The Development Set: A Satire

Excuse me friends, I must catch my jet

I'm off to join the Development set;

My bags are packed, and I've had all my shots

I have traveller's cheques and pills for the trots!

The Development Set is bright and noble,

Our thoughts are deep and vision global;

Although we move with the better classes;

Our thoughts are always with the masses.

In Sheraton Hotels in scattered nations

We damn multi-national corporations;

Injustice seems easy to protest

In such seething hotbeds of social rest.

We discuss malnutrition over steaks

And plan hunger talks during coffee breaks.

Whether Asian floods or African drought,

We face each issue with an open mouth.

We bring in consultants whose circumlocution

Raises difficulties for every solution.

Thus guaranteeing continued good eating

By showing the need for another meeting.

The language of the Development Set

Stretches the English alphabet;

We use swell words like epigenetic,

Micro, macro, and logarithmic.

It pleasures us to be esoteric,

It's so intellectually atmospheric!

And though establishments may be unmoved,

Our vocabularies are much improved.

When the talk gets deep and you're feeling dumb

You can keep your shame to a minimum;

To show that you too are intelligent,

Simply say, "Is that really development?"

Or say, "That's fine in practice, but don't you see:

It doesn't work out in theory."

A few may find this incomprehensible,

But most will admire you as deep and sensible.

Ross Coggins, “Adult Education and Development”, September 1976