Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Enlightened self-interest - Is it common in Papua New Guinea?


Self -interest may work far well in other countries but in Papua New Guinea, it's adding a lot of burden to the people of this biggest nation in the Pacific. When people in leadership positions who were bestowed with power and swore to serve the people keep their roots deep in serving themselves, we have a huge problem on our hands. This is pure selfishness!

Selfishness denotes the precedence given in thought or deed to the self, i.e., self interest or self concern. It is the act of placing one's own needs or desires above the needs or desires of others. Selfishness is the opposite of altruism (selflessness).

Sani Rambi, for example; the member for Mul/Baiyer Open and National Security Minister who owns the Mountain Hire Cars have the government hire his cars for police operations. What kind of deal is that? Is it a conflict of interest situation in here? Who's interest is the good MP serving? Why let other Papua New Guineans have the contract with the police?

Enlightened self-interest is a philosophy in ethics which states that persons who act to further the interests of others (or the interests of the group or groups to which they belong), ultimately serve their own self-interest. How many Speiks hold higher positions in the government? How many Papuans holding the same positions? How many people are selected on merit? Did they apply through the proper application process? Is there a balance between people representing the four regions of Papua New Guinea? I doubt it!

As we speak, all of these people act according to their own myopic selfishness, that we suffer loss as a result of conflict, decreased efficiency because of lack of cooperation, and the increased expenses each of us pay for the protection of our own interests. When a typical individual in such a group is selected at random, it is not likely that this person will profit from such a group ethic.

Some of these individuals and public figures might profit, in a material sense, from a philosophy of greed, but we believe that by proponents of enlightened self-interest that these individuals constitute a small minority and that the large majority of Papua New Guineans living in the villages can expect to experience a net personal loss from a philosophy of simple unenlightened selfishness.

Ultimately, it is our wish and from the bottom of the heart of the voiceless that individuals, groups, or even commercial entities will "do well by doing good" and write a new chapter for Papua New Guinea. When you put others interests first behind yours, you not only change the cause of Papua New Guinea but leave lasting memories and your legacy will linger in the hearts and minds of ordinary Papua New Guineans.

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