Recently, friends on Facebook have been posting more and more aphorisms, or wise thoughts.
Some sociologist would probably find a connection between the increasing nervousness prevailing in politics, the economy, and the lives of citizens in general on one hand, and the feeling that even the most complicated things are actually very simple. And that everything has been seen before. On the other hand, when everything seems bleak and one feels helpless, a bit of cynicism might save one from chronic depression. Of course, it should not be overlooked that under the influence of the web, we would prefer wisdom to be served in 160 SMS characters or 140 ‘tweet-like’ characters. Thus, one of my FB friends shares someone’s wise saying: ‘Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is – a nightmare.’
Big TV or library I have a feeling he was referring to the current Croatian government. It cannot be said that Prime Minister Zoran Milanović’s government is idle. Most ministers are trying hard. However, the question lies precisely in the vision. It is hard to shake the impression that this government lacks a quality vision as well. If the vision is to reduce corruption in the state apparatus, to introduce stricter financing rules, and to create legal conditions that will make it easier to do business, it should be noted that this is quite an unoriginal and entirely insufficient vision for these turbulent times.
Simply put, this government, even after nine months of work, does not have its motivating motto composed in those aforementioned 160 characters. It cannot be said that there has been no progress compared to the HDZ government. But vision is something much more. If they had put all their political capital into reindustrialization, that would have been a specific vision. As it stands, what is being done and propagated is similar to what is being attempted in many countries at this moment.
Another wise saying that appeared on my Facebook from ‘another movie’. My FB friend shared a thought from Jim Rohn, an American entrepreneur and innovator. He stated: ‘Poor people have big TVs. Rich people have big libraries.’
That statement struck me. I cannot apply it to the Croatian reality at all. I understand what the poet meant. The masses are trapped in consumerism and the path of least resistance, spending time in front of the television, not educating themselves and losing the game of life. Those who govern them, about ten percent of the ruling class, are constantly acquiring new knowledge with which they can manipulate the consumer base.
Friends would still want our gold Perhaps it works that way in the USA. The ruling class indeed invests a lot in the education of its younger members. And they are willing to accept gifted individuals from all over the world among themselves. Kids are still pushed to read smart books in the original (and not ‘compiled’ textbooks or scripts).
Now, when it comes to Croatia, I fear that most of the ruling class, both in politics and in business, do not have a large library at home. Here, it is played on strength and intuition. And the rulers at home have, with exceptions, large TV screens. Perhaps that is also the reason why the country has been in recession for the fourth year and why, returning to the first aphorism – we have action without vision, i.e., a nightmare.
Reactions to last week’s column by colleague Višnja Starešina about the reasons why we are receiving warnings from Germany ahead of EU membership are the reason why I ‘sowed’ another saying from a Facebook friend. A Latin one, which translates to: ‘When gold speaks, every other speech is superfluous.’ Rarely have I received opposing reactions. Several readers of Lider protested against the ‘conspiracy theory’ and the ambiguity that Germany criticizes because some German investments have not been allowed into Croatia. They believe we are to blame for the criticism because we are poorly implementing reforms. A few others completely agreed with the thesis from the column. The truth is both, but I still think that the pressure from powerful friends to obtain ‘pieces of local gold’ prevails.
When this columnist decided to defend himself from heavy motives and conclusions through self-therapy for at least one week, let’s share a few more aphorisms by the end of the column. So what associations come to mind… They are drawn from the book ‘1001 Aphorism for Managers’ (Privredni vjesnik, 1977.):
Capitalism without bankruptcy is like Christianity without hell.
It is not the people you have fired that make your life miserable, but those you have not.
The most about free entrepreneurship, competition, and ‘whoever is better, let them go’ is said by a person who inherited a shop or a farm from their father.
Business? Very simple – it is other people’s money.
An honest politician is one who, once bought, remains bought.
