It's cool by the pool - right [COLUMN]

I'd like to believe I am a realist, and a humanist. If you're realistic, you can then start operating with all the information you need and go further on your journey than you otherwise might.

In this sense it is tough for me to have to report that the credit crisis really has fundamentally altered our way of life permanently. 2008 was a crucial year. In the same way that the years 1918, 1930 and 1945 will be remembered, so will 2008. 2008 represents the turning point, a sharp decline after the most prosperous period in human history, and also the most prosperous time there will ever be.

It is hard to believe or even acknowledge the ruptures that have taken place. After all, many of us still have jobs, earn a salary, and life pretends to be virtually the same, a few months later, in 2009.

So it's cool by the pool right? I am sad to say that this is an illusion. In a few more months reality will catch up even more and entire countries (yes nations) will begin to backslide and convulse and suffer from itchy rashes and irritations. More and more people will begin to struggle more and more.


It is not difficult to apply logic to this scenario and say that the following scenarios then become increasingly likely -

1) as the human population becomes increasing stressed worldwide, more people will be susceptible to infectious disease, and less and less able to afford to contain these diseases
2) as wealth evaporates, nations will begin to rub against other nations. In Europe we are seeing the quarrels over Russian supplied gas in winter lead to friction...because the agency country - Ukraine - can't pay its bills. This sort of behaviour may lead to war. Another tinderbox is the Iran - Israel - Gaza Trifecta.
3) The prevalence of crime - and civil strife - is likely to be unprecedented. This is particularly worrisome in a country like South Africa, where crime is already at unconscionable levels.

Right now more, more and more communities are going to need someone like Batman, as anarchy (simply unemployment and then crime) and chaos begins to infest suburbia.