In modern economies, governments should have two fundamental priorities. The first is to decrease unemployment and the second is to develop the country’s human resources in order for citizens to become more efficient and valuable, thus contributing to growth.
One of the prerequisites of this is a healthy population, well-served by their healthcare system. Clearly, the Lebanese are being failed.
As our special report shows, the healthcare system in this country was broken long before the Syrian refugees arrived. Those that can afford it opt out, leaving the majority to get their treatment from overworked and underpaid doctors in decaying hospitals. With insufficient government support, these hospitals are trapped in a vicious circle of debt and worsening services. Now that the system has been overloaded with the additional pressure of one million refugees from Syria, there is a real threat that some of these failing institutions may go under.
Healthcare is far from unique. Sadly, so many of the country’s institutions are on the brink with the problems associated with decades of mismanagement now exacerbated by the refugee crisis. It is more important than ever to change course.
This leads to the choice of our next president, to take place next month. One cannot fail to notice the schizophrenic nature of our citizens when it comes to this decision. Many people who are desperate for an independent candidate are equally keen to see either Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun or Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea as the next president. The fundamental contradiction between a desire for change and support for these most stagnant statesmen seems not to register.
Both men are believed to be interested in taking on the top job, with Geagea declaring himself a “natural” candidate. Yet perhaps if we could look beyond the political jostling at the wider picture, we will see they are equally unsuitable.
Neither of these warlords-cum-statesmen have any history in economics nor do they have a proven track record of improving lives for the majority. Both have been integral players in the deterioration of our country into a deeply divided and factionalized society.
If we take the two fundamental goals of the state, it is clearer than ever that what is needed is an independent, strong leader who understands how to grow our economy. Let’s look beyond the political candidates to find someone who can be a common denominator for economic prosperity for all.
Then perhaps we can nurse the nation back to health.
4 comments
You cannot compare a former PM and chief of army who didn’t commit murder or steal one dime to a warlord who stole and looted and assassinated and blew churches and killed families and prime ministers and church leaders. That’s a start. Economically speaking, Aoun’s ministers proved themselves worthy in all the ministries in a nearly mission-impossible task: internet, mobile phone calls, water dams, electricity ships, education ministry, parliamentary laws, and much more
Firstly, it’s true you can’t compare an army leader who ran away and left his soldiers to the syrians, and a leader who fought against Palestinians, Syrians and many others not to forget the war of cancellation that was caused by aoun which brings to another crime by aoun which lead to mass killing. Another point is that you didn’t bother providing evidence that the ministries you named actually functioned which, in fact, were a little poor experiencing slow internet, lacking electricity and no sense of any higher or more effective education. In general, you clearly lack political knowledge and you’re most probably a Geagea “hater”, but let’s not forget that Samir Geagea was exempted from all the crimes and bombings that you should have enough common sense to realize that he was framed in due to the Syrian rule. One more thing to Yasser, do you think that you can actually have a functioning, effective economy with Hezbollah fighting in Syria which is clearly a drawback to the security and economy in Lebanon as we have seen in the past year. Don’t you think that an independent president is too weak to direct such a case, let’s take the current president as an example.
Pretty strange. I often wonder if we were ever this stagnant mentally or were we brainwashed for the past 10 years. The fact that both have the guts to announce there candidacy means that they already know in which state is the public in. A recent social media poll by Marvel’s kalam el Nas showed that Ziad Barbud is the Lebanese favorite. Unfortunately it is not the people that chose the president, but the shameful crew we bring to represent us. Of course, they just need to convince the Lebanese that a good hearted, decent fellow will never make it.
Isn’t it obvious that the placement of a warlord is part of a predecided war era
Why is it that only when the Christians are concerned we bring up tags like “warlords”. One would get the impression that only Christians waged a war in Lebanon. Could Mr. Akkaoui point us to an article in which he referred to the current Parliament Speaker (or Joumblat for exp) as warlord(s)?
Claiming that the Presidency is different because it is the highest political office does not stand. The Presidency has been stripped of most of its powers and what remains is more symbolic than executive.
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