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Posted on 02/19/2011 8:20:00 AM PST by Texas Peartree
Many Westerners were happy to see the "People Power" of Egypt stand up and demand democracy. No right thinking person can support a 30-year kleptocracy, the rule by thieves.
The increased usage of social media made many believe that the Egyptians are just like us. After all, we email each other to discuss politics. We use LinkedIn to stay in touch with former co-workers. We use Twitter to tell people what kind of muffin we bought for breakfast. Most comparatively, we use Facebook to share our interests, and organize and publish our lives. So Egyptians are just like us, right?
Well, let me ask a question. Below are three fun facts about Egypt. In your mind, place them in relative order of importance. In other words, which is the most important fact for determining if Egypt is a healthy society likely to be stable without a benevolent dictator? Which is the second most important fact? Finally, which is the least important fact?
1) 10% of Egyptians use Facebook.
2) 44% of Egyptian workers are either completely or semi-illiterate.
3) 81% of Egyptian women have suffered through the sexual abuse of genital mutilation.
So, is Egypt like a plugged-in South Korea where cyber aficionados stay in touch? Or, is Egypt a backwards land of illiterate workers and almost universally sexually abused women? The answer to that question tells you how far Egypt is from becoming a functioning democracy...
(Excerpt) Read more at corybirenbaum.blogspot.com ...
4) US reporter raped!
“4) US reporter raped!”
Great point. I could have posted reasons 4 through 200, but wanted to make it brief.
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Mexico is a very successful narco-state.
Ninety-five percent of the world is “failed states.” Most of the third “nations” consist of one strong tribe ruling over weaker tribes. Whatever formal government that exists in those pseudo-nations exists to perpetuate that rule.
Coreection: “Most of the third world .......”
IMHO, Egypt was far more functional, less repressive, and better run than anywhere else in the Muslim world with the exception perhaps, of Turkey.
The standard of living improved so dramatically in the reign of Mubarak, that the population doubled. That doesn't happen unless better basic services are delivered.
As the Egyptians are about to find out, neither is it sustainable. Democracy? Great idea. No capacity for it.
“No right thinking person can support a 30-year kleptocracy, the rule by thieves.”
I don’t see much evidence that the kleptocracy that’s been in power since Jan. 20, 2009 is much different than Mubarak’s except that his thievery was measured in tens of billions, whereas the current administration’s is measured in hundreds of billions or even trillions.
Porkulus, Obamacare, TARP: all served (by design) to transfer HUGE amounts of wealth from productive Americans to favored interests. Favored interests which, in turn, turn around and kick back a share of their loot to the DNC to keep this well-oiled looting machine in power.
Don't know about that. Democrats have been voting for democrats for over 100 years.
So, is Egypt like a plugged-in South Korea where cyber aficionados stay in touch? Or, is Egypt a backwards land of illiterate workers and almost universally sexually abused women? The answer to that question tells you how far Egypt is from becoming a functioning democracy...
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