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« on: August 19, 2008, 12:03:32 PM »
Where do the priorities of the ma**es lie?
A good question indeed. So, what is our answer? In order to fully understand or a**ess this matter, one would require some background or contextualisation on the issue. Firstly, we as contemporary South Africans and moreover on a global scale, live above our means.This relates to trends of consumerism and major corporation backed chain stores offering most or all goods on terms or higher purchase. The result of these purchases are quite obviously that one is obligated to pay for the same item over and over again.
Secondly, when we look into a simple ghetto scenario within our country, one sees a disturbing tendency or trend for homeowners to also own cars which are twice if not four times the value of their houses.As we know all to well, the majority of properties are in actual fact owned by banks through bonds and home loans.So obsessed are our citizens with visible commodities that one can see or hear sound systems which in most instances are worth more than the vehicles they emanate from, additionally rims worth more than cars can also be found. Which begs our original question-Where do the priorities of the ma**es lie?
A simple look into South African journalistic trends reveals similar results. Poverty is on the rise as well as is crime and unemployment, however the public is constantly bombarded with the same historical or cult figures time and again. These are individuals whom, as far as i can see have gained these social positions largely due to their immense wealth and/or political sway. A case in point would be the slain businessman Brett Kebble. For a number of years it seems our print media has dedicated at least one column a week to the man. So even after his pa**ing the flesh, he remains iconoclastic in local circles.Can this be related to wealth, social standing or politics? For the time being, it is near impossible to ascertain.
Yet another persona who seems to have cut his way deep into our fabric is the newly-elected leader of the ruling party, none other than Jacob Zuma. It goes without saying that either through PR or some kind of enigmatic character has managed to brand himself to the point of dominating the headlines for the past couple of years. He singlehandedly personifies the prhase, 'no publicity is bad publicity.' Because, like Amy Winehouse the more they talk about him the more popular he appears to become.
To conclude, perhaps the answer to our dubious question lies within the question itself. The public in general need to decide for themselves where they stand and if they choose to read between the lines of the media's sensationalist reportage.We know that it is more often than not, ignorant of the facts altogether.And on another level, it appears that most of the citizens need to downscale their lifestyles to the point of affordability, so that they will not value one commodity over another. As soon as this can take place, then we can begin to progress as a nation, and look at the future from a whole new angle or perspective.
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