Comments on: Budgeting with the gorillas http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/ebrahimkhalilhassen/2009/10/28/budgeting-with-the-gorillas-2/ Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:41:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ebrahim-Khalil http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/ebrahimkhalilhassen/2009/10/28/budgeting-with-the-gorillas-2/comment-page-1/#comment-99391 Ebrahim-Khalil Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:19:56 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/ebrahimkhalilhassen/2009/10/28/budgeting-with-the-gorillas-2/#comment-99391 <b>dithaba</b> i am watching this space. personally, i hope we just begin to start speaking about policy options and alternatives in a much more open and constructive manner. thanks for writing. dithaba i am watching this space. personally, i hope we just begin to start speaking about policy options and alternatives in a much more open and constructive manner. thanks for writing.

]]> By: Dithabana http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/ebrahimkhalilhassen/2009/10/28/budgeting-with-the-gorillas-2/comment-page-1/#comment-99309 Dithabana Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:30:36 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/ebrahimkhalilhassen/2009/10/28/budgeting-with-the-gorillas-2/#comment-99309 Ib Very interesting views there. I think you are right on the impact of the capital intensive corps. I think this tendency will hurt the leftist's muscle if not paralyse them. I work for the Treasury and I can tell you that I was one of the first to be "stunned and horrified" by our revenue collection comparing to our estimates. Our poor revenue collection and our desperate resort to borrowing will make a leftist look like a mad cow. Think about it, the leftist say "all should belong to the people" and I secretly like that but the reality confronts me with massive loss of employment, deepening productive capacity and corruption (we take it lightly, I know) which all leads to resources available for "the people" far less to cater for all. I am for the moderate if it means flexible macroeconomic policy. Taking in to account circumstances and applying prudent policy action for the benefit of all. There are no absolutes but I have seen that this "pro-poor" story has been wildly spread and acceptes without closer scruitiny. We, including the leftists were suprised by the global financial market crises and we comfortably blamed "the west". I am closely watching the trend of blame from the left. They will start blaming one another for being "too left" (SACP) or "not left enough" (COSATU). Watch the space. Ib

Very interesting views there.

I think you are right on the impact of the capital intensive corps. I think this tendency will hurt the leftist’s muscle if not paralyse them.

I work for the Treasury and I can tell you that I was one of the first to be “stunned and horrified” by our revenue collection comparing to our estimates. Our poor revenue collection and our desperate resort to borrowing will make a leftist look like a mad cow. Think about it, the leftist say “all should belong to the people” and I secretly like that but the reality confronts me with massive loss of employment, deepening productive capacity and corruption (we take it lightly, I know) which all leads to resources available for “the people” far less to cater for all.

I am for the moderate if it means flexible macroeconomic policy. Taking in to account circumstances and applying prudent policy action for the benefit of all.

There are no absolutes but I have seen that this “pro-poor” story has been wildly spread and acceptes without closer scruitiny. We, including the leftists were suprised by the global financial market crises and we comfortably blamed “the west”.

I am closely watching the trend of blame from the left. They will start blaming one another for being “too left” (SACP) or “not left enough” (COSATU).

Watch the space.

]]> By: Ebrahim-Khalil Hassen http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/ebrahimkhalilhassen/2009/10/28/budgeting-with-the-gorillas-2/comment-page-1/#comment-99192 Ebrahim-Khalil Hassen Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:43:29 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/ebrahimkhalilhassen/2009/10/28/budgeting-with-the-gorillas-2/#comment-99192 <b> MLH </b> Excelllent observations. The Cape Town BRT looks like a major disaster, and yes everyone that signed off on the project should be held accountable. On overcharging - Beginning to get this point. Have seen some prices for websites, policy research etc, that are so high, no one outside of government would pay that price. Personally I support Minister Gordhan ("PG") on cutting back in every area that is wasteful. It does raise some important issues for price setting and value for money. Something to think about. About Trevor Manuel - I was totally suprised that he would buy such an expensive car. It would be interesting if it was financed by ABSA, but as I understand it the cars are bought for cash. Thanks for writing. MLH Excelllent observations. The Cape Town BRT looks like a major disaster, and yes everyone that signed off on the project should be held accountable. On overcharging – Beginning to get this point. Have seen some prices for websites, policy research etc, that are so high, no one outside of government would pay that price. Personally I support Minister Gordhan (“PG”) on cutting back in every area that is wasteful. It does raise some important issues for price setting and value for money. Something to think about. About Trevor Manuel – I was totally suprised that he would buy such an expensive car. It would be interesting if it was financed by ABSA, but as I understand it the cars are bought for cash. Thanks for writing.

]]> By: Ebrahim-Khalil Hassen http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/ebrahimkhalilhassen/2009/10/28/budgeting-with-the-gorillas-2/comment-page-1/#comment-99164 Ebrahim-Khalil Hassen Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:30:44 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/ebrahimkhalilhassen/2009/10/28/budgeting-with-the-gorillas-2/#comment-99164 <b> Dithabana </b> Thanks for making my day, as it always great to know that readers follow this blog. I remember your input on the budget game, and thanks once again for reading. Looking forward to your insights on the mini budget. On extending the child support grant you were spot on. I need to check the ECD allocations again, but hopefully it has increased. <b> Julian </b> Thanks for the chuckle, and for once again ensuring accuracy on my writing. The opening few lines indicates that there are different usages to the idiom 'Xhundred-pound gorilla', including market dominance, but certainly not limited to that usage. Whatever the origins the term has evolved to have a couple of meanings, including a difficult situation that needs to be addressed as well as competition amongst policy actors. (By the way, I will be responding more fully to your useful correction on the Galileo in a previous blog, and some other issues that other commentators have raised. Have been fact checking a couple of things, and learned tons in this process). Thanks for reading and for the comments. Dithabana Thanks for making my day, as it always great to know that readers follow this blog. I remember your input on the budget game, and thanks once again for reading. Looking forward to your insights on the mini budget. On extending the child support grant you were spot on. I need to check the ECD allocations again, but hopefully it has increased.

Julian Thanks for the chuckle, and for once again ensuring accuracy on my writing. The opening few lines indicates that there are different usages to the idiom ‘Xhundred-pound gorilla’, including market dominance, but certainly not limited to that usage. Whatever the origins the term has evolved to have a couple of meanings, including a difficult situation that needs to be addressed as well as competition amongst policy actors. (By the way, I will be responding more fully to your useful correction on the Galileo in a previous blog, and some other issues that other commentators have raised. Have been fact checking a couple of things, and learned tons in this process). Thanks for reading and for the comments.

]]> By: MLH http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/ebrahimkhalilhassen/2009/10/28/budgeting-with-the-gorillas-2/comment-page-1/#comment-99160 MLH Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:22:37 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/ebrahimkhalilhassen/2009/10/28/budgeting-with-the-gorillas-2/#comment-99160 Points on government budgeting: Someone in CT is up for a disciplinary hearing because he/she added up incorrectly for their BRT system. How about every person senior to him/her who (supposedly) read his/her proposal and signed it, without checking the addition, also gets sent up for a disciplinary hearing? Next: I agree with PG that government is hopelessly overcharged for most goods. (And if you think that the lowest quote wins tenders, you are far out of the loop.) The fact is, if you don't know the going rate of anything you are expected to manage/oversee, you are NOT doing your job properly! Lastly, everything in Government is a collective responsibility. Even fraud. Especially corruption! And now that dear Trevor has seen the error of his ways, would it not be reasonable to expect him to buy the big car back in his personal capacity and use his own vehicle for his tenure. (I wondered whether it is financed by Wesbank or through Absa...) Points on government budgeting:
Someone in CT is up for a disciplinary hearing because he/she added up incorrectly for their BRT system. How about every person senior to him/her who (supposedly) read his/her proposal and signed it, without checking the addition, also gets sent up for a disciplinary hearing?
Next: I agree with PG that government is hopelessly overcharged for most goods. (And if you think that the lowest quote wins tenders, you are far out of the loop.) The fact is, if you don’t know the going rate of anything you are expected to manage/oversee, you are NOT doing your job properly!
Lastly, everything in Government is a collective responsibility. Even fraud. Especially corruption! And now that dear Trevor has seen the error of his ways, would it not be reasonable to expect him to buy the big car back in his personal capacity and use his own vehicle for his tenure. (I wondered whether it is financed by Wesbank or through Absa…)

]]> By: Dithabana http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/ebrahimkhalilhassen/2009/10/28/budgeting-with-the-gorillas-2/comment-page-1/#comment-99112 Dithabana Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:43:55 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/ebrahimkhalilhassen/2009/10/28/budgeting-with-the-gorillas-2/#comment-99112 Ib The budget is always interesting at least in some way. Last year January you got us in to your "budget game" and remember that I prioritized ECD and extending child support to 18? Look what is happening now and give me a Nobel in priority setting. I will come back with a comprehensive summary of my feeling about our MTBPS shortly. Ib
The budget is always interesting at least in some way.

Last year January you got us in to your “budget game” and remember that I prioritized ECD and extending child support to 18?

Look what is happening now and give me a Nobel in priority setting.

I will come back with a comprehensive summary of my feeling about our MTBPS shortly.

]]> By: Julian Frost http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/ebrahimkhalilhassen/2009/10/28/budgeting-with-the-gorillas-2/comment-page-1/#comment-99071 Julian Frost Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:36:57 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/ebrahimkhalilhassen/2009/10/28/budgeting-with-the-gorillas-2/#comment-99071 The phrase 'Xhundred-pound Gorilla" is from a joke: When a 400-pound Gorilla goes to the cinema where does he sit? Anywhere he wants to! Xhundred-pound Gorilla is used to refer to companies large enough to dictate to the market. The phrase ‘Xhundred-pound Gorilla” is from a joke: When a 400-pound Gorilla goes to the cinema where does he sit? Anywhere he wants to! Xhundred-pound Gorilla is used to refer to companies large enough to dictate to the market.

]]> By: Twitter Trackbacks for Thought Leader » Ebrahim-Khalil Hassen » Budgeting with the gorillas [thoughtleader.co.za] on Topsy.com http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/ebrahimkhalilhassen/2009/10/28/budgeting-with-the-gorillas-2/comment-page-1/#comment-99056 Twitter Trackbacks for Thought Leader » Ebrahim-Khalil Hassen » Budgeting with the gorillas [thoughtleader.co.za] on Topsy.com Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:46:17 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/ebrahimkhalilhassen/2009/10/28/budgeting-with-the-gorillas-2/#comment-99056 [...] Thought Leader » Ebrahim-Khalil Hassen » Budgeting with the gorillas www.thoughtleader.co.za/ebrahimkhalilhassen/2009/10/28/budgeting-with-the-gorillas-2 – view page – cached There is some confusion over whether the idiom should be a “600-pound gorilla” or the much larger “800-pound” creature. The usage also differs with some using it as a form of praise for... (Read more)There is some confusion over whether the idiom should be a “600-pound gorilla” or the much larger “800-pound” creature. The usage also differs with some using it as a form of praise for companies that have dominant positions in markets, and others using the idiom to describe a difficult situation, which is not being addressed. (Read less) — From the page [...] [...] Thought Leader » Ebrahim-Khalil Hassen » Budgeting with the gorillas http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/ebrahimkhalilhassen/2009/10/28/budgeting-with-the-gorillas-2 – view page – cached There is some confusion over whether the idiom should be a “600-pound gorilla” or the much larger “800-pound” creature. The usage also differs with some using it as a form of praise for… (Read more)There is some confusion over whether the idiom should be a “600-pound gorilla” or the much larger “800-pound” creature. The usage also differs with some using it as a form of praise for companies that have dominant positions in markets, and others using the idiom to describe a difficult situation, which is not being addressed. (Read less) — From the page [...]

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