Warped priorities

Musing over warped priorities came to me when I read a news item on a planned funeral that was going to cost millions of shillings, a large part of the cost to be from public funds and the funeral organizers were fundraising for the “shortfall”. It made me wonder how our society, leadership and individuals, prioritize social needs.

Warped as an adjective qualifies something as strange and unpleasant. I am therefore musing over decisions that can be viewed as strange and unpleasant.

Every country has examples of questionable priorities, frozen in time in crumbling so-called “white elephants”. I have seen them in many countries round the world. Some abnormal priorities are due to political expediency, but when they become almost the norm, it is a sign of government derailment. Some might have been conceived with good intentions but disconnected from the national needs or without consultation with the intended beneficiaries. Governments may prioritize industrialization and short-term economic gains overlooking siting of the industrial structures damaging important natural wetlands aggravating climate crises.

Many countries with natural resources have neglected basic human needs such as education, health services, communication infrastructure and other social welfare services. The natural resources are exploited either for personal enrichment or for white elephant grandiose structures to cater for a few days’ international events. Some countries maintain extravagant military budgets and leadership budgets hidden from public scrutiny.

Governments with virtually institutionalized corruption and mismanagement have public funds flowing into personal enrichment schemes or wasteful programs at the expense of critical social sectors. When one reads, on social media, 170 lawmakers each receiving USD 720 per day for 7 days, a total of nearly USD 860,000, to participate in some sports events of no national consequence, one wonders how far warped decisions can go. USD 860,000 may not sound as a lot of money for a country to spend on an item, but for the country I know best, it may be enough to rehabilitate a couple of health centres and maintain them for a year with full services.

As I reflect on these warped priorities, I wonder how they can be curtailed, mindful that complete elimination is not possible. I believe that national development plans must shift from self-importance values, at both collective and individual levels, to sustainability, equity, and long-term thinking. Governments and individuals must reassess their goals to align resources with actions that create lasting positive impact. We must change our mindset from thinking about ME to society and country.

How often do we see apparent warped decisions at the local level where materialism is prioritised over social well-being? Many of us focus on accumulating wealth, luxury items, or social status, taking them as evidence of personal development, instead of fostering meaningful relationships, mental health and promoting personal health consciousness. We rarely hear of political and community leaders promoting the principles of health starting in the home environment. A senior colleague puts it bluntly and simply that “Health starts with you”.

We daily see heart-breaking choices, driven by immediate satisfaction, often overshadow long-term goals, leading to financial instability or poor health. What warrants spending millions and millions of shillings, whether public or private funds, for a funeral when children study under a tree or health facilities are empty of basic equipment and drugs and the workers are not paid? Funerals are not expected to have financial accountability; in the country I know best. In a country rotten to the core with corruption, public funerals are taken as a golden egg albeit from a malnourished chicken. If you want to be sent off in style riding in a gilded chariot, then make sure you leave money for the hullabaloo, but money honestly made. It is obscene to use public funds or extort money from poor people to line the pockets of crooks.

At a very local level, we see what on the surface looks like a very progressive developmental decision in city traffic management when traffic lights are installed at very high cost to the taxpayer, only to be overridden by poorly trained traffic police, waving their arms in all direction directing traffic flow and creating gridlock. A similar local level bizarre decision is to let motorbike riders ride their bikes as they like with no regard to internationally accepted traffic rules despite daily horrendous accidents and loss of life because, we are told, they give an image of people at work. In one country I visited, I travelled on a major road paved for miles up to the entrance of the head of state’s country home. We have heard of swimming pools constructed at the country home of the head of state under the guise of security. There are many warped decisions all over the world with varying impacts depending on the economic development of the country.

Warped decisions have been made at the global level as well. History is replete with examples where decisions, driven by misguided priorities, warped ideologies, or short-term gains, have come at the expense of social development. Notable examples include:

Highways in minority neighbourhoods in the United States of America. In the mid-20th century, urban renewal projects in the U.S. often involved constructing highways through low-income and minority neighbourhoods, displacing thousands of residents. These projects prioritized economic growth and transportation efficiency over the well-being of communities. The impact was of destroyed social networks, entrenched poverty and aggravated racial inequalities.

European colonization of Africa, Asia, and the Americas prioritized resource extraction and economic gain for colonizing powers over the development of colonized societies. Unfortunately, this is not only in historical timeframe but is ongoing. The impact is long-term economic stagnation, exploitation, cultural erosion, and underdevelopment in many regions.

There are large-scale deforestation projects in the world’s major rainforests to expand agriculture, ranching, mining and industry. While these projects generate short-term economic benefits, they are primarily for the interest of the rich North. They ignore the long-term environmental consequences, including biodiversity loss, climate change, and harm to indigenous populations.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank’s structural adjustment programs (SAPs) forced developing nations to cut public spending, privatize essential services, opening to free trade and reduce social safety nets to qualify for loans. These policies often led to increased poverty, reduced access to education and healthcare, and a weakened ability to address social inequities.

Critics of the structural adjustment programs argue that they promote neocolonialism in that, rich countries offer bailouts to poor ones, their former colonies, in exchange for reforms that open the poor countries up to exploitative investment by multinational corporations whose shareholders live in rich countries. The colonial dynamics are perpetuated, albeit with nominal national sovereignty.

When normally talking about warped decisions, we may not think of apartheid in South Africa where the government’s policies of racial segregation prioritized maintaining white supremacy over the equitable development of its society. Black South Africans faced systemic oppression, exclusion from education and economic opportunities, and poor living conditions that have had long-lasting consequences. While apartheid in South Africa was dismantled, we continue to witness similar treatment of peoples in various parts of the world often clothed in less striking terminology as apartheid.

Many governments prioritize gross domestic product (GDP) growth over indicators like literacy, health, and equality. I touched on this while musing over poverty. For instance, fast industrialization in some nations has led to widening income inequality and neglect of rural or marginalized communities with glowing gross domestic product indicator. The impact is of uneven development, poor living standards, and a lack of investment in social sectors.

One would have thought that past examples of these global warped decisions would have informed current decision makers in promoting holistic, inclusive policies that balance economic priorities with social, environmental, and cultural development. Unfortunately, the world is still experiencing decisions that ignore strategies that would help inform more sustainable and equitable future choices
As we complain about warped decisions made by our leaders, let us take time to examine ourselves. Life’s journey is built on decisions some warped but with minimal or no negative consequence but distorted all the same.

Warped decisions are choices influenced by distorted thinking, emotions, or external pressures. They lead to outcomes misaligned with one’s values, goals, or best interests. These decisions often stem from reasoning biases, such as overconfidence, fear, or impulsivity, and can be shaped by past experiences, peer influence, or misinformation. On a personal scale, warped decisions might manifest, for example, as staying in an abusive or unhealthy relationship because one believes one can’t find anyone else or fear of being alone. Or making rash financial choices such as buying an expensive item on credit without considering long-term consequences, just to feel good in the moment. Or ignoring serious health symptoms because of denial or fear of a diagnosis. Or having permanent body tattoos due to misguided influences. Each of these decisions is “warped” because it’s influenced by distorted perceptions rather than rational thinking or long-term well-being. Recognizing and reflecting on these distortions is key to making healthier, more informed decisions.

Think about it.

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Your comments on my musings are most welcome and let me know whether there is a topic you would like me to muse over.