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News & Views by Terry Bell
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Still none so blind…..
Economic growth remains the mantra across the board as the economic crisis staggers on. This, despite all the evidence that the drive for economic growth is part of the problem and not any form of solution.
Farm wages, workers & common interests
May 13, 2018
We are all trapped in an economic system which, if its demands were judged by human standards, would almost certainly be regarded as criminally insane. Government, perhaps encouraged by the unions, could take steps to introduce an element of stability and fairness to those who suffer most in this global asylum. This could be a step forward to dealing with the lunacy itself.
The reality of white privilege in SA
May 13, 2018
There were hostile reactions from several quarters in South Africa following Democratic Party leader Mmusi Maimane's statement that white privilege still persists. But the statement was logical and an honest reflection of reality. The reactions tended to reveal a worrying level of blinkered arrogance.
Wages & the need for financial disclosure
May 13, 2018
It is not in the interests of either employers or employees to have profitable enterprises collapse. Which is why exemption clauses exist in cases of legislated minimum wages. But for such a system to operate honestly, requires full financial disclosure by employers.
Banks, bonds & rip-offs
May 6, 2018
If you owe a bank R50 000 and cannot repay on time, you have a problem. But if you owe a bank R1 billion and cannot pay, the bank has a problem. This, in monetary terms, sums up the relationship of rich and relatively poor. A sad example of this fact in practice relates to housing and forced sales.
So much talk, so little sense
May 4, 2018
South Africa has experienced a veritable cascade of words from public platforms over recent weeks — not least on May Day — that seemed to reveal that, while so much has been said it has all contributed very little to any real understanding. A lack of honest, open, discussion seems to have reached crisis proportions.
The democratic centralist curse
April 30, 2018
Democratic centralism is one of the most abused concepts within the South African political and labour arena. It has come to the fore again in debates around the strike protesting a proposed minimum wage and amendments to the labour laws. Hopefully, such debate will lead to the democratic reforms needed in much of the labour movement.
SA labour: tension, turmoil — and some hope
April 28, 2018
The mass turnouts on the protest strike called by Saftu on Wednesday in major centres around the country revealed that the newest federation is probably here to stay. And the sniping from the sidelines by Cosatu and Fedusa did nothing to boost their fortunes. However, amid the tension and turmoil there was some hope.
Terry Bell Writes 
May 18, 2018
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