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In 1922 Lenin charmed the Politburo, after some criticisms from his colleagues that his reforms were selling out the socialist ideal.
In this speech he referred to the so-called commanding heights of the economy (the big industries) and assured them that they still have control of these.
Throughout the decades, and even in South Africa, this reference to the commanding heights became almost synonymous with the socialist and populist project. I think I have even heard Malema on occasion referring to the need to get control of the “heights”.
If one looks at the old Nationalist Party under Verwoerd, Vorster and even Botha (whether you agreed with them or not), you have to admit that a large part of the economy at the time had socialist characteristics. In fact, one can argue that many of the big industries (the commanding heights) in South Africa were created in this era. The ISCOR’s, Suid Afrikaanse Lugdiens, Spoorwee, Poskantoor, Telkom, Sasol were all established at the time.
And although they mainly (and unjustly) served and benefited a small portion of the population, they were run efficiently by the leaders of those industries. The record shows that they realised control did not only mean ownership, but it included effectiveness and efficiency and for that, you needed skills and astute leadership.
It is exactly here where the current socialist project comes unstuck. The “heights” controlled by the government (partially or wholly) are falling apart and it is becoming clear (at least in the opinion of this author) that the key role players are not even remotely qualified to lead and control the “heights” of the economy.
In terms of this, the postal services is but one example (Eskom, SAA and the list goes on). Add to this the implosion of our basic services like government health, water security, together with a total disregard of our Constitution (by our own executive). This provides the basis for slow, low level political, executive and institutional anarchy. And somehow, the governing party does not want to acknowledge this.
Most concerning though, is that, in true Stalinist form, the governing party’s still exercise “Samokritika”; secret, closed system self-reflection and criticism with little or no room for outside influence or ideas (these are mostly regarded as counter revolutionary).
Maybe a more successful approach would be based on the idea that Einstein problems can never be solved at the level which they were created.
