Earl Warren:
“I hate banks.
They do nothing positive for anybody except take care of themselves.
They’re first in with their fees and first out when there’s trouble.”

For all the many complaints and opinions about the Recession in Knysna, it’s disappointing that few people actually know how and why it happened.

Knowing why so many Knysna businesses have gone under (or being replaced by national franchises) should be something that we not only seek but also have taught to us by our local government. As they’ve repeatedly proven, the Knysna Municipality, (DA, COPE and ANC councillors) feels no obligation to the public it’s suppose to serve unless it’s to repeatedly present the misguided notion of pretending that problems don’t exist so as not to damage our all-important, yet lessening, tourist industry.  If you don’t acknowledge the problem, you cannot fix it!

As much as they are at fault, we, as the public, are far more at fault if we do not investigate for ourselves. Knowing why we are in the shit is one of the most important things we can do. We not only have a responsibility to our friends, families and self but also to one another. You and i are interlinked. If we don’t change things, we will fall together.

As a precursor to the bigger picture, i composed a small story to ram home just how stupid and abusive the current financial system (that rules our lives) is. I ask you to think, share and alter the limited mindset you’ve accepted those before us as well as the current crop of banks, insurance companies and corrupt politicians (especially if they’re South African). Read it at www.knysnakeep.org/banks-have-failed.

MOST POPULAR BLOGS OF 2011
Discover which topics and people gained the most interest on this blog – www.knysnakeep.org/most-popular-blogs-of-2011.

STREET LIFE OF A DRUG ADDICT
As my regular readers will know, i’m deeply concerned and frustrated that Knysna Municipality is not prepared to tackles the dilemma of drugs head on. Mayor Georlene Wolmarans and Deputy Mayor Michelle Wasserman do not even talk about it publicly. It is eating up our beautiful town and spitting it out through crime. CRIME IS MASSIVELY on the increase. If any official report contradicts then it is a lie. This past weekend, my neighbours got robbed for the 7th time (i’ll write more about that and others soon) – full article at www.knysnakeep.org/street-life-of-a-drug-addict.

WHY SHOULD TOURISTS VISIT KNYSNA?
I’ve got much appreciation for Martin Hatchuel’s writings. In this article he asks sobering questions about local tourism attractions in the context of the Recession. Our local economy is greatly defined by incoming tourists and most will agree that 2011 was a shocking year for Knysna. I wholeheartedly agree with Martin, as i’ve stated before, that we have to aim with new approaches – full article at www.knysnakeep.org/why-should-tourists-visit-knysna.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PLETT DA
The fight for the Garden Route, between the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the African National Congress (ANC), is an uninspiring mess. The 2011 municipal elections resulted in the DA winning Knysna and Bitou (Plettenberg Bay). I, like others, had hoped that the DA would fulfill their election promises for truth, transparency and the rooting out of so-called corruption. Instead, to my dismay, the DA has run dictatorially from behind closed doors, occasionally stepping outside for a lie. Yes, that’s a strong statement but if you’re willing to put aside party politics and racial affiliations (the true destroyer of truth e.g. White/DA is good, Black/ANC is good), and investigate before having an opinion, its plain (and disturbing) to see. I have written much about it here at The KEEP. Today, we return to the quagmire of DA hypocrisy in Plett. The local ANC is not an “innocent virgin” but they have received an extremely unfair portrayal in bias, national media. The lies and interference from a provincial level makes what has been happening in Plett very worrying for the entire Garden Route. If anything, it suggests that politics = bad and that the public have no say whilst our “leaders” fight for power instead of us – full article at www.knysnakeep.org/the-other-face-of-the-plett-da.

On this blog and to many people, i’ve said that all Knysna’s “leaders” had to do was tire me out as fighting produces no income, only obstacles. Almost a year later, that’s true as finding food and rent has become damn difficult and for quite a while i’ve wondered when my life will fall apart. Much worse than that is that i’ve only met complainers not doers as well as people wanting help under the disguise of charity. The sheer apathy of Knysna’s citizens, including those i care about, is overwhelmingly depressing. There will be price to pay as life gets harder. The world’s economic woes, and subsequent fallout on us, will continue. With economics, drugs and corrupt politicians unchallenged, crime will only increase. Every crime seeks victims. And victims will be the citizens of Knysna.

Wicked Mike