Quality of life

With the ever improving knowledge and technology one might expect an ever improving standard of living. But does that also means an improved quality of life?

I dare to say no, on the contrary. I rather think that modern developments often have consequences that make our life a little more complicated and less joyful.

Let's take Europe. The EU is meant to make things better for us. Easier border crossings, availability of foreign products, uniform rules, less red tape. But do the people really benefit? Europe without borders means you can forget about your passport. But instead you have to prove your identity at almost every official transaction. Since criminals can now move freely in Europe, everybody has become a potential criminal and has to be checked at every critical transaction.

Also products can be traded freely within the EU. No more restrictions for products from other member states. But standards between 27 countries are a compromise. High standards are lowered, low standards are upgraded. In a lot of fields Finland has (had) high standards, but we had to accept the compromise. And some standards were specific for the Nordic situation. The least dense populated country in Europe has completely different problems and solutions than a country with fast urbanized areas.

So is the EU influencing your quality of life? Yes. Is it always for the good? No, many EU decisions forces you to adapt, often in a way you don't really like.

The digital age is making your life easier, right?

Instead of a machine with a simple on/off switch, you can now program it and let it do whatever you want. Unfortunately you have to carry the manuals and your reading glasses around all the time. E-book readers let you carry your whole library in your handbag. Unfortunately half the books you want to read are published in a different format and you have to buy a different e-book reader for them. And you can conduct all your business via Internet. Until your computer is hacked and your passwords are stolen. Than your main concern is limiting the damage and getting a new bank account.

As the Internet has opened the world for you, so it has for businesses. Glottalization has got a big boost in the past decade. Companies compete on international scale, but the small local businesses have a hard time to survive. And when they disappear, your choice in products and services is diminished. To survive in this game, you need to be where the action is; the urbanized areas. And with the concentration of businesses and work in the cities, the rural areas depopulate. Less people in the countryside villages means less tax income and less local services as a result. Village schools are closing in an alarming rate. Off course there is a point where it is no longer sensible to keep a village school open. But financial arguments are leading in the discussions, not the interest of the population.

These are just a few random thoughts about the "benefits" of our modern times. Often people are not aware of the consequences of new legislations and developments. We will try (in our modest way) to increase the awareness with the public and the politicians.

Rinso