By Abdulillah
My fellow citizens, I am not sure if you all have been reading the news lately about our economic state. Not only does it not seem to be improving but it is getting worse. This and many other reasons that I wish to explore with you in this column should give us much concern because it is a fast ride to the bottom, if not to financial disaster. So let’s do a quick review shall we…
Our economy in the first half of this year appears to be in a tail spin. Even economists from both ends of the spectrum agree that some change or better leadership is necessary. It appears that few in the present government economic leadership seems to understand that continued losses in tax revenue and expenditures beyond our means that do not target or bring in new investments and or kick start our economy, in both the near term and especially in the long term will play havoc with our economy. This could very well spill over into our political sphere if not quickly managed.
Unemployment is on the rise and not going down, some economists seem to feel that this may not be due to lack of some growth in jobs, but due to Jordanian firms hiring Syrians or other foreign workers. It is said that these Jordanian firms, are hiring these foreign workers because they will work for cheaper wages, will not ask for medical or other benefits that are mandated for every Jordanian worker, nor can they strike for better wages and work conditions. Why this is allowed to continue is beyond me? What happen to our taxation and labor departments? I guess they are asleep at the wheel as well.
We also are reading the calls for the Social Security Investment Unit to be scrapped, because our Lower House seems to feel that the Investment Unit has not been investing in profitable or even appropriate investments. I am not sure what this exactly means, however, corruption charges are flying about without substantiation. I am however a concerned citizen. I have learned over the years where there is smoke there is usually a fire and whom-ever is running this program needs to come clean with where these assets are invested and any losses etc…
Moreover it is most disconcerting to me as a citizen that some of our typically absent lawmakers in the Lower House (I am not sure they even know what they are saying, but are espousing other peoples words), are accusing the Social Security Investment Unit of being a financial arm of the government. Not that this system is not used elsewhere, however it seems that all these investments, if they have been depicted correctly, are losers. One would think that the money of retirees and pensioners would be a major concern to all. I however am not sure what is right from wrong in this situation because very little transparency of investments and returns on these investments are available.
We seem to be continuing as before; on the ride to the bottom with our economic situation. I am not sure who is running the finance ministry today, because we have heard very little from that department, or for that matter anyone in the government who can tell us what and how they will manage this poor state of our economy. You would think that when they were appointed they would have set a plan for recovery in place, monitoring it as it is being implemented, and making the necessary changes when required. Alas; I am more inclined to believe they have lost control (that is if they had any control in the first place), and have resigned themselves to the fact that the race to the bottom it inevitable. I for one hope not! Unless some urgency is felt in that department or leadership, the race to the bottom will be inevitable.
Apathy towards one of the most crucial aspect to the health of our country; that being our economy, is not only poor management, but poor leadership that borders on incompetence if not malfeasance.
As such; our leadership must bring the situation to head, where heads roll for such poor on the job performance, or things are righted pretty darn quick. The days for acceptance of poor management should be long gone.
Also; our leadership needs to bring our financial and banking sector as well as our financial ministries, and, private investors and institutions, as well as our economists together such that a transparent and measurable economic reform plan is formulated and implemented as soon as possible. We cannot afford another year of poor performance and more debt.
Now for some social issues dear to my heart. I have written about keeping our country clean for some time now. As shout out to the people responsible for giving out trash bags to the picnickers who come visit our natural reserves. As well as those who are passing out water and food to the fasting in Ramadan. I am also more than pleased to see that our youth are participating as well in some of the important programs, like sustainable energy and conservation efforts and alike. However we have still have a long way to go. We seem to have forgotten that in the blessed month of Ramadan we need to share some of the food and wealth with the poor and needy. We need to do a better job with this than staying up all night feasting while the poor go to bed hungry.
My fellow citizens, we are the best of all nations, not because of our wealth but because of our humanity. We need to it more towards each other and moreover towards the travelers and needy that reach our borders. We not only need to accept them but we need to them our smiling faces, instead of a frown or harsh words. I know this will make us the great nation we all aspire to be, because compassion has no equal. It will take time, but not as long as you may think. We need only to have faith in each other and our abilities to overcome all challenges.
God Bless Jordan and its People
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