MEDP – Mitigating Endemic Democratic Problems

An article which I am just about set to publish concerns a critique of ideologies combating with each other. It is based on Eraclitus’ (pre-Socratic) notion that everything operates in a state of antagonisms and conflict. He offered an interesting perspective in his philosophy resembling somewhat of a yin and yang route as he argued that although two bodies may be in conflict, they do so in unity and harmony. Some examples would include the Sun and Moon, or spring and fall, summer and winter, etc.  They are opposites of each other but all serve a useful, and practical, function.

Lately in politics, this opposites approach in political/economic ideologies is taking shape via Third Way policies.  Although capitalism and socialism have been used in a variety of ways to battle each other’s ill effects whilst trying to maximize the benefits of each ideology for well over 300 years (socialist ideas were not invented by Marx, simply contextualized for the industrial period), it does not need to be that way. Eraclitus’ philosophies and Third Way policies indicate that the practical and useful foundations of any ideology can be used together as situations demand.

There is no need to stick to an “all or nothing” ideological perspective. This behaviour foments animosity between people of different inclinations and can lead to a breakdown of communication, cooperation, and perhaps even spark violence.

This new-ish perspective can be used by CEOs or government leaders to determine whether or not they are neglecting positive practices from other ideologies simply due to an entrenched (and perhaps no longer reasonable) policy approach.  The EU and many Middle East, South, East, and South-East Asian economies are implementing social mechanisms to care for their employees/citizens but not at the expense of capitalistic viability.

Careful application of capitalistic practices with social benefits will mediate the harsher sides of capitalism whilst keeping socialism realistic, productive, and viable. Why can the citizens of Sweden or Saudi Arabia get to go to university anywhere in the world for ‘free’ (paid through taxes). Why do citizens of France, Canada, UK, etc. get free health care and in some instances dental? With practical and responsible applications of basic ideological foundations which may prove useful for certain societies or situations, a business or government can increase their employee/citizen happiness. I personally do not think that sticking to one ideology for the sake of it makes any particular sense.

– Jean-Paul

It has recently come to my attention (via an accountability ethics study for governments conducted by MEDP’s College of Masters) that the notion of “accountable accounting” in businesses, organizations, and governments is absolutely necessary if there is a sincere interest about reaching a goal or profit.

Transparency (easy to track/paper, digital trail) in accounting methods ensures that a CEO, manager, MP/MC, investor, citizen, employee, etc. can accurately and confidently understand where money has come from, where it is kept, what profit/service it is making by being kept, and where (by whom/what, why)  it is being spent. At least that is the most basic goal of accountable accounting.

However, there are ways for accountants to – pardon the colloquialism – ‘cook the books’ in a legal manner by simply arranging budgets/procurement/spending in a way that gives the reader a different impression of what is actually happening financially.  It is important to always have an internal/external auditor to verify accounting, and it pays to ensure that the accountant(s) does not know the auditor(s). Furthermore, by staying accountable in accounting, if anything does come up, solid evidence will allow for criminal proceedings to begin unhampered due to your triplicate and meticulous record keeping habit (keep one copy for self, one copy for public, one copy in administrative/project file).

If that rather basic level is achieved, then a perhaps more arduous task is ultimately necessary. Spending must serve a purpose whether you are a CEO, Prime Minister, or deparment/branch/project manager. Recently (in the Paris and Rome conventions concerning effective aid processes) aid money is increasingly targeting developing countries’ programs, peaceful grassroots organizations originating from the culture/society of the country receiving aid, and most importantly, financial feedback regarding effectiveness is conducted in a timely manner. Books, even in aid giving, must be balanced. By asking the basic questions below as often possible, this next step will become easier and the synergy between spending and achieving will create a clearer network.

• What did we spend on?
• Why did we spend this money on that particular project/feature?
• How has the money been used?
• What was/is the overall/current  impact?
• Is there an area that requires improvement, less or more money?
• How can we make spending more effective?

Ultimately, if accounting is based on transparency and accountability, and the accountant(s) work is kept honest with timely (and transparent) auditing, then a spending analysis can be done in full confidence.  It continues to be a wonder for me as to why many governments at all tiers do not correspond this kind of accounting ethic to its citizens, or why transnational corporations/financial institutions can so greatly affect the international economy with irresponsible behaviour. We have useful tools to ensure – this promises to be the final colloquialism – more ‘bang for our buck’.

It could be that governments and multinational companies/organizations are simply too large for a central administrative system to appropriately manage finances. However, I personally think that is something of a lame excuse. Why build a big house if you can’t keep the draft out? Over 200 years ago Alexander Hamilton (US Federalist) wrote that managing the budget of the nascent US government was a difficult task: namely, that is was hard to keep track of money (taxes, tarrifs, etc.). In many instances a similar argument can be made today for both government and business. We need new methods to manage money at whatever largesse they may be found in. Perhaps using accountable accounting tied in with ICTs can finally solve Hamilton’s dilemma.

MEDP’s researchers are exploring this possibility. We are also accepting volunteers (undergrads, postgrads, and graduates) who majored in ICTs to help our policy branch get to the bottom of this and come out with a practical methodology. If interested, please visit med-p.org and contact us with your details quoting “ICTs Accounting Study.”

Legend:

• MP = Member of Parliament
• MC = Member of Congress
• ICTs = Information and Communication Technologies

– Jean-Paul

I suppose this question has been one of the ages. There comes a time when a person is tired of thinking and wanting to act, or tired of acting and wanting to think. Both scenarios succumb to the same conclusions: in each, the player feels futile.  Suddenly the ability of the dramatis persona to stop violence occurring to innocents is no where near in our hands and no matter how hard we work – or wish, or pray – there is no way to protect them.

At night, I lie awake feeling helpless to protect the children, women and men being abused by carnal evils; in the morning, I despair over the paper wrought tidings of terrifying crimes against humanity in nearly all quarters of the earth; at midday, I cringe over the news of humans acting violently toward each other and the natural environment; in the evening, my heart reaches out to the poor and poorest of this earth who haven’t a scrap of what I take for granted; and at night the process begins anew.

Only the question remains: how to stop war?

Written history, for the most part, has been settled by violence. Civil wars, battles for independence, battles of oppression, international wars for a myriad of reasons. Why? We have the means to settle disputes through reason and peace, respecting the value and utter sanctity of human, animal, insect, and plant lives. This last line does hark of Jainism and it is nonetheless rooted in a fundamental reasoning that humans have the ability to set aside violence and solve disputes through other means. But history, art, and philosophy have been over all of this already. It turns out that humans have complex psyches which are affected by – inter alia – pride, group mentality, and nationalistic/cultural/political fervor.

Knowing that our own mentalities are probably the primal cause of violence, how can we stop war? We can’t re-wire ourselves.  It would be amazing to have superpowers to defend the weak, the abused, the poor, the innocent…but then that would be above the law, but what is law during a war of atrocities?

Perhaps the answer lies in the might of the international community, which is arguably the ultimate collective of governments. This I currently highly doubt due to the performance of said communities during many episodes (Burma relief after Tsunami, ethnic cleansing after Vietnam War, ethnic cleansing in Rwanda, ethnic cleansing in Burma, human rights abuses in Tibet, failure to uphold the rule of law in Somalia, failure to stop war in the DRC, etc.).

Or does it lie in the knowledge of individuals that are engaging in violence?  What kind of person hurts a child, woman, or man that has done nothing to harm them (obviously not legitimizing violence except in the circumstances of self-defense)? So much violence depends on context too…pedophiles are a war against children, rapists a war against women and men, ethnic cleansing a war against a people. How can it stop?

I think we can learn from some of our more collective leaning fellow creatures. What do ants do if there are several massive obstacles that need overcoming? They work together, in great numbers. Perhaps this is the path that needs to be taken. Humans must have the knowledge to know how to of course which imparts the necessity of education for all (universal and free preferably).

So if this is the method to stop war, I beg humanity of this:

- If you see a child, woman, or man being abused online or in person, please report it to the police without delay.

- If you are afraid of a different culture, please get to know it and not destroy it.

- If you see a forest being cut down illegally, please stand up to preserve it.

- If you are dumping chemicals or garbage because you are too poor or unwilling to pay for it, look up how to safely dispose of it or ask for assistance from civil society or government.

- If your country is entering a war with another, or seems to be, stand up for peace and demand that non-violent action be taken by voicing your opinion to government, media, foreign embassies, and anyone who will listen.

A list like this could continue being written until my hands, bent and cripple, could type no more, and there would still be more to write. Please, remember this line from Edmund Burke if nothing else: The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is if good [people] do nothing.

– Jean-Paul