A Very Old Game

So here we are. Since the evening of Friday 13th January 2012 Europe has been thrown into a new crisis. (I bet whoever picked that date for the announcement did it for effect)

9 countries credit ratings have been downgraded by S&P (Standard and Poor’s - A purposefully ominous name?- If I was reading this in a script it would come across too corny. I’d ask the writer to change it at this stage.)

Is it time for the collective to Panic and Freak out? 

Let’s back up a bit. This is all constructed and I’m not referring to conspiracy theories. I’m talking about the basis of our society. 

Our economy and the way it works is just an idea, a game, created by similar minds to the ones that brought you the hula-hoop, chewing gum, tetris, the army, the spaceship and the cat flap. 

The economy as we know it today was constructed by Adam Smith in 1776. He wrote a book called "The Wealth of Nations", which is considered his magnum opus and the first modern work of economics.  A few others pitched in with ideas but Adam Smith is the one that's known as the father of Economics. He was also often described as having a very large nose. 

There are no credit ratings decreed by God. If we started living in a different way all these ratings would mean nothing. 

The money you have in your bank account and in your pocket is your score. It’s what you win when you play, whatever the game you chose to play during your 9 to 5 may be. 

The less you do for bigger amounts the smarter you are and vice versa. This is how we measure achievement in our society.

We could stop playing! Take a moment to think what it would be like if we stopped playing and started a different game.

(Long pause for effect)

Are you smiling?

My instinct tells me that Life is not a series of tasks we have to complete. I have a strong feeling that we are here to enjoy ourselves. Everyone makes such a fuss about us when we’re born. Are they just delighted at the arrival of a future tax payer?  They talk about the joy the new arrival will bring.  New arrivals have such easy access to joy and very little concern about PAYE, free medical or dental. 

Anyway, this game we’re playing, it has very old rules made up by very old minds. It’s not working and I’m absolutely sure it’s time to change it. 

In fact I’m certain of it. I know the way you know about a good melon.