Knife edge

[noxibox]

No it's more of a downgrade to a unstable buggy program which will be in development hell forever, the new patches that come out will only make it worse, eventually leading to a over-bloated, unstable mess. Zim 2.0 upgrade now.

If it's development hell how does it ever get released? Do you know it's unstable and buggy because you're personally working on it or is it merely your dream that this bad product be foisted on an unsuspecting public?

Thing is money, resources, skills it's all going to run out sometime.

Is it?

The things we put up with now will be minute, compared to what is to come.

Sounds a lot like those end of the world nutters.

 

[Amy_R]

Tooo many squatter camps near main roads - these people cause kak with motorists....

 

[Hansolo]

What do you think?

I'm not concerned about a possible civil unrest situation.

I am concerned about service delivery, job creation and the increase in the basic cost of basic living eg the rising price of electricity & petrol, which will lead to general price increase on goods and food.

I am extremely concerned about corruption and fraud in all spheres of government, it has also become increasingly difficult to trust the police, because of widespread corruption and criminal activities of police force members.

I am also concerned about the generally low level of education and poor matriculation results coming from a majority of local schools.

Government has failed the people of South Africa, there are too many fat cats, too little long term planning, too much ineptitude, and a general lack of progressiveness.

I foresee the poverty sector growing, and service delivery to the poorest in the country remaining backlogged.

The country is a haven for fraudsters, criminals, scammers along with government officials who take bribes, the crime level in the country remain horrifying, especially rape and malicious crime.

Exactly how many small business recently can afford to cope with the uber-tax (electricity, water, petrol, tolls etc etc), so they close down and it's just a domino effect from there. Companies are hemorrhaging at the moment, it can't go on like this. We have the elite living it up and middle class and the poor just getting poorer.

 

[noxibox]

IT was suppose to be a joke.

Vista, just one of Microsoft's practical jokes. But, yes, I got that you were making a joke.

You said upgrades are better.

Not quite.

 

[BandwidthAddict]

There is no simple answer to this question. But there are markers.

What made South Africa so strong and a first world country was that the culture and values were Western, being that the political and economical power-base were white. Part of the intention behind apartheid was to keep the blacks out of the political pool as their numbers began to rise.

In black African culture, big families are considered ideal in the hope that one of the children will become successful and support the family. The culture does not take into consideration affordability and thus the mother will pump out as many children as she can. Thus the focus in this culture is producing offspring for the benefit of the parents/mother.

In white culture, raising children to be the best they can be, and providing for the children's future is considered ideal. Thus white family size is constrained by affordability of schools, health care and toys.

Thus, black numbers soared and white numbers increased modestly.

Now that apartheid is over, the huge numbers of blacks are the political power-base and are trying to become the economic power-base through legislation. So South Africa is in the process of switching from 100% Western values to 100% black African values.

South Africa is not special. The prospects of any country are directly linked to the principles and values of the combination of political and economic power-bases; if you want to see the possible future range for South Africa from optimistic to pessimistic, look at the history (up to current) of countries being run by black Africans.

 

[Palimino]

What is stopping them from killing us now? Do you really think they care if mandela is alive or not?

They can’t. They will get their ass kicked big time. They were always pretty useless, now the are fat, lazy, corrupt and even more useless. Bring it on.

There is also ‘The goose that lays the golden eggs’ factor. Would the ANC be stupid enough to kill the goose? Probably.

 

[Leostar]

There is no simple answer to this question. But there are markers.

What made South Africa so strong and a first world country was that the culture and values were Western, being that the political and economical power-base were white. Part of the intention behind apartheid was to keep the blacks out of the political pool as their numbers began to rise.

In black African culture, big families are considered ideal in the hope that one of the children will become successful and support the family. The culture does not take into consideration affordability and thus the mother will pump out as many children as she can. Thus the focus in this culture is producing offspring for the benefit of the parents/mother.

In white culture, raising children to be the best they can be, and providing for the children's future is considered ideal. Thus white family size is constrained by affordability of schools, health care and toys.

Thus, black numbers soared and white numbers increased modestly.

Now that apartheid is over, the huge numbers of blacks are the political power-base and are trying to become the economic power-base through legislation. So South Africa is in the process of switching from 100% Western values to 100% black African values.

South Africa is not special. The prospects of any country are directly linked to the principles and values of the combination of political and economic power-bases; if you want to see the possible future range for South Africa from optimistic to pessimistic, look at the history (up to current) of countries being run by black Africans.

I agree and think the same as you.
As to the question posed by you.
Namibia does not count as there is a strong German/SA influence there and the numbers are not so disproportional.

That leaves Botswana, whom was heavily influenced by western culture and education by its leaders. They are a success thanks to the diamonds, cattle and tourists. (which may all come to an end one day)

That leaves all our other neighbours like ZIM.. (eiwooo) Zambia, Angola, Malawi etc.

Our own Lesotho gets lots of aid from SA (Paying for Katse dam electricity and grants) that I am not sure if they count or not. Estimating from the cross border raids to steal cattle from Free State, seems that not much has changed there.

 

[Leostar]

Exactly.
As an Afrikaans far right Boer, i cannot see how Mandela's death would cause wholsale slaughter of white people.

No one lives forever. People expects Mandela to die sooner or later from old age.

I doubt if it would come as a shock to anyone should Mandela go quietly in his sleep.

The likes like JM etc might be holding back out of respect etc for the “great” Nobel peace laureate. Once dead he might leave a vacuum that they will want to eagerly filled by the likes of Winnie (of stompie fame) JM etc.

I think that JZ etc will declare a week of national mourning and perhaps a week of national holidays into the future. (A bit like the day of wow holiday to get the whites “back” for rubbing their faces so long in the historical battle against great odds)
Based on the bahoo for his “routine” check up

 

[marine1]

The ANC were far more intelligent than others during history. Slowly boil the water, the prey do not know they are being killed.
AA/BEE, infrastructure, crime....all these things have taken what 15 years to screw up?
When we actually realise what has heppened, it may be too late to fix.

 

[R13...]

The ANC were far more intelligent than others during history. Slowly boil the water, the prey do not know they are being killed.
AA/BEE, infrastructure, crime....all these things have taken what 15 years to screw up?
When we actually realise what has heppened, it may be too late to fix.

I see you've modified your predictions to give the ANC more time to screw things. Pre-WC you were running around saying, "wait till after the WC". Aren't you tired of being wrong, I mean none of your doom & gloom predictions have come to pass. None!

In fact, while the ANC have screwed up infrastructure by neglecting its maintenance they have now realised this and are doing very good work in that area. Every budget announces even more funding for the infrastructure development program.

 

[marine1]

I see you've modified your predictions to give the ANC more time to screw things. Pre-WC you were running around saying, "wait till after the WC". Aren't you tired of being wrong, I mean none of your doom & gloom predictions have come to pass. None!

You are joking right? Have you read the news lately? Electricity is a complete mess, they just blew up a turbine worth what 3 billion?
The water is almost collapsing, according to the experts. The roads are going to cost us too much to actually use so we will be forced to use the back roads, increasing congestion, should I go on....oh wait, half the heads of the SAPS are being locked up for corruption, murder.
Yes I did think the WC would be a mess, yes I was wrong. See I can admit when I am wrong.
I still believe that SA will head towards the same situation in the rest of Africa.

 

[MidnightWizard]

Experts

You are joking right? Have you read the news lately? Electricity is a complete mess, they just blew up a turbine worth what 3 billion?
The water is almost collapsing, according to the experts.
The roads are going to cost us too much to actually use so we will be forced to use the back roads, increasing congestion, should I go on....oh wait, half the heads of the SAPS are being locked up for corruption, murder.
Yes I did think the WC would be a mess, yes I was wrong. See I can admit when I am wrong.
I still believe that SA will head towards the same situation in the rest of Africa.

Seeing as you are talking about experts ......


As for the vital importance to commerce of adherence by government to the rule of law,
let us remember Shakespeare's warning
when it was suggested that the Duke of Venice might bend the law to allow Antonio the merchant to escape having the agreed pound of his flesh cut off when he couldn't redeem his bond to Shylock:

"The Duke cannot deny the course of law:
For the commodity that strangers have
With us in Venice, if it be denied,
Will much impeach the justice of the State,
Since that the trade and profit of the city
Consisteth of all nations."

30th March 2011


Source ;
Article ---> Property Rights and the ANC

As a footnote -- who remembers how the impasse was settled ?

A lesson for today !

VERY important article as a pointer to the future -- explains all the "Red-Flags"

Might answer the OP question ?

 

[Palimino]

There is a popular perception that a mob of badly trained military bandits adept at intimidation and attacking women and children armed with hoes and rakes with AK47’s or blood-crazed, toi-toing, machete wielding masses chopping people up, is real bad ass.

There is little clue about the mega-death possibilities of hardcore badassery.

 

[Hansolo]

Well here is an experts view:

http://www.fin24.com/Economy/Hedge-fund-warns-of-SA-blow-up-20110304

A bit too optimistic I think.

"It's socially, politically and demographically flawed. It will malfunction within 15 years. It will go the way of MENA (the Middle East and North Africa) but the blow-up will be much more serious," Savouri told Reuters in an interview this week.

"Professional whites and blacks are leaving in hordes - the human capital is decaying," he said.

the financial services industry was practically "lawless".

 

[Master Cain]

I see you've modified your predictions to give the ANC more time to screw things. Pre-WC you were running around saying, "wait till after the WC". Aren't you tired of being wrong, I mean none of your doom & gloom predictions have come to pass. None!

In fact, while the ANC have screwed up infrastructure by neglecting its maintenance they have now realised this and are doing very good work in that area. Every budget announces even more funding for the infrastructure development program.

How much of the proposed budget for infrastructure actually gets spent on what it was intended for.

Most of the money gets stolen or embezzled before it could be spent with no repercussions for the guilty parties whatsoever as no one seems to be held accountable.

 

[noxibox]

"Professional whites and blacks are leaving in hordes - the human capital is decaying," he said.

Are they really? Strange then that foreign companies continue to build capability in South Africa, that skilled foreigners continue to choose to move here.

There is a popular perception that a mob of badly trained military bandits adept at intimidation and attacking women and children armed with hoes and rakes with AK47’s or blood-crazed, toi-toing, machete wielding masses chopping people up, is real bad ass.

History teaches us not to underestimate the apparently easily defeated.

Slowly boil the water, the prey do not know they are being killed.

That prey would presumably be poor black people.

 

[Master Cain]

That prey would presumably be poor black people.

Automatically assuming that when referred to "prey" black people are designated could be construed as racism.

The ANC are preying on every single taxpayer to pay for their extravagance.

I am white and i have the distinct awareness that this government is preying on me.

 

[Hansolo]

such drivel blah, blah, blah

Either you work for the ANC or your a troll? I honestly can't believe that anybody can be so *^$&# stupid to think there is nothing horribly wrong with what is happening in this country on a daily basis, it is slowly getting worse and worse and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that.

I have nothing to say to you, you've just won a trip to ingnoresville. I suppose there is nothing wrong in Zimbabwe either huh? The *%&# of Zanu PF would love you to believe that but intelligent informed people just aren't that stupid.

 

[3p1c]

Wait till Madiba croaks - then we'll know exactly how bad or good things are..

 

[noxibox]

Either you work for the ANC or your a troll?

Well dang boy, those ANC fellows are going to be right angry when they find out I don't vote for them.

I honestly can't believe that anybody can be so *^$&# stupid to think there is nothing horribly wrong with what is happening in this country on a daily basis

And I'm sure you'll be a-quoting where I said that any time now.

I suppose there is nothing wrong in Zimbabwe either huh?

Why would you suppose that?

I'm sorry you're unable to bring a balanced view to this matter. I realise it is quite difficult to understand how it is possible to recognise the positive and negative things simultaneously. How a single person can manage to both be critical of the government, and indeed politicians/political parties in general, and recognise what we have achieved along with where we have failed.

Automatically assuming that when referred to "prey" black people are designated could be construed as racism.

I'm sorry the subtly of that comment was lost on you. Don't worry I won't try to explain.