Lebanon Opportunities
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Monsters and demons
F
acing what seems like interminable, terminal self-inflicted socioeconomic disorders,
and perhaps for the sake of innovation, or to just fight the dullness of summer,
those in charge of our politics and economy are distracting themselves, and the
nation, with badly imagined, imaginary demons. Some through maliciousness, others
unconsciously, those at the nation’s levers of power are distracting us with sideshows.THE MONSTER INSIDE
For the past 15 years, the increase in power and suppressive behavior of an ayatollah-
obedient, yellow-ribboned, warring organization, has led to them dominating the
country. Not just physically. Its influence on our culture, political structure, and
economy has been devastating. Omnipotence over one of the largest communities in the
country, with drastic, societal face-changing effects, Le Hezb has spread its tentacles
inside all the other communities, including those groups with secular tendencies. This
is the big elephant in the room that most pretend that they do not see. What do they see
instead? Corruption, contraband, inefficiency, electricity cuts, garbage, non-Lebanese
refugee workers, Mashrou3 Leila, etc. The list of distractions keeps growing. In reality
our country is still under threat from our enemy in the South, outcast by Gulf countries
as plagued by yellow fever, under close watch – we even suffer from some indirect
sanctions, from the international community (especially the United States). While
everyone wants to fight corruption, no one will point the finger at the corrupter-in-chief.THE MONSTER WITHIN
We are a country proud of having co-authored the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. Maybe we should withdraw... The vilification of Syrian and Palestinian refugees
and the absurd way we view their plight are contrary to basic decency, and also make
no economic sense. They are being used as a scapegoat in service of many agendas. One
minor benefit is that it justifies the failures of the ruling class to protect and grow the
economy. Somehow, it is now these refugees that cause our non-competitiveness. But the
major motivation in vilifying the refugees is to create yet another demon to focus our
anger on – and help our eyes avoid the...big elephant. In economic terms, the refugees
(whose numbers are less than half of what is being declared), present a net economic
added value. Every refugee employed – legally or not – is a contributor to economic
added value, and has a multiplier effect that boosts the employability of all others,
especially Lebanese citizens. This is the case all over the world. Instead of pushing
out non-Lebanese workers to the benefit of locals (who cannot be found to replace the
foreigners), we should strive to expand the job market to the benefit of all. It is truly
idiotic to waste the opportunity of having a ready, willing, and able workforce.THE ECONOMIC MONSTER
All through the debate around the budget, which will surely continue throughout the
discussions around the upcoming 2020 version, efforts were focused on cutting expenses
in order to embellish the deficit to GDP ratio. Cutting expenses in such a random and
arbitrary fashion will lead to a greater reduction in revenues. It is recessionary. But
regrettably, no one in this government understands recession. Le Hezb, based on its
Iranian-patron’s great economic success story, now also wants to have a say in economic
matters! Instead of cutting expenses (we say they should be increased!), all efforts
should be placed on growing the economy (i.e. GDP). Any other effort is futile and
counter-productive. To grow the economy, one must grow the private sector and reduce
the productive duties of the State, such as operating utilities, health and educational
facilities, tobacco production, and other such matters. The private sector has much brain
and muscle. But it has no voice.EDITORIAL
by the editor-in-chief
LEBANON OPPORTUNITIES, AUGUST 2019 1