The idea that marriage is purely a formal, public pledge of love, devotion and commitment is to misunderstand the historical and genealogical purpose of this ceremonial bond. We should abandon any romantic notions we might have, and, instead, recognise marriage for what it really is - a managerial, controlling practice. In our early existence, male … Continue reading Marriage – For Better or Worse
There are some people that you just know they have a story to tell. That aged, weathered face; those wistful, twinkling, perhaps distant eyes; those contemplative moments which suggest that they have had another life; the row of medals that they so proudly wear – they all indicate that there’s a story to be told. … Continue reading A Story to Tell…
There’s an old adage that says you should not throw good money after bad. Does that apply to people as well? If there are people who do not contribute anything to society, if they demand a continuous and insatiable amount of resources, if they show no prospects or ambitions to improve their lives, then should … Continue reading Society Takes Care of its Own
Could somebody please explain to me how the justice system works? I just don’t get it. It seems that we have become too tolerant of crime and too accepting of it. Crimes go unsolved and unpunished. Unsocial behaviour is frowned upon but largely brushed aside. It seems that we have become too fixated with trying … Continue reading Justice for Society’s Sake
I have a rather unusual financial guardian. It protects me from misusing, abusing or over-using my credit card. It operates as an effective form of credit control, constraining my spending. As such, it ensures I live within my means, that I don’t run up debts, that I only purchase things if I have the money … Continue reading My Credit Card Pain
On its back with its feet in the air, a wood louse was stranded in the middle of my patio. Defenceless and in the open, its future looked bleak. Gallantly, I came to the rescue. I turned it over. But, more than that, I moved it to a less exposed part of the garden where … Continue reading Interfering with Nature
If a protestor throws a petrol bomb at a line of police officers, why don’t they shoot him? Would that be considered as an over-reaction? Too harsh perhaps? And yet the protestor knows what he’s doing. His intention is to cause harm and injury, if not to kill. Why should the police be expected to … Continue reading Public Policing – A Lesson in Restraint
You have a misbehaving child, prone to tantrums and disagreeability. You don’t seem to be able to get him to do as he is told. It’s always a battle to get him to do what you want. Who do you turn to for help and advice? Teachers, behavioural scientists, parental coaches, grandparents, psychologists, medical professionals … Continue reading Sales Training for Parents
Whenever I see broadcasts on the news of an inter-governmental conference; whenever I see images of enormous government buildings; whenever I see reports of committee meetings or public enquiries I cringe and wince. Looking beyond the headline, I see an army of politicians, officials and bureaucrats busying themselves and yet, I wonder, what are they … Continue reading Governance Gets Too Much
The greatest threat to humanity is not nuclear obliteration, environmental catastrophe, meteor strike or a contagious virus. The greatest threat to our survival comes from ourselves and our relentless drive to develop and progress the world we live in. Generally, we perceive progress to be good for us. It means that we live longer, that … Continue reading Humanity’s Evolutionary Downfall
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