At some point, every digital designer, has asked themselves, “Is Internet Explorer the boogeyman?” And if you have not, now is a good time to do so!

In our profession, why do we  consistently single out IE (i.e., Internet Explorer) for all the ills that befall the flesh of our beautifully crafted designs? Is it because, as designers we are Mac based, and regard the Windows camp with ‘camp’  suspicion, or, it is because, we are making not a wild but a valid observation – one which is based on the facts and track record of IE?

After years of experience in the profession, I am inclined to consider IE as the worst browsing platform ever developed. If Microsoft were not the monopoly that it is, chances are IE would not have survived for as long as it has. So what is the big problem with IE? Is it that it is buggy? Perhaps… Is it that it is ‘embedded’ into Windows? Possibly? Is it that it is insecure and easily exploited? Likely so… But the main problem with IE is that it flaunts W3 standards in favour of its own Windows interpretation, which has been inconsistent, arbitrary and variable.

Indeed, in the hands of Microsoft, IE became an unwitting tool in the battle for Internet supremacy. Thanks to the Open Source movement, aided by smart revenue-raising anti-monopoly fines, and by IEs own lack of quality, Microsoft did not succeed. But along the way, plenty of damage in the form of decreased progress and increased cost has been exacted, and continues to be exacted. While waiting for the next version of Windows, the one that will fix “all Windows woes and bring about enlightenment,” I cannot help but think: “Here we go again…”

‘Bout a couple of days ago, I decided to go to the Litro event at Foyles. It sounded quite good on paper: an offering of music and literature from 6 to 10pm – and all of that for only the modest entry fee of £5. I was thinking to myself, “Hmmm… why not catch some early evening sounds and relaxation?” So I got there in good time, got a nice laté and a bit of literature, and perched myself up on a nice, wooden yet extremely uncomfortable bar stool by the window-side. I was geared up, ready to relax! Then 6pm came and went by… No sign of any acts whatsoever…

About 6:20, the stage PA started belting out a fine variety of canned and tinned sounds that could almost have been live. I had my back to the stage – and wondered whether the band had arrived. So I swiveled around on my bar stool and appraised the stage-side developments. I spotted a bar assistant fiddling with the PA and then retreating hastily. The couple of well-mannered blondes who were sitting at the table immediately behind me synchronously eyed my crotch, and I wondered whether I had left my fly open. After discreetly re-assuring myself that I was in proper decorum, I continued to watch the stage for a while, and eventually turned back to resume my reading of an excerpt from Gulliver’s Travels.

At around 7:10pm, all hope having faded of catching some early evening live tunes, having finished my little literature handout, and growing weary of waiting, I decided to call it a day. I took in a deep breath, exhaled, put on my jacket, double checked my crotch and the blondes, and then with a calm smile made my way to the door.

Though not a political person, from time to time, I will also write about politics – and this is one of those occasions. This article is about the four phases of governance. While I believe that my arguments are sound,  the article may appear offensive to some readers and for that I apologise in advance. Ettiquette and civility having been addressed, let me proceed to the main premise. In this article, governance refers to the  control and management of a state, and I will identify four phases of governance, which may not be entirely sequential. Here they are: 

• Theocracy – defined by ‘cultivated stupidity’ – in that god and religion are equated.
• Absolutocracy – defined by ‘cultivated idiocy’ – in that real suffering is denied.
• Meritocracy – defined by ‘cultivated intelligence’ – in that the human condition is seen at face value, and amends are instituted accordingly.
• Corruptocracy – defined by ‘hubris’ – in that people act as if they were beyond human, conscience, and natural law.

While not entirely sequential, the four phases do appear to follow a cyclical pattern. And we should not be surprised to see a resurgence of  theocratic emphasis during times of hubris. What is interesting, however, is that apparently the Meritocratic phase cannot, under present paradigms of governance, be sustained. And, that under the present paradigms, we get one ‘growth’ phase – that of Meritocracy – to three ‘stagnative’ phases. The engine of human civilisation, is indeed in need of a tune-up.

What is the matter with our present paradigms of governance, and why are they so inefficient? I believe that the answer lies in our treatment of religion and spirituality – and that the present religious institutions almost entirely lack the openness and tolerance required to set up the moral and ethical guidance mechanisms necessary for a governance paradigm-shift into a sustainable Meritocracy.  They don’t got the juice.

Looking at Western civilisation, we have not yet achieved religious recognition of the equality of gender, ability, sexual orientation, and other belief structures. These issues, which seem straightforward from a spiritual point of view, continue to escape our Western religious institutions. Of course, any belief structure which is not willing to recognise the fundamental premises of equality and tolerance, becomes by definition incompatible with Meritocracy – and there is nothing like disillusionment that can breed hubris. So in addition to separating church from state, we will likely need to separate god from religion – and this may go a long way to create a state of spiritual affairs that can contain and guide our human affairs – without spirituality itself becoming entangled or enticed in governance and politics.

I have not dealt with the severe issues that arise in a Corruptocracy – issues such as illegal wars, expenses scandals (all within the rules, of course), massive financial robbery, indeed rape, of our unborn children, the slow but systematic destruction of our environment, lack of co-operation and lack of genuine leadership. Indeed, I m not sure that these issues can be addressed directly. Hence, in this article I have focused on the fundamental flaw that our Western civilisation currently suffers from – namely an outdated religious system that appears incompatible with Meritocratic standards. I think far more guidance and containment can be achieved from a genuine spiritual approach – after all any rule or law can be flaunted, and if you are wealthy, you can do it in style, and still arrive at your second home in time for dinner. But why do it in the first place, if your conscience is telling you otherwise?