Time for some serious thoughts

I’m going to inflict my opinion on you now in an attempt to be polemical, and also to show you why I wouldn’t make a good columnist.

The question that I want to answer is what’s so great about our way of life in developed countries that makes me and countless other misguided do-gooders work so hard to make developing countries the same? Many would say that we’re all fat and unhappy. No-one seems too enamoured with the pressures of modern life and lots even go so far as to plot their ‘escape’, by moving to the countryside, emigrating, retiring somewhere quiet or killing themselves. Contrast this with, for example, rural Africa. It has such alluring innocence and charm. People live off the fat of the land, share with their neighbours, go to bed when it gets dark and let their children play with each other in a playground with no fences: the entire countryside. Doesn’t it seem to address so many of our complaints with the world? So why are we trying to change it?

There are two answers. The first answer is simple: it is going to change whether it we think it should or not. Materialism is infectious and it spreads everywhere. If you have nothing and others have lots then it is natural that you should want to join them. So, since the change is inevitable, let’s try to make it an equitable change.

The second answer is that the change is right and good. People try to escape ‘modern life’ without realising that the imprisonment must be in their mind, because they are politically and economically free. You can exercise your democratic rights through a wide variety of means and although it sometimes might not feel like you have any influence over the government, together with your fellow citizens, you are empowered to end their dominion.

You are also highly likely to be economically empowered. Even at the bottom end of our society, people have enough money to make basic choices in their patterns of consumption and enough for basic luxuries like a really big TV. Higher up, you really do have that option of ‘escape’ if you want it – retire to Spain, buy a Post Office in Scotland, or volunteer for a year in Africa.

Contrast these freedoms with our rural African community described earlier. You are likely to be stuck with a government who it is impossible to shift out of power and who therefore have no incentive to work in your best interests, yet you probably don’t realise you have the right to demand more. Furthermore, you might not even be on the first rung of the economic ladder where people use money for the exchange of goods – the land provides all your basic needs, provided there is no drought, flood or hungry thieves. Your life may have a charm and innocence that people who have more enviously marvel at, but you don’t have the external viewpoint that allows you to appreciate it in that way: you aren’t looking at it out of a car window, you’re living it.

Peasant life ended in Europe about three hundred years ago. It was probably also charming and innocent until you caught disease, got on the wrong side of your grumpy Lord or were inflicted with a thieving neighbour. I don’t think anyone would advocate a return to feudalism.

Working Hours

Long, tiring and brilliant.

Close Encounters of the African Kind

Put a pothole the size of Wales in front of the car, and a drunk driver behind it, and I’m sure you can work out the outcome: car snooker. A light tap from the pursuing cue ball nicely potted our Toyota.

Friendometer

As you can see, I have responded to Ben’s valid complaint of increasingly short actual entries followed by increasingly lengthy regular features. The customer is always right.

Competition time

Well done to Volunteer Jo for pointing out the erroneous information so far missed: the Nile is not the world's longest river. The rest of you should be ashamed of yourselves!

Ben 2

Julia 1

Nigel’s Dad 1

Uncle Simon 1

Nigel’s Gran 1

Brother David 1

Volunteer Jo 1