Women laugh, cut, cook, stack fruit, chat,
Gossip, feed fires with kindling and charcoal,
Chop meat, caress greens, forget their troubles,
Remembering families far away near mountains and rivers
Under a sheltering sky.
I don't know and I don't care, said a laughing market woman,
Pouring batter into tin cups for baking
Confections and coconut balls above her fire.
Cool temps in wild west town.
Footprints in dust.
The sky is crying.
Goggle motorcycle man comes into town with a load of fresh greens.
Hmong girls sell on sidewalk.
We have everything we need.
We grow rice, ginger, beans, peanuts, peppers, bananas,
Squash, sugar cane, corn, papaya, cucumber and sweet potato.
Life is sweet.
We carry our abundant world in a wicker basket.
The more we learn, the less we know.
WEIRD: Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic
Once upon a story lived a tribe of kids. They laughed and played all day.
Poor ones collected cardboard and plastic water bottles along a red dirt road.
Kids with money went to school.
A blind man played his flute on the street. Memory answered as notes disppeared into the void.
A bird whistled. Poetic interpretation.
A man without hands, a landmine survivor, blind in one eye stood near a cafe. His one eye smiled, he nodded his head, thank you after a well dressed man gave him money.
The rich man smoked a cigarette as friends discussed new business opportunities. They invested drug and prostitution profits in new glass and brass tourist hotels.
We have to put the money somewhere, said the rich man.
Yeah, said another man, we can't put it where our mouth is.
You can say that again, said his friend, giving a beggar child old notes.
My name is Yeah Yeah and here's one of my favorite fairy tales.
Once upon a time I was in power since 1900. A century is nothing. I am not going anywhere. A black hole named Greed swallowed my country. Delicious. Burp.
Greed is good.
My buddies go to the bank in Land Rovers. Cruise control.
China is my best friend in the whole wide world. They've invested a cool $12 billion since 2002.
They know BIG profit when they see it, smell it, hear it, taste it, feel it and cash it.
Money in-money out is their mantra.
Here's some recent World Bank numbers to verify our stellar accomplishments.
1. Our economy expanded at an annual rate of 7.2% in 2012. Domestic consumption is up. Toilets are expensive and rare. Cell phones are cheap and plentiful.
2. Direct foreign investment last year was $1.5 billion.
2. Our per capita income is $946 a year. Thailand is $5,474 and Indonesia $3,557.
3. Less than 14% of my people, by the people and for the people are enrolled in tertiary education. Education wastes time and money.
4. 55% of our children under five are anaemic. I don't know what that means speaking of vigor or energy. I hope it's not contagious. If it is we need another hospital filled with empty rooms to impress foreign investors.
5. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies costs my country $146 million each year.
6. Malnutrition and poor health stunts the growth of 40% of our children.
It's a numbers game.
Robust growth is one thing. Inclusive growth is another.
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