Middle East - heading for democracy or to the left?
Discussion
The various "rulers" operating in the Middle East have been in charge for many decades and accumulated enormous wealth for themselves alongside their political power. Now the people are revolting. But what is it the people want?
a) To choose a new leader? or
b) To have a slice of the pie?
a) To choose a new leader? or
b) To have a slice of the pie?
allnighter said:
actually neither A nor B.
They want C regime downfall, and D democratic process introduced, E free elections, and F better living conditions, jobs, decent wages, housing etc....
I think his question was do they want Democracy, and the citizen responsibilities that go with it, or do they want Socialism so their needs can all be handled for them.They want C regime downfall, and D democratic process introduced, E free elections, and F better living conditions, jobs, decent wages, housing etc....
Jimbeaux said:
allnighter said:
actually neither A nor B.
They want C regime downfall, and D democratic process introduced, E free elections, and F better living conditions, jobs, decent wages, housing etc....
I think his question was do they want Democracy, and the citizen responsibilities that go with it, or do they want Socialism so their needs can all be handled for them.They want C regime downfall, and D democratic process introduced, E free elections, and F better living conditions, jobs, decent wages, housing etc....
allnighter said:
Jimbeaux said:
allnighter said:
actually neither A nor B.
They want C regime downfall, and D democratic process introduced, E free elections, and F better living conditions, jobs, decent wages, housing etc....
I think his question was do they want Democracy, and the citizen responsibilities that go with it, or do they want Socialism so their needs can all be handled for them.They want C regime downfall, and D democratic process introduced, E free elections, and F better living conditions, jobs, decent wages, housing etc....
davepoth said:
They've done Socialism. Most of the dictatorships in the region were allegedly left-leaning. What we'll get is anybody's guess, but hopefully it'll be chosen by the people and not the "interim" rulers.
I take it further and say they ve done Islamism too in the case of Iran.I doubt very much anyone in the ME is looking at Iran as the beacon of social fairness and true democracy free from oppression and intimidation.Who would want that model, looking at recent events in teheran and the brutal repression 2 years ago?R1 Loon said:
allnighter said:
actually neither A nor B.
They want C regime downfall, and D democratic process introduced, E free elections, and F better living conditions, jobs, decent wages, housing etc....
Instead they'll end up with G, none of the above and a fundamentalist dictatorship.They want C regime downfall, and D democratic process introduced, E free elections, and F better living conditions, jobs, decent wages, housing etc....
allnighter said:
take it further and say they ve done Islamism too in the case of Iran.I doubt very much anyone in the ME is looking at Iran as the beacon of social fairness and true democracy free from oppression and intimidation.Who would want that model, looking at recent events in teheran and the brutal repression 2 years ago?
Why do you think they'll have a choice? A nice happy election brings in a "People's Champion" who immediately bans all future elections and opposition and off they go down a merry route to Iran.R1 Loon said:
allnighter said:
take it further and say they ve done Islamism too in the case of Iran.I doubt very much anyone in the ME is looking at Iran as the beacon of social fairness and true democracy free from oppression and intimidation.Who would want that model, looking at recent events in teheran and the brutal repression 2 years ago?
Why do you think they'll have a choice? A nice happy election brings in a "People's Champion" who immediately bans all future elections and opposition and off they go down a merry route to Iran.R1 Loon said:
allnighter said:
take it further and say they ve done Islamism too in the case of Iran.I doubt very much anyone in the ME is looking at Iran as the beacon of social fairness and true democracy free from oppression and intimidation.Who would want that model, looking at recent events in teheran and the brutal repression 2 years ago?
Why do you think they'll have a choice? A nice happy election brings in a "People's Champion" who immediately bans all future elections and opposition and off they go down a merry route to Iran.They want the trappings of western society, but they prefer to work in the grey economy for cash. You can't have both. So the changes they are calling for are not going to be without some individual sacrifice. Egypt does have decent Tax revenues, it actually beat estimates last June, but the other counties may not get what they hope for.
Baksheesh will have to go for them to move forward.
Many I guess, would like to keep that
jeff m said:
They want the trappings of western society, but they prefer to work in the grey economy for cash. You can't have both. So the changes they are calling for are not going to be without some individual sacrifice.
Interesting thoughts. Seems to me that in some cases this will mean skinning two cats at once - introducing more democracy but making sure the end result still toes the party line in order to keep the $ billions flowing.While the people want change, there is a real risk that those in the know will flee a country, plunge that country into even more strife and I can see some military "interim" administrations springing up.
Could not a government of national unity work in these countries - like in South Africa to share power for a few years while "things" get straightened out?
Could not a government of national unity work in these countries - like in South Africa to share power for a few years while "things" get straightened out?
Sheeda Pistol said:
Jimbeaux said:
I think his question was do they want Democracy, and the citizen responsibilities that go with it, or do they want Socialism so their needs can all be handled for them.
Well i'm pretty certain they would like the US of A to keep their fingers out the pie this time.Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff