‘Repoblikan’ny Madagasikara’, AKA ‘Air Mad One’

The fact that the government felt a need to mobilize, and unleash such a formidable damage control team to justify, and put a positive spin on its controversial decision to purchase a presidential business jet is proof positive that the leadership knew fully well that they were on very shaky grounds with regards to this issue.
The spin doctors, however, did not do a very good job.
Their explanations, and their justifications were amateurish, and amounted to mere excuses, rather than sound reasons.
In their zealous effort to defend the decision, they ended up highlighting, and exposing its weaknesses.
Among other things, they included the cost of prior abuse in the profit and loss equation for the new fleet, as if it was an imputed gain, but they neglected to bring up the operating and upkeep costs of these high-maintenance fuel-guzzling jets, and the compensation package of a dedicated top-notch cockpit, and cabin crew.
Creative accounting, fuzzy math, smoke screen, or voodoo economics?
Take your pick!
I would say that they opened up a huge Pandora’s box which is sure to generate a lot more controversy.
And, when all was said and done, they probably did more harm than good.
Such decisions lead me to believe that the politicians do need to engage in a little soul-searching, to examine their conscience.
The question is whether or not they can find one.
While they are at it, I would also like to suggest that they have their head examined.
It might help!

Madagascar’s system of checks and balances does not appear to be doing well at all, and democracy itself is in serious jeopardy.
The new leaders do not appear to practice what they preach.
While their actions are not carried out quite as blatantly as those of the arrogant former regime’s, they seem to be engaged in a subtle, but insidious pattern of sugarcoated abusive practice which calls for acting first, and explaining later.
Each and every time, the nation is presented with a “fait accompli”.
This kind of conduct is not at all consistent with a democratic “government of the people, by the people, and for the people”.

Please don’t get me wrong!
I strongly believe that the President, and the Prime Minister should have an airplane at their disposal so that they can move about efficiently, and securely.
This is a legitimate government expense.
What I do object to is the way the decisions are rammed down the people’s throat, and what I do resent are the half-baked justifications which disregard the constitutional rights of the people, and insult their very intelligence.

The fact that Air Madagascar nearly went bankrupt because government officials abused their position of trust is hardly a reason for getting them their own fleet of business jets, instead.
What happens when these so-called public servants decide to abuse the new fleet, as they have done in the past?
You can be certain no one will ever be the wiser.
Who is going to stop them?
I am sure those overworked officials who, somewhat reluctantly, despite a ten-fold salary increase, are working around the clock, to get the country going again, would be more than delighted to have the fleet at their disposal.
After all, if the demands of their meeting schedules are daunting enough to disrupt air travel, surely a fleet of high speed business jets would go a long way to solve the problem…
Who in the world are they trying to fool with such a juvenile stunt?
Outside of the President, and the Prime Minister, I cannot think of any possible excuse for other government officials not to travel commercially.
Governments should be in one, and only one business, the governing business.
They should not be in the airline business, or any other business, for that matter.

I used to utterly despise the former leadership’s indecent disregard for their constituents’ rights when they arrogantly made us yield the right of way to the blaring siren of a luxurious Mercedes sedan, rushing an official’s wife and children to the airport, for a Paris shopping trip.
Now, I shudder at the very prospect of flying in a holding pattern while waiting for a group of jet-setting public servants, along with their entourage, to take off for the Riviera, Paris, or other exotic destinations, aboard “Air Mad One”.
Oh my!
How things have changed!

Do they realize, or even care how many kilometers of highways they can pave, how many schools, health clinics, and hospitals they can build, how many computers they can buy, how many business ventures they can help start, how many jobs they can create, and how many teachers they can hire with the multi-million dollar purchase price, and operating cost of an extraneous governmental fleet of business jets, just so that the officials can travel in comfort, without having to put up with the nearly impassable highways the lowlifes endure each and every day?
This is the twenty-first century.
Cost-conscious business men, and officials no longer travel to get things done.
They use their computers, and take advantage of modern wonders, like cellular phones, teleconferencing, telecommuting, and e-mails.

I wonder why our beloved new president, and his officials would, so soon, feel a certain need to distance themselves from their constituents, at this time.
Could it be that, now that they have apparently won them over, they no longer see the need to press the flesh, and mingle with the lowlifes who were naive enough to elect them?
Could it be that the legacy of rampant misery left by their predecessors is so overwhelming that they no longer want to deal with it, because it is much easier to look the other way?
Could it be that they want to forget the fact that close to 1,000 people died from the latest flu epidemic because they either did not have access to any kind of medical attention, or were so malnourished, and undernourished that their frail bodies just could not fend off the viral infection?
Could it be that they really do not want to build those superhighways which they promised would lead to prosperity?
Could it be that the education of our children is no longer high on their priority list?
Could it be that, like most politicians, when these officials are not kissing babies, they have this irresistible urge to steal their lollipops?
Could it be?…

No, it could not be so.
I refuse to believe that our maverick leader is just another old political wolf in sheep’s clothing.
I do not know whether or not he is honest, and whether or not he will keep his promises, but I want to believe that he is, and that he will.
I want to believe that he will not just discard his people as mere pawns in a political game of chess in which he no longer wishes to participate.
I want to believe that, unlike his predecessor, he will not use the presidency as a “bully pulpit” for dispensing evil deeds.
I want to believe that he will not carelessly squander the country’s precious opportunities, simply because no one will challenge, or stop him.
I want to believe that he will tirelessly reach out to his people, and address their many needs.
I want to believe that he will listen to the thundering silent plight of the innocent children, the hungry, the unemployed, the homeless, and the sick to whom he owes his power.