cheating ourselves

I listened to Background Briefing this morning, as is my habit on a Sunday. Today's episode followed a doctor and his wife who took some deperately needed medical supplies and childrens' clothes to Afganistan. The most awful part for me was where they described how after the war many of the most vicious warlords are being supported by the West (most notably the USA). Many women were elected to government, and the Taliban and the warlords responded by issuing death warrants. One woman stood up in government there and called the warlords a bunch of murderers and told them they should all be in jail. How did these thugs respond? With yells of "Rape her!"

Parts of the world that deny half their population the chance to be productive members of society are doomed to slide backwards. It just makes simple sense. It is a matter of making best use of the greatest resource we have: humans.

But don't nod wisely and think this just applies to the islamic world. We are major offenders here too. In spite of decades -- centuries -- of trying here in the West, women still don't get equal pay for equal work nor equal opportunity.

And talking about ignoring resources, we are currently involved in a filthy, absurd, counterproductive campaign. We have a way to multiply wealth and knowledge easily, at virtually no cost, without limit, yet instead of welcoming and maximising use of this revolutionary technology we have outlawed it and fine children thousands of dollars if they use it. It is, of course, file sharing.

Yes, it is not only the islamic world that is governed by unprincipled morons.