| MAKING THE WAY TO THE REVOLUTIONNARIES By Christian Louis |
| Half way to 2015 with the objective to meet the Millennium Development Goals, the Countries still categorized as third world have to dramatically accelerate and raise their economy at least to the rank of pre-emerging markets. We could be optimistic only if the intelligentsia of those so-called underdeveloped countries organize themselves into a technocracy professionally productive, socially responsible, economically strong and politically supportive to take the challenge to heart, begin to conceptualize and implement an innovative model (specific to each core country) that could contribute to wealth creation, prosperity and sustainable development. By doing so, we will realize the difference our generation is positioned to make. Technocracy had its inception in 1919 in New York City in an organization known as the Technical Alliance of North America. This group included in its ranks such people as Thorstein Veblen, a professor of social science; Charles Steinmetz of the General Electric Company; Bassett Ones, a consulting engineer and mathematician; Stuart Chase, popular economist and author. Heading the group as chief engineer was Howard Scott, an industrial engineer. The primary aim of the Technical Alliance was to ascertain the possibility of applying the achievements of science and technology development to social and industrial affairs. In our view, Technocracy is not a form of Government; it is not this kind of population manipulation and uprising, resulting in the change of political leaders. We perceive a technocracy as a group of facilitators: knowledgeable, patient, good listener, good leadership abilities and able to articulate well with the purpose of an Economic Revelation intended to produce an economic abundance. If technocracy is not a form of Government, it is in fact important to define and establish a synergy between political leaders and technocrats. Governments are organizations designed and established to issue laws, to create the macro-economic and institutional framework in support to the work of the technocracy. Instead of developing political ideas, philosophy or opinion, a Technocracy is rather concerned by the application of technology, science and model to use resources in an efficient manner and solve social problems, foster economic development, generate wealth creation and economic abundance. However, being organized into a technocracy is associated to a mental revolution. But, unfortunately, it is the most difficult part; it may require a complete reconditioning, we would say a reengineering of the mind. |
| The progress that will incur will have populations in certain geographic areas change over from a primary dependence upon agriculture and small scale street vendor activities to a process aims at increasing the ability to innovate, produce, develop small businesses, make profit and achieve a reasonable annual growth target. Grameen Bank Managing Director Muhammad Yunus gave an example of the revolutionary action required when he was asked about his strategy for creating the Grameen Bank; Professor Yunus replied: “I didn’t have a strategy, I just kept doing what was next”. But the final destination all technocrats should keep in mind, consists in enabling their country and the poorest of the poor to reach a certain level of development (a technocracy socially responsible). The goals could be achieved only if all the actors are aware of their comparative advantage, play their role and do their part. The point is not where to start, but how to create synergy, articulate and build linkages. China for example, which has an annual target growth of 8%, began with a program of increase infrastructure spending. The beginning of the program was financed not either from Government revenues or aid from International Donors, but mostly by a substantial increase in lending by banks. Each of the major banks supported specific state investment initiatives; that’s an example of what we call synergy between a technocracy economically strong and a well-oriented political Government. Based on the experience of China, it seems that the connection between infrastructure and economic growth makes investors excited, perhaps because availability of good infrastructure systems encourage entrepreneurship and link people to economic activities. Assets related to a Country infrastructure system could be bound together into an investment vehicle and traded on a stock exchange market and investors expect steady dividends in the short run instead of capital appreciation in the long term. But it seems that investors prefer these assets to be held, run and managed by private sector (a professionally productive technocracy). For instance, Changi Airport in Singapore was recently restructured and run like a private business. In Malaysia, the North-South Expressway is managed by Plus Expressway Berhad, which collects tolls from every vehicle that uses the express-way. Bob Frick, senior editor of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine said to CNBC that "Global infrastructure investing is going to be $30 trillion over the next 20 years". We mention it again and we would like you keep it in mind: the technocracy we are promoting should be professionally productive, socially responsible, economically strong and politically supportive. We are not minimizing the necessity of internal economic government reforms facilitating the delivery of the mission and the effectiveness in the utilization of resources. By doing the whole work, we will walk towards the achievement of the Goals of the Millennium, by 2015 and the alleviation of poverty by 2025. |