It is a given that over time our feelings and opinions about people, places and things will change.
A lot of that sentiment determines the prosperity and ‘trustworthiness’ of countries of the world.
Growing up, my world view of the USA was based on mainstream news oulets, Hollywood, documentaries and second hand information from people who had toured.
Are you aware that at one stage in the early 1970’s it was cheaper to fly to the USA from South Africa and holiday there than to take a Sho’t Left here? Or that our Rand was much much stronger than the dollar – mainly due to IMF policies and the ‘Golden Connection’*.
Before 9/11 my view towards the USA was one of the country being a benevolent superpower – kinda like your favourite rich uncle who would take you fishing, sailing, share knowledge with you, bump you a couple of bucks and generally be the all round nice guy that you aspired to being.
But, today, my sentiment towards the USA has changed drastically:
The playing field has been revealed – Republicans and Democrats have openly fought in full view of the world.
The Republicans are increasingly being seen (portrayed) as rabid right wing elitist nationalists with a liberal sprinkling of xenophobia, racism and aggressive behaviours coming to the fore.
The Democrats are increasingly being seen (portrayed) as limp wristed lefties hell bent on destroying the American way of life and allowing immigrants to destroy the ‘American Way of Life’.
Now you may be wondering why I think that sentiment towards another person, place or thing actually matters?
And it all falls down to one word – SENTIMENT
If you feel comfortable and have a positive view over a person, place or thing then you are more likely to recommend that place, want to tour that place, want to invest in that place or want to move to that place.
I suppose the next question to explore is just what sentiment are our Farming Refugees identifying strongly enough with in order to give up their entire lives in South Africa to move to the USA for a fresh new start?
* The “Golden” Connection
In the 1960s, gold was officially priced at $35 per ounce. Since South Africa was the world’s largest producer, the Rand was effectively “as good as gold.” It was only when the US abandoned the gold standard in 1971 (the “Nixon Shock”) that the era of extreme stability ended and the fluctuations you saw in the 1970s began.
In the decade 1961 to 1970 the Rand closing Rate (R per $1) was extremely stable for every year at 0.71 – giving South Africans more Dollars for their Rand. While the rate was stable, the 1960s saw the beginning of South Africa’s international isolation following the Sharpeville Massacre (1960). However, the massive expansion of gold mining in the Witwatersrand kept the country’s reserves so high that the currency’s external value remained unchallenged.
In the decade 1971 to 1980 we saw some wobbly instability with the exchange rate varying between 0.67 (1973) and 0.87 (1977).
