Friends, members of the G20 are meeting this weekend to have a preliminary discussion about the world financial mess ahead of the larger meeting in April…

It will be  a fantastic opportunity for real change to be made in the way the world works. Apparently, on the agenda, is the idea of doing away with Nation States. Yes, after ten thousand years of endless war, the idea has been floated that we should be organizing the world on a cooperative basis, that having competitive Nation States is an anachronistic concept.

Now the U.S. has been the prime initiator of this bold move. Yes, it has finally accepted that its ambition to control the world by military force is counterproductive and is bankrupting it. “We cannot continue on this course any further,” a White House spokesperson said. “It is divisive. It leads to inequality and hatred. Besides, we want to be loved again so we are disarming!”

America went further. “The capitalist system has also  failed us. We have lost many of our billionaires. It is time to give up having markets and competition and materialism and greed. We must all work together and share equally. We are all brothers and sisters under the skin!”

Britain also has expressed similar sentiments. “Although we were once an Empire, and it must be said a glorious one, the idea of Empires is old-hat. It’s time to bury all national flags and raise the Earth Flag. After all, we are all humans and everyone is entitled to share equally in the world’s wealth rather than most of it being in the hands of a privileged few,” a spokesperson from No10 Downing Street said, his voice shaking with emotion. He added, “And war – who needs it?”

Of course, France is somewhat skeptical given precious memories of its past Empires and Napoleon, but it is willing to forgo national pride and truffles to join in the new game in town. “Mon Dieu, we are part of the world, an important part,” a French senior politician has stated. “But we must move on. We cannot have people threatening to blow each other up with nuclear weapons and we cannot have a financial and economic system that tears the gizzards out of Les Miserables.”

Germany, which is still occupied by America and is further occupied by promoting the burning at the stake of all those who deny the Holocaust, is enthusiastic. “No one likes us,” a senior undersecretary said. “If Germany disappears all will be forgiven. We will simply call ourselves world citizens and, Mien Gott, we’ll take care of anyone who claims otherwise.”

The Dutch, whose Empire at one stage was large relative to its size, are enthusiastic. “People have looked down upon us for centuries because of our size and the fact that most of our nation is below sea-level. As citizens of the whole world we will stand tall as long as global warming doesn’t wash us away.”

Switzerland, perched high above the world’s oceans, is somewhat dubious. “We never had an Empire so we haven’t got much to lose. But we did control most of the world’s banking for a time. Now they want us to open our banks and expose all the tax havens of the wealthy. The world is truly lost. Besides, what will it do without Swiss cheese?”

Yawn…I’m sorry, friends. I had a dream there for a few moments. Where was I? Oh, yes, the G20 meeting is on. Each nation will push for the best deal for themselves. The militarily strong nations will dominate the weak. Capitalism, a failed system based on greed, will be propped up using taxpayers’ money. Credit will be extended to get the whole farce of borrowing beyond one’s means up and running again so that materialism can reign and the wealthy can enjoy the best of everything while others starve…

P.S. Painting is by Picasso and is called “The Dream.”