26 April, 2012
(Look for Homo Sociologicus in the previous issue!) In terms of our economic life, we happen to be just as different from the rest of the world as in case of our Homo Sociologicus. Economic weirdness is overwhelming in this country. There are so many funny things happening right in front of our eyes and noses that we no longer notice them taking place.
The probability of economic miracle-working is growing here day in day out. For instance, somebody might call us ‘poor’ but we will still have enough ambition and resource to be strutting down the street totally overdressed, or ensconced at the wheel of a luxury car. We might be surviving on borrowed money, but we will still be feeding tons of yummies to our guests and making them drunk with wines which even the French would be envious to see so lavishly, but casually imbibed. Gas prices could be sky-rocketing but Georgian drivers would still be hitting the road with a full tank in their cars. We could be out of work but still be packing restaurants and bars full, often having a cheerful tuck-in like the happiest folks in the world. Petroleum price here never moves up and down in unison with the world prices, and, strangely enough, in America gas is cheaper than in Georgia. Unemployment could be rampant in the country, but most of us would look like having just gotten a fat paycheck for a week’s work down the road. The national economy might be slow and doddering, but nobody will suffer any prolonged mulligrubs for this. The economic plight will never be here a reason for drooping spirits – we will still be dancing and singing away in the attempt to cling to happiness as tenaciously as possible, not losing decency and decorum at that. We will go to a bank for a loan and use any available collateral, including our houses, for building a business and we will do it without being certain enough about our capability to pay it back. We might be evicted for not paying the bank debt back, but somebody’s marvelous hand will magically emerge to rescue us right before committing suicide. Retired seniors may have a scanty pension but they will still eat, drink and move around vivaciously. Tuitions are very high in Georgia, but private schools are over-packed with kids and young people as if all of them have well-to-do enough parents to afford their progeny’s academic expenditures quite easily, We are paying a garbage-man based on the size of our electrical bills, which is not simply strange but terribly unfair too. Take my way of life for an example: I am living by myself and there are no cooks in the house. I never eat at home, so I practically have no trash to discard. But I am taking my shower twice a day as a rule and my heater is electrical. I also like my abode full of light. And every possible electrical device is on round-a-clock in my copious shelter. So my bill for electricity always runs very hefty, and I am paying for the non-existent garbage accordingly. How about that? Wouldn’t this economic paradigm render our Homo Economicus out of the ordinary? Is Georgia an affluent country? I would like to say ‘yes’. But would you really believe that? (Look for Homo Politicus in the next issue).
The probability of economic miracle-working is growing here day in day out. For instance, somebody might call us ‘poor’ but we will still have enough ambition and resource to be strutting down the street totally overdressed, or ensconced at the wheel of a luxury car. We might be surviving on borrowed money, but we will still be feeding tons of yummies to our guests and making them drunk with wines which even the French would be envious to see so lavishly, but casually imbibed. Gas prices could be sky-rocketing but Georgian drivers would still be hitting the road with a full tank in their cars. We could be out of work but still be packing restaurants and bars full, often having a cheerful tuck-in like the happiest folks in the world. Petroleum price here never moves up and down in unison with the world prices, and, strangely enough, in America gas is cheaper than in Georgia. Unemployment could be rampant in the country, but most of us would look like having just gotten a fat paycheck for a week’s work down the road. The national economy might be slow and doddering, but nobody will suffer any prolonged mulligrubs for this. The economic plight will never be here a reason for drooping spirits – we will still be dancing and singing away in the attempt to cling to happiness as tenaciously as possible, not losing decency and decorum at that. We will go to a bank for a loan and use any available collateral, including our houses, for building a business and we will do it without being certain enough about our capability to pay it back. We might be evicted for not paying the bank debt back, but somebody’s marvelous hand will magically emerge to rescue us right before committing suicide. Retired seniors may have a scanty pension but they will still eat, drink and move around vivaciously. Tuitions are very high in Georgia, but private schools are over-packed with kids and young people as if all of them have well-to-do enough parents to afford their progeny’s academic expenditures quite easily, We are paying a garbage-man based on the size of our electrical bills, which is not simply strange but terribly unfair too. Take my way of life for an example: I am living by myself and there are no cooks in the house. I never eat at home, so I practically have no trash to discard. But I am taking my shower twice a day as a rule and my heater is electrical. I also like my abode full of light. And every possible electrical device is on round-a-clock in my copious shelter. So my bill for electricity always runs very hefty, and I am paying for the non-existent garbage accordingly. How about that? Wouldn’t this economic paradigm render our Homo Economicus out of the ordinary? Is Georgia an affluent country? I would like to say ‘yes’. But would you really believe that? (Look for Homo Politicus in the next issue).