Unless one has been hiding under a rock, it is obvious that there is a big movement afoot in the Middle East. Depending on which news analysis one reads, there could be any number of reasons for these riots and protests at this particular time in history. There are good arguments for: a call to rise up against tyranny, a cry for democracy and freedom, a protest against unemployment and skyrocketing food prices, or all of the above. To delve into any one of these causes would take many posts, but the reason that seems the most obvious, and may not be the fundamental cause, is the call for democracy.
Doubtless, whatever it is that is driving the revolutions, there will be continual struggle for power as the days and months go by. There is no perfect form of governance anywhere, as we see in our own land that there is tyranny in democracy also. The difference is that we impose this tyranny on ourselves. As an affluent society, we are not satisfied with self sufficiency, but increasingly want more benefits and services from our governments, those we elect in the democratic process. In the end, which is where we are now, we are under the tyranny of debt as a result of voting in those that would give us what we want, but fail to tell us what the cost will be down the road.
I would suggest that the riots we see in the Arab countries will be something commonplace in America soon. It has already started. The battle will be over power and money, unions and government workers versus private sector, haves against have nots, employed versus unemployed. It will ultimately be about money. It always is. In the poorer nations, it will be about food.
Readers of this blog will know that I have been predicting rampant inflation for a few years now, because of the USA's penchant for quantitative easing (AKA printing money) It has started big time as the food prices around the world have escalated since January. In the last few days we have speculation drive up the world price of oil. We in Canada do not use Libyan oil, yet we will pay at the pump for the unrest in that nation. The worst economic upheaval since the great depression is coming home to roost. It should have been left to correct itself, but ignorant meddlers have interfered with natural market forces and we are finding ourselves in a big pickle indeed.
2 comments:
This is truly depressing. Without sticking our heads in the sand, as individuals we can find peace in our hearts and see the good in so many small things around us each day.
Perhaps in time, all that will be left will be the small things. I do not find it depressing at all. I watch in fascination as events unfold. We arm ourselves with knowledge so we can be prepared, at least psychologically, for what will come.
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