Why rules matter

I have just been reading the first part of a sobering story about the rise and fall of the Three Guptas in South Africa. A story about how corrupt and greedy businessmen can take over a state, can push aside the laws which apply to little people. Perhaps a story which will one day be packaged up as an object lesson in how not to do it for older school children and undergraduates around the world.

A take over which ultimately failed, with the Three Guptas fleeing to a bolt hole in the Gulf, a bolt hole from which they may now be extracted.

Maybe President Putin thinks he has cracked it, keeping the levers of power in his own hands and keeping a firm grip on said corrupt and greedy businessmen.

And in the wake of Trump and our own fat leader (now, I believe, retired to Chequers to savour his last moments of state assisted grandeur), the more immediate lesson is that rules matter and that the ruling classes must be seen to be sticking to them.

PS 1: I associate to the ease with which both the Russian and the Chinese leaders have pushed aside the rules limiting their grip on power. The Russian and Chinese elites not having learned the lessons from last time around. With the difference that, as far as I am aware, the Chinese leader does not go in for theft, palaces and conspicuous consumption. Power is what he craves. In a good cause, naturally.

PS 2: and I wonder whether our fat leader wishes that Chequers came decorated with Life Guards in full dress uniform, as snapped above, rather than the dull security details he does get. Not like many of his European counterparts, who do get the full treatment. Like, for example, Macron with his sword brandishing Republican Guards. I associate to the afternoon when I saw Gold Stick, complete with leopard skins and attendants, riding around the front of Buckingham Palace. An impressively low-ley bit of flummery.

References

Reference 1: How three brothers ‘captured’ a country: As South Africa’s inquiry into the Guptas draws to a close, we dive into the FT archives to chronicle their rise and fall - David Hindley, Financial Times - 2022. July 7th 2022.

Reference 2: Gupta empire crumbles in wake of Zuma’s departure: Indian-born brothers flee South Africa as businesses go into administration - Joseph Cotterill, Simeon Kerr, Financial Times - 2018. February 27th 2018.

Reference 3: Jacob Zuma, the Guptas and the selling of South Africa : How did one family manage to gain such extraordinary influence over a country and its politics? - David Pilling, Joseph Cotterill, Financial Times - 2017. November 30th 2017.

Reference 4: South Africa: The power of the family business: The Gupta brothers are the main target of for criticism that government is being influenced by big business - Andrew England, Financial Times - 2016. March 8th 2016.

Reference 5: http://pumpkinstrokemarrow.blogspot.com/2010/09/apocalyptic-musings.html. A previous outing for Gold Stick.