Sunday, April 06, 2008

And the value of a million is grim

I have always been quite interested in the economics and I have been following the updates in Zimbabwe. Sadly, the situation has gone from worse to worser and I wonder how much the Africans are going to be helped by the world.

Today as we stand by it seems that it is very very easy to become a multi millionaire (atleast if you take the local money worth). Yes, it is sad that the economically depressed country's currency has gone so low that 25 million Zimbabwe dollars = 1 USD ! The official Zimbabwe inflation trebles in one month to 66,000 percent and to top it the cost of a chicken has risen more than 236,000 percent to 15 Million Zimbabwe dollars. How can someone ever EVER live in such situation.

Apparently, the government has not done much in the recent past and the US or other countries have not cried foul. Perhaps it is because they don't have oil there else Mr. President would have occupied Zimbabwe. That seems to be the war cry at this point of time though.
The currency on above was deemed useless because this was worthless on the second day of its issue. The inflation has climbed up to mystery proportion that it seems better that the civil war breaks up anytime now !

It is more interesting to see the news that with Zimbabwe dollars mostly available in bundles of 100,000 and 200,000 notes, one $100 note bought nearly 20 kilograms (40 pounds) of local notes at the new market rate Wednesday.

The above picture is for the cost of a beer !

To combat this situation the government has recently released a new 50-Million Zimbabwean dollar note in a desperate attempt to stabilize the flatering economy. Interestingly, CNN says, the new note is worth about 2 dollars (in the black market) and can buy 3 loaves of bread !
But the super stores are anxious about the present state that they remain empty all the time.

And if this was one side of the ruler who failed to understand that all countries in the past have dealt with the Inflation/Deflation and how to rule at that point of time, India is still in news for some other reason.

It is amazing to read the news that a person who drives Honda City is living below the poverty line ! The government is busy embezzling the money that it does not have any corporate governance in place which would keep track of everything, from an account perspective. They just let everything go and it is quite weird that we are still dealing with such situations. Just sums up how much difficult it is here to rule the country.

If only the people who rule the country are not short sighted(in both the countries!). I wonder how ever would we deal with an inflation situation if ever it became like Zimbabwe. The odds are less considering there are other countries around India which will not be able to survive. So perhaps, at that time the leaders might take a hint. But on a general note, the world is not a very comfortable place to live and how much the print on the paper - Money, rules us all...

It was for no reason, someone sang:

"Money makes the world go around,
the world go around, the world go around,
Money makes the world go around,
it makes the world go round.

A mark, a yen, a buck or a pound,
a buck or a pound, a buck or a pound,
Is all that makes the world go around,
that clinking clanking sound,
Can make the world go round.

If you happen to be rich, and you feel like a night's entertainment,
You can pay for a gay escapade.
If you happen to be rich, and alone and you need a companion,
You can ring ting-a-ling for the maid.
If you happen to be rich and you find you are left by your lover,
Tho you moan and you groan quite a lot,
You can take it on the chin,
call a cab and begin to recover on your fourteen carat yacht.

Money makes the world go around,
the world go around, the world go around,
Money makes the world go around,
of that we both are sure.
(Raspberry) On being poor.

When you haven't any coal in the stove and you freeze in the winter
And you curse to the wind at your fate.
When you haven't any shoes on your feet and your coat's thin as paper
And you look thirty pounds underweight,
When you go to get a word of advice from the fat little pastor,
he will tell you to love evermore.
But when hunger comes to rap, rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat, at the window
See how love flies out the door.

For money makes the world go around, the world go around,
the world go around.
Money makes the world go around,
the clinking, clanking sound
of Money, money, money, money,
Money, money, money, money,
Get a little, get a little,
Money, money, money, money,
Mark, a yen, a buck or a pound,
That clinking, clanking clunking sound
is all that makes the world go round,
It makes the world go round."

11 comments:

Kelvy said...

ohh my god..pheww, i can only thank the good lord that i am not living there...ya its a very sad situation and life is getting desperate for people there

The Pseudonym said...

Hey bro, here is my blog address http://atthealtar.blogspot.com and don't forget to register at http://www.indiblogger.in/ for the chennai bloggers meet. Cheers mate. Economics is a brain sprain topic bro. But we gotta think about what wealth can we create for the world and how do we go about doing it. Any thoughts on that...???

Still Searching said...

This looks like the same situation that happened in Germany... I didnt know about this, its a terrible thing to happen to a country...

Vik Rajagopalan said...

@Enigma:

Well,any country, that does not have the plan 2 in such adverse conditions don't deserve to live a good life.

The inflation situation was grim every where in the past. Germany and other European countries had to deal with it. And it is the stupid governance that has made the situation worse for Zimbabwe.

Vik Rajagopalan said...

@Pseudonym:

Dude, it is not about you create wealth for all. Perhaps that is how I think. If you have enough then make more (average human mentality), then what is it for you if you are dealing with stone faced idiots in top government positions, who have no idea what is happening.

That is exactly the situation in Zim. The rulers are still in haze. Guess they are doping Estacy !!!!!

Vik Rajagopalan said...

@SS:

Oh yea all countries have had their share. But they were smart to draw a plan to get the F out of the pit. The Zimbabweans are more like taking it easy - that is all I read of this news. An inflation which is 66000% high is just a sum up event.

Bombay Girl said...

Wow, I was totally unaware about this. Our economy did go through one such phase end of eighties or early nineties I think though it was nothing compared to this I'm sure. I was a child then but I remember having some tough times at home. But man the pic of the note and the cost of beer totally threw me. I can't imagine anyone living like that either .

Macadamia The Nut said...

It's scary to let a few clueless morons run, or rather ruin, the economy... even scarier to think that most of us prefer to turn a blind eye with an "it's not happening to me so I'm not bothered" attitude. Sigh!

Pointblank said...

Such a sad state of affairs! It wud be terrible living in conditions like these. And yea, no body has any economic interests in Zimb, and so nobody cares!

Hmmm... But I wud love to hold tat 50 million dollar note in my hand for a day. Even If it gets me only three loaves of bread!! Or can I get some butter ot cheese too???

Ok, when u say some one who drives Honda City, I hope u dont mean the 'driver' of a Honda City. How else would this happen? Where does this leave ppl like me who dont drive anything?!?! U better gimme an answer.. lol!


And those lines are soooo true! yeah, just print on paper, yet...

Pointblank said...

Oh! by the way! I just noticed u have been awarded many blogger awards! sweet and thinking blogger eh?? Nice! :)

The Pseudonym said...

HEy Gangsta Am Tagging you.Cut and Paste this link
http://atthealtar.blogspot.com/2008/04/this-is-my-first-tag.html

and See what Monkey Business you gotta do...