Nigeria, Sept. 7 -- When pounded yam has lumps, you re-pound the yam to achieve the required consistency. Away from all the contrived obfuscations of contemporary economic analysis, we ought to be able to honestly re-evaluate where we are as a country, where we ought to be, and how we might navigate our way towards the desired destination.

The village square of public opinion is so bedevilled by baleful intolerance in this campaign season that it is becoming increasingly difficult to spar with competing ideas, as is the wont of thinking people. However, despite the risk of being misunderstood, we must keep at it because the alternative - standing akimbo while our country wastes away-is simply unacceptable.

Gains and Pains

As with every...