There’ll be another one along in a minute

In today’s world, it doesn’t really matter which ‘one’ you’re talking about: there will be another one along in a minute.

As Ahmadinnejhad’s star fades in Iran, Putin – despite widespread accusations of vote rigging – is back as Russian President, and no doubt just as bellicose as ever. Who the clerics now choose to replace the Mad Bomb Builder in Tehran will be no more pro-West than Madmood was. (And the clerics are even harder line on atomic development than him).

One set of Courts gets to the point of hanging Murdoch out to dry, and at last it seems like he’s run out of gullible politicians. But no, there’s Alex Salmon to the rescue, and Roop’s escape route into a newly independent Scotland is now assured.

After Greece, there will be Portugal, Spain and Italy…and probably France in the end. After the eurozone, there will be another daft idea.

After the next Chelsea manager, there will be another one. The mental St Vitus Dance afflicting Abramovitch guarantees it….despite the fact that the most successful long-term clubs – Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool – have tended on the whole to keep it all in the family and out of the press.

After the MPs expenses scandal came Hackgate. And you can guarantee that – at this very moment – yet another idiot is hatching something that will land him or her in jail.

Unable to grasp that televisual technology? Nil desperandum….it’ll be obsolete within weeks.

Missed that software update? Fear not: the suppliers will keep asking you on the minute every minute. Then there will be another one along the minute after that. It is getting to be well-nigh impossible to have out of date software.

Can’t make a call on your mobile phone? No problem: in a minute, it’ll be a Blackberry, then an android.

Don’t like those socks? There’s no need to worry: they’ll wear out in a minute.

No idea how to start the tap/alter the temperature/flush the loo in a public convenience? Ne’er mind, the next one you go in will be different again.

Our species suffers more and more from overproduction of everything from idiots to dysfunctional design, and needless complexity to atrocious quality.

All this happens because we have an unyielding political machine, and a one-trick economic model. Ditch them in favour of more real choice and more cratfsmanship, and there is no end to how much easier, calmer and more elegant life could be.