spoken of. Complexity in the sense that the government is made up of individuals, the firms are also made up of individuals and several other combination of these units. Simplicity in the sense that per their collective actions, the social good is the expected end.
As the government is the father, firms and individuals as the babies, then it is the father’s duty to provide for the needs of the baby per the vulnerability tag on the baby. The proven mechanism is that since positions change, the vulnerable child of today becomes the active father of tomorrow.
Geometrically, the relationship is a symmetrical one. The strong groom of babies by fathers metamorphoses into strong economically active persons at old age. The common sense to this has been that fathers forgo their immediate personal consumption in favour of the development of their babies’ future, example being colossal investment in quality education and healthcare. More often than not, the father reaps the rewards several years after.
Invariably, if ‘father government ‘is consuming at the cost of 26% (T-bill rate), then child business is being denied access to what it needs to grow. Business becomes malnourished and grows into a Kwashiorkor one. Plainly, the government is crowding out businesses on the money market.
It stands then to reason that if they were feeding from different sources (syndicated foreign loans, grants, adequate revenue for government) versus (bank loans and other short term facilities for businesses), then we should be careful not to beg any question. But the fact is that it is the same breast feeding the two. One on the basis of pleasure (Politicians and bureaucrats borrow loot and share) and the other on the basis of nutrition (businesses in need of funds). It equally wouldn’t be much of a problem if they had comparative strength in this struggle. That is not the case as the father is by far mightier than the child. On the back of this might, it has seized the asset. As the baby cries in need of a rescuer, no one seems to care. In thinking aloud, maybe other fathers ( states) are so engulfed in their bedroom wrangling that it is difficult to offer a helping hand or they don’t just care (Western Countries and civil society- stemming from annoyance). Equally probable is the fact that the father and the friends (other African States) behave alike. Show me your friend and I can tell your character. What moral rights will they have to right others’ wrongs then? Do West African governments have differences in ideology, orientations and aspirations?
In my opinion, fathers that aren’t prepared for parenthood (good governance) should stay away from acts (rigging elections) that can make them parents. But still the question remains unanswered, who should have access to the wealth of the nation for effective utilization? Politicians or Businesses? Your thought may be helpful!
AKUFFU BOATENG, Chartered Economist
23rd October, 2014
