When reach exceeds grasp
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Mahmudur Rahman
"A man's reach should exceed his grasp Or what's a heaven for" - Robert Browning The bard was making a point in question but as with any other words of wisdom, the context provides the relevance. The Greek government floating on a generous dose of European Union (EU) bail-out medicine now appear to have problems beyond their grasp and it isn't the heavens that are beckoning; it is bankruptcy of a second degree. Following the Spanish, they are now yelling blue murder as their efforts to restructure their economy comes under a renewed shadow that provokes the EU to suggest another infusion of funds. The Greeks say they should be allowed to do their jobs amid the fears that it might leave the Euro, a suggestion they have denied out right. But with Ireland, Portugal and now Greece thrown a life-buoy it now looks as if whatever happened wasn't enough and more is required. Of the 28-odd Euro zone members, three are down no-return creek and a few more looking nervously once at their finances and again at availability of funds. With Germany being as strong as it is, funds probably are available. Whether they would like to finance others' incompetence is another question altogether, especially when it devalues the politics of the ruling party under Angela Merkel. The odd-man out in the Euro zone by its effective seclusion from it, the UK is having more and more people asking why their government has to foot an impressive bill every month to fund a secretariat that has bloated out of proportion. They've never joined up fully but have jumped on the economic band-wagon so to say. Their borders are welcoming of unemployed euro citizens who provide services at rates cheaper than the Brits can and politics is well served by having representation on the euro parliament. As a contrast, the SAARC meanders on in a pace that can hardly be described as such whereas the population, markets and resources suggest that effective networking could and should rise above the distrust for a major economic zone to be created that others would have to take note of. The Euro zone countries have managed at least to sweep their hostilities under the carpet but there doesn't seem any intent with the two major parties in the sub-continent to do anything likewise. It is now clear that need more than anything else will drive cooperation rising above the mistrust and that in turn will mean implementation first rather than strategy or policy. Taking a leaf out of Europe, India probably needs to play the more sober role akin to Germany if mutually beneficial trade regimes are to finally come in to effect. (The writer can be reached at mahmudrahman@gmail.com)
"A man's reach should exceed his grasp Or what's a heaven for" - Robert Browning The bard was making a point in question but as with any other words of wisdom, the context provides the relevance. The Greek government floating on a generous dose of European Union (EU) bail-out medicine now appear to have problems beyond their grasp and it isn't the heavens that are beckoning; it is bankruptcy of a second degree. Following the Spanish, they are now yelling blue murder as their efforts to restructure their economy comes under a renewed shadow that provokes the EU to suggest another infusion of funds. The Greeks say they should be allowed to do their jobs amid the fears that it might leave the Euro, a suggestion they have denied out right. But with Ireland, Portugal and now Greece thrown a life-buoy it now looks as if whatever happened wasn't enough and more is required. Of the 28-odd Euro zone members, three are down no-return creek and a few more looking nervously once at their finances and again at availability of funds. With Germany being as strong as it is, funds probably are available. Whether they would like to finance others' incompetence is another question altogether, especially when it devalues the politics of the ruling party under Angela Merkel. The odd-man out in the Euro zone by its effective seclusion from it, the UK is having more and more people asking why their government has to foot an impressive bill every month to fund a secretariat that has bloated out of proportion. They've never joined up fully but have jumped on the economic band-wagon so to say. Their borders are welcoming of unemployed euro citizens who provide services at rates cheaper than the Brits can and politics is well served by having representation on the euro parliament. As a contrast, the SAARC meanders on in a pace that can hardly be described as such whereas the population, markets and resources suggest that effective networking could and should rise above the distrust for a major economic zone to be created that others would have to take note of. The Euro zone countries have managed at least to sweep their hostilities under the carpet but there doesn't seem any intent with the two major parties in the sub-continent to do anything likewise. It is now clear that need more than anything else will drive cooperation rising above the mistrust and that in turn will mean implementation first rather than strategy or policy. Taking a leaf out of Europe, India probably needs to play the more sober role akin to Germany if mutually beneficial trade regimes are to finally come in to effect. (The writer can be reached at mahmudrahman@gmail.com)