This past weekend, the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, called a general election, obviously seeking a reaffirmation of the mandate he obtained two years ago for his radical new economic plan, popularly referred to as “Abenomics”. There can only be one strategic purpose behind a snap election in these circumstances, and that is to get the support of the populace before the substantial majority you enjoyed last time, whittles away altogether. Such of the aspects of his plan as he was able to implement in the face of stern traditional opposition, gave the Japanese economy a brief shot in the arm, but that has frizzled away, and once again the Japs are in a stalemate. While an economic malaise is not uncommon in the world today, their economy has been stagnant for more than two decades now, and you wonder what it will take to shake up what was not so long ago one of the world’s major engine rooms. Let’s not forget where Japan and Germany came from in the wake of the Second World War; it’s a fact that through sheer industry, ingenuity and abundant energy, they damn nearly took over the economic world without so much as firing a shot.

Our economy too, is in a state of cardiac arrest, prompted it seems by political jostling and the constraints of an unwieldy alliance, earnings inequality, high unemployment, and debt-laden consumers, prolonged strike action and tight labour legislation. International investors have a choice as to where they put their money, and right now, we’re not at the top of too many bucket lists. That said, we’ve set ourselves some lofty standards over the years, and through a free and critical media, we’re quite tough in our own judgment and tend to write our own bad press. Somehow, both our political and business leaders have to find one another to turn this around, and convince the world that the “rainbow nation”, for both its achievements and its warts, is intent on taking this story to another level.