Ramblings of a Technology Addict

Tuesday, May 20, 2003

An email from far away.

I recently received this email from an adult member of a family I know in Zimbabwe, it's too powerful for words. All the bad news you may hear about Zimbabwe these days is unfortunately most likely to be true. We are all extremely saddened that the country is no longer the nice place we were proud to invite you to visit not so long ago - bad government is certainly a weapon of mass destruction. It is much more effective than nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. It is unbelievable how a country built up over a century can be destroyed in 36 or so months...
Because I am still on the payroll and we have the small farm and I travel in and out of the country we have not had to face the full force of the shortages of basic essentials and the hyperinflation now officially at 228% but more likely at 1000%. We used to read about these things happening in Latin America and post-war Germany but one has to live through this to appreciate it. Please do not let George Bush or any other of your Presidents to get America to such a situation. And the trick is to make sure the Government always obeys the law and does not spend more money than it raises in taxes. That is all that a Government needs to do. People can take care of themselves as long as the Government respects the law and lives within its means.
It is a deep shame that we let people like Mugabe ruin the lives of so many.
12:12:46 AM comment []