Comment: Let's NOT make poverty history

It seems that everywhere I look these days, I see the same high media appeal slogan - "Make Poverty History."

I have a new, if somewhat less eye catching slogan. "Let's Not Make Poverty History."

For one thing, history has a habit of repeating itself. As we never seem to learn from history I am not sure that we want to take that chance. In any case, if we do make poverty history, in 30 years time some obscure academic wanting to flog his latest book, will claim that poverty never existed.

I have a few ideas to replace, "Make poverty history" though none of them are as eye catching or as easy on the ears. However, they may be more practical and achievable. After all let's be honest, we are never going to make poverty history. In fact, it is not altogether desirable. Like it or not, there has to be a certain amount of unemployment and poverty.

However, it doesn't have to be rampant or unnecessary, so perhaps we could consider these admittedly cumbersome and amateurish slogans.

"Let's make multi million dollar private bank accounts of African leaders obsolete."

"Let's make sure all money goes to those who actually need it."

"Caviar and champagne are not staple foods"

"Stop corruption and bribery in poverty ravaged countries."

"Let's stop selling arms to poverty ravaged countries to use on their own citizens."

Hey, I never claimed to be Madison Avenue material!

The sad thing is, I sit here typing these slogans knowing damn well all the slogans in the world are not going to change things.

History has taught us that.

The Guv'nor