On the day that our greatest industrial benefactor, British Aerospace (BAE) announces it's sacked 3,000 skilled workers because the demand side seems to be drying up (possibly due to the falling off in their traditional customer base of fascistic murderous dictatorships), it's obvious that our economy needs to rebuild its manufacturing base around a different paradigm, and I'm pleased to announce that I have found the answer - self-perpetuating words!
I am not talking about the magnificent energies that are dedicated every minute to the generation of literature, constructive journalism, poetry and lyrics, or even blogs: all of these engender real outcomes, whether tangible, intellectual or, sometimes, emotional. I am talking about factories which produce and engender nothing but words which in turn produce and engender nothing but more words, until they end up with a miasma of self-perpetuating verbiage, like one of those fractal images that dissolve forever into themselves without anything new ever emerging.
you need to look at this to see what I mean
So, Think Tanks looks like our only growth industry. If this is so, let's encourage more of them, by whatever monetary, fiscal or nudge measures we can manage. Shall we start one? Nah, we probably don't need to. That list is a year old, and just today I noticed three new ones: 'The Council for the National Interest', 'The Human City Institute', and 'The Financial Inclusion Centre'. They should be able to sort it out between them.
Perhaps we could harness all the hot air for local green heating systems.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of ground based mobile weapon delivery systems I think tanks.
I believe I've witnessed the testing ground for such bodies. In my last place of work, we attended fortnightly meetings to discuss restructuring the department. This went on for over a year, and was swiftly followed by more meetings to examine ways of re-shaping that which we had restructured. Whoever said academia was boring?
ReplyDeleteRog - one word where six will do? You've missed the point.
ReplyDeleteMartin - welcome aboard. I remember those meetings vividly, in the field of banking IT. At first, I made the mistake of stating the obvious answer up front; but I soon learned the rules of the game.
My stepfather was a ship designer. Since he normally was obliged to design ships of war, of one sort or another, he was really happy when he had to design some superb fishing vessels. Then the bastards used it as a spy ship and the other bastards sank it, and he had to endure an enquiry and the truth didn't come out until years after his death. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FV_Gaul
ReplyDeleteYou see, dear heart, why I keep it sweet on my blog. This isn't even relevant, just reminded me. Sorry.
Z, I remember that story. It is relevant, because I was talking about inbreeding obfuscation, which is what I think you've given a good instance of. That never really got resolved, did it? It happens all over the place. "Nobody knows anything."
ReplyDeleteZ - I remember the 1983 BBC drama, Spyship, based on the fate of the Gaul.
ReplyDeleteThe facts have been fudged and covered up, it's over 35 years since it sank and I don't suppose it'll ever be all in the open.
ReplyDeleteThe only teensy weensy insignificant little detail of a problem I can see is:
ReplyDeleteWho's going to buy the Words?
What are Words worth?
Perhaps people will pay to read blogs?
Or how much would you pay to read "The challenges of new media for alcohol marketers" or "Responsible Drinking: Time For A Responsible Debate?" both published by Credos, the independently governed advertising think tank?
£4.50?
Wouldn't you rather have a glass of Merlot?