Living in a supposed free economy we laude the efforts of people who take the initiative to build on their skills and expertise in order to succeed and thrive. This has been the corner stone of successful growth of the individual and the community, that when in sync only leads to a hand in hand success story. This of course changes when the hands of a few are in the till of the nation! 

Professionals of yore, were looked upon as the individuals who would utilize their specialties as stepping stones to making not only a prestigious and lucrative careers for themselves but also as a systematic step towards helping and enabling society as a whole. As the entrepreneurial spirit, which is one of the most wonderful of traits, becomes infused in amazing minds, the sky is the limit. Financiers, great thinkers, innovators and the impresarios of turning mud into millions, are always the standard bearers of the economic spirit that inspires future generations. Getting a solid education meant that one had a pathway in place, tried and tested that would lead to better things. 

Cut to Sri Lanka in ‘modern times’ where let alone getting a degree, a student cannot even make it to pre-school! The tragedy of this is magnified because we as a nation are recognized for high levels of education, and for some of the most hard working minds around. Well that would be the case if the minds could get to school. With many notorious personalities walking about town with their ‘bought and paid for’ degrees, doctors and proctors abound, but common sense and basic intelligence are sadly lacking. Could it be that the decision makers in our hallowed halls of power, who in the majority are sickeningly lacking any substance between their ears, make the laws of the land purely based on personal ‘gargantuan gains?’ I mean ‘gargantuan’ in the zeros of their multiple bank accounts rather than their obviously well insulated midsections! Do their decisions highlight the lack of any real knowledge on how to grow a successful economically sound nation? Looking east it is a refreshing contrast to see that in Singapore the ‘decision makers’ have multiple levels of education, where within our beautiful island getting a couple of O/L’s, if even that, is considered sufficient to be part of the decision making fraternity! 

As low as the bar is set locally, the standards seem to be sinking even lower. There were times when there was a need to show empathy and a ‘call to service’ in order to enter into the ‘service of the nation.’ There were those who hailing from families with generational wealth spent their own money to work on the uplifting of the nation. How many wonderful individuals in our recent history have donated ancestral homes and vast amounts of personal property for the building of educational facilities, specialized institutions etc.? A contrast from those we also know of who take lands and properties from the nation in order to build horrendous monoliths that perfectly encapsulate their pilfered gains. Homes that are built on the nation’s blood sweat and tears are highlighted at the preposterous parties they throw, where they compete with their guests to see who is more badly dressed. As they toast each other on how much they could and would be stealing from the communal coffers, the cameras simply flash and pop. 
After all what use is there in stealing from the people if it is not highlighted in the society pages and on social media? 

The avarice is palpable as those who have already hoarded immense amounts of coin, are still greedily scrambling to wheeler-dealer their way to more. More to take where? When one is slandered for being robbers worthy of the Wild Wild West, is there a point in falling prostrate at religious venues and begging the invisible beings for protection? When one has a guaranteed pathway to hell all the fake fawning would not make a difference. When the destitute and desperate nation resonates in its unimaginable suffering, that energy firmly powers the after life elevator of these greedy goons down to a fire-filled basement of eternity. Of course the perpetrators do not unfortunately have the basic knowledge needed to understand this, so they parade around happy in their roles as pilfering parasites! 

Could it also be that the ‘lack of’ in their previous ’ordinary citizen’ avatars make these individuals gleefully foam at the mouth when they do get the castles cars and concubines? Is it because in their lives these are ‘new’ and that in turn, subliminally powers them to take unabashed pleasure in greedily grabbing? Could it also be that their ‘new’ found positions gives them access to the fawning flies who make them feel better about themselves? Maybe being unimportant and insignificant in their past, makes it so much more exciting to be recognized in their present.

I am far from a ‘moralist’ and a firm believer in ‘to each his own’ but was it that long ago that a woman who was a concubine/mistress/woman-on-the side was expected to behave with some discretion? Obviously, these women have existed forever and are particularly drawn to ‘connected men.’ From European aristocracy to the Rajahs of India, men of means have had their share of ‘eager entertainers.’ These women made names and fortunes for themselves, but always knew their place in the larger scheme of things. Never did the mistress take it upon herself to imagine herself in the position of the wife. Now the ‘side entertainment,’ the ‘item girl’ imagines herself the ‘lead actress!’ Leaving aside the stomach turning behavior, when it is flaunted with pride as if this alone is an accomplishment, the structures of decency are shaken to its core. These ‘side saddles’ now attempt to take center-stage parading themselves as if their ‘horizontal achievements’ are something to be proud of. Love maybe deaf, dumb and blind, but let’s at least keep things in reality. 

On the flip side the powerful and financially benevolent men also flaunt their infidelities as a sad misconstrued badge of honor. What these Lotharios need to understand is that castles, cars and concubines are easily acquired when one is willing to spend the money. How about stripping away the accouterments of privilege, prestige and power, and seeing how many of these ‘frivolous fillies’ would be around. Now wouldn’t that be a refreshing reality check. In a completely unbiased view, I think that if anyone wants to have a wonderfully grandiose life more power to them. It is when they are living said life at the cost of the greater good, that I take affront. Wouldn’t it be lovely if, like the majority of us, the money spent was earned and their own? 

Trust funds and inheritance aside, one still should aspire to make something of one’s existence, and leave this world knowing that the tiny spec of time spent here, made a positive difference. Now more than ever we need truth, reflection and reality where every action taken is held to a standard of accountability, working towards success of not just the individual, but society at large, ensuring not just survival but a future steeped in hope.