Editorial: The man in the arena
While the nation is tightening its belt over soaring fuel prices, owners of fuel stations want to loosen theirs.
In a time of a devastating crisis, they are demanding to make profits - when everyone’s aim at the moment should be to break even. In times like these, having income exactly equal to expenditure is the only game in town.
Theodore Roosevelt, in an iconic speech in 1910, spoke about ‘citizenship in a republic’ in reference to the duties and responsibilities of state to citizen and citizen to state.
We need to meet each other halfway as citizens, especially in these times of war in Europe and a devastating pandemic we did not invent.
We cannot arm-twist government to punish the nation further with pump prices so that the country’s oil oligarchs can further fatten their bank accounts.
Everyone is affected by what is going on. If fuel station owners throw their toys out of the cot, public servants – who went six years without a salary increment – will also down tools.
Taxi operators, who themselves have not had a fare increase in ages, will also be inspired to park their cars, followed by truck drivers. Then what?
Our country's success will depend on patience, discipline and character. Therefore, it behoves us – all of us - to do our best by holding each other’s hands until we successfully make it to the other side.
In a time of a devastating crisis, they are demanding to make profits - when everyone’s aim at the moment should be to break even. In times like these, having income exactly equal to expenditure is the only game in town.
Theodore Roosevelt, in an iconic speech in 1910, spoke about ‘citizenship in a republic’ in reference to the duties and responsibilities of state to citizen and citizen to state.
We need to meet each other halfway as citizens, especially in these times of war in Europe and a devastating pandemic we did not invent.
We cannot arm-twist government to punish the nation further with pump prices so that the country’s oil oligarchs can further fatten their bank accounts.
Everyone is affected by what is going on. If fuel station owners throw their toys out of the cot, public servants – who went six years without a salary increment – will also down tools.
Taxi operators, who themselves have not had a fare increase in ages, will also be inspired to park their cars, followed by truck drivers. Then what?
Our country's success will depend on patience, discipline and character. Therefore, it behoves us – all of us - to do our best by holding each other’s hands until we successfully make it to the other side.
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Namibian Sun
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