Apr 02 2009
G20 Summit Leaves Us Where?
The leaders of the G20 summit met in London, and came to some sort of agreement that is going to save the world. A $1.1 trillion dollar stimulus package, tighter banking regulations, oversight on tax loopholes, and an international economic demise warning agency. This was all accomplished within just a few hours. The meeting did lend confidence to markets worldwide, and it is a positive move against protectionism and isolationism, but what purpose did it really serve? World leaders seem to act as a one-trick pony. Print more money, poor it into financial institutions, and discuss vague blanket regulations, that in the end will be nearly impossible to pass and enforce. There is no international legislative body that can pass financial laws. These twenty leaders are not financial experts, they are not ethical experts, and they certainly are not in touch with the people. They are political figure heads, posing for a historic photograph and then dining together on a meal fit for a queen.
Meanwhile, the four horseman of the apocalypse ( war, climate chaos, financial crimes, and homelessness) were marching with protesters outside on Wednesday. Smashing windows and clashing with police outside, they were a force of negativity, the necessary equal and opposite force to the calm chinking of wine glasses as leaders dined and exchanged pleasantries within. Many were arrested, anywhere from 30 to 90, and one man was found dead, reasons still unknown. Their chaos represents the frustration that people are feeling across the world. Having a meeting is just not enough. The reality we are in today has taken decades to develop, and will take a much more serious commitment to heal. Any positive move is a step in the right direction. But a ‘pretend’ positive move, only sends us all ten steps backward.
