Medicine is based on the individual, economics is based on the masses and while the medicine in a big country is always relevant to us, not so the economic nostrums. We use the jargon, have the trappings – central bank, stock exchange, regulators, brokers and they work for a few, but we fail to tweak the economics even though it is not effective for 50 years. Our economy is a Ponzi scheme paying the oldest client at the expense of the latest and using hope to keep losers on the hook. The old economics by which people built civilisations on the back of the surpluses they produced is a better model for us. And so, Job #1 for Cabinet is food sufficiency: we must produce surplus to store and sell. A nation starts on its belly as without calories it cannot rise. Job # 2 is education: infant and primary schooling; and Job # 3 is for the Cabinet to facilitate and prime things so well fed and educated people can create jobs, care their bodies, build homes and have all areas of study open to them. The economics of ancient China, India and Egypt is more relevant to us than modern econometrics.

The battleground issues which 17- 49ers must proffer are not new. Sadly, the 1962 priorities are still priorities. None is settled. It’s a shame! Is this fate? Karma? Or “ah suh tings guh?” No! It’s political incompetence. What happened to states which did not get independence? British colonies as Cayman, the Turks and Virgin Islands are doing well! What of those who got Independence when we did? Barbados, most of Caricom and Singapore are also prosperous and safe. Our politicians underdeveloped us and we must wrest the country from them. So what are the 2012 issues for youth?

Party activists say Michael or Eddie “almost” made us prosper. But “almost” is zero. To “almost” catch a fish means you starve! Food, jobs, education, housing, health care are in crisis for 50 years and politicians added a new one – murders and security. Cabinet should now focus the budget on food and education until 2020; privatise some aspects of health care; change the law to incentivise private and pension money to invest in rental housing and jobs will flow. The JCF needs to decentralise operations, centralise services and the nation needs a new elite National Bureau of Investigations to assure full security. These are just basics.

A wise man said, “People always fight the last war”; that is, we use the old remedy to fix a new problem – we know no better. We can’t reprise what Lightbourne did for industry or Manley for our dignity, but our parties demonstrate no will to innovate. Brazil’s Workers Party Dilma succeeds Pres Lula; Social and Christian Democrat parties are in power in Europe and Latin America – all have clear ideals; ours have none. The PNP shuns its worker rights credentials; Busta didn’t form a party with a philosophy so the JLP’s default is a cliché about loving business. Our dilemma is, the PNP won’t live by its ideals, the JLP has none and both “play the whore” to catch voters. Let’s hope the new party uses a Christian Democrat brand and embraces the successful European version with a core of principles as Mexico and the DR did.

Cabinet’s agenda selfishly caters to ageing people like themselves – not youth. They don’t have young kids, don’t need a home, a job, to buy gas or take the bus. The youth agenda must empower the 17 to 49 age group and get the following things done:

* Publish current private and public sector vacancies and multi-year job projections so students can make informed choices about study and know there is a job at the end.

* Student loans must be divested to banks – use their money – and all accepted for study should be entitled to a loan. Cabinet must subsidise interest, moratorium, terms and be the final guarantor. Banks agreed to the JDX and they will do this for the business!

* Cabinet has no housing plans for youths. Where must the young worker, policeman, teacher or nurse live? They need quality studios and small flats, but Cabinet has no vision and won’t create a fair rental market to incentivise private investors. Why pressure a 23 year old to buy a house? They can’t save the deposit until near 40! Why should the nurse cotch with an abusive uncle? The

20-year-old constable in a ghetto room? Why can’t the 21-year-old teacher have privacy in her room? Young workers need to rent with dignity and decide later in life where they will buy. New flats and maisonettes would elicit new products and jobs eg small fridges, stoves ; bread and foods packaged for singles; new ranges of furniture and jobs as maids and launderers to serve young workers.

* Young adults are not animals and need community centres with a gym, internet, table tennis; do a course in poetry, drawing or Italian cooking after work and have a child care service to entertain the kids while the young parents relieve some stress.

* A quantum increase in opportunities for experiential learning through internships and attachments in all sectors and parishes so youth can earn and learn in tandem.

* Cabinet must ring-fence some projects as “labour intensive” jobs for skilled and unskilled youth. They will take longer but will provide income and fuel demand.

Obama

Obamaland is changing. The Democrats lost control of the House and the purse strings. Obama faces the most massive crisis of any president since the 1930s and having the Republicans share the accountability is not a bad thing. It may be his key to a second term. John Boehner, the new Speaker of the House, did not gloat. In his tearful speech he told us of his path through university doing menial jobs and it was moving in ways which “young, gifted and Harvard” was not. I hope they find “common ground”. Obama will have to dig deep. When faced with the same situation in the 90s, Clinton managed the compromises, trade-offs and this made him the statesman he is today. This is a great day for democracy and the American people! The rough path is the test. Let’s see what Obama is made of. Stay conscious!

Dr Franklin Johnston is an international project manager with Teape-Johnston Consultants currently on assignment in the UK. franklinjohnston@hotmail.com