The blatant disregard with which the government is treating the current economic crisis in the country is the height of irresponsibility. It is best characterized by the industry minister’s advice to the Lebanese to just need to relax because “we don’t need to make money every year.” Indeed, for those among the political class who have been robbing the country blind for the past few decades, taking a year off to lay comfortably on their stolen wealth may be an option, but for those Lebanese who have worked hard to build their businesses and fight every day to make ends meet, this is not a luxury they can afford. The Syrian situation is impacting Lebanon in a wash of negative ways: investments are evaporating, bank deposits are shrinking, the tourist season was a disaster, export market routes are cut and inflation is up. Gross domestic product growth is in decline
