Extreme right-wing trying aggressively to spread a myth that privatization is the ultimate solution to the Third-World countries economic problems, the same myth is also adopted by less-educated natives of these countries while the truth is upside down.
The majority of the people in Iraq are somewhere between the lower class and the middle class, those people would like to see greater state intervention– so that there is more balanced development rather than seeing few opportunists take all the wealth of the state.
Maybe privatization works in the west because of the well-developed infrastructure ( doesn’t work so perfectly…heavy economical crisis now and then) but it will never work in less-developed countries with already ruined economy.
A better example of what I am saying is Russia, sudden transformation from “the state owns everything” in the Soviet era into privatizing all assets in the country caused many economical problems, the result was:
Privatization in Russia was hijacked by Economy-Mafias who by are benefited from such policy and I have all the doubts that Russian economy will ever recover.
Privatization gives corporation the upper hand and strip the government down from it’s power, in the long run the government will function as “hub” linking all these corporations together and benefiting from each other…The government have the power.….corporations have the money (like invading countries just to put smiles on the faces of few fat cats).
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the US government is functioning as a huge corporation, notice also that most American politicians are/were/still big firms and companies CEO and managers).
To be continued …..
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LB,
I’m not sure where you have been for the last 100 odd years but there is not even the slightest shadow of a doubt that countries who do not respect private property, and countries who do not allow market forces to drive their development, get left in the dust.
Market economies based upon private property and competition outperform centrally planned economies in every respect, every time.
You may have also failed to notice that countries espousing liberal market economies are usually more pluralistic and tolerant.
In Russia, remnants of the previous leadership teamed up with ruthless, savvy, and ambitious thugs to concentrate wealth into the pockets of a few dozen people/groups. The Russian economy was not shaped by market forces, but through fraud, murder, bribes, and intimidation.
In any case, the Russian model is the least of Iraq’s worries. The former regime people in Iraq are far more ruthless.
You write: “…privatization works …will never work in less-developed countries with already ruined economy”.
Please explain how your statement applies to China, for eaxample, since 1978.
“…like invading countries just to put smiles on the faces of few fat cats…”
Well one of those fat cats” off whoe face the smile has been wiped will soon be coming up for trial, notwithstanding the hot air on this blog from the totalitarians about ist indefinite postponement — yes it’s our totalitarian’s old frined Saddam “l’etat — c’est moi” Hussein;
“In fewer than 10 days, Saddam Hussein will stand in the especially built courtroom where he will face the families of those he killed.
A source close to the Iraqi Special Tribunal said yesterday that the much-feared dictator and seven of his underlings will be brought before a five-judge panel Oct. 19 to answer to charges of crimes against humanity. ” http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20051010–120339-7219r.htm
That will take some neat handling by this blog’s politbureau to prevent things turning pro-American. perhaps ladybird will concentrate of the virtues of State as opposed to private ownership — um, er…
Is this the Friend you visited in Gay Paris, BirdLady?
Woman detained over Iraqi recruitment network
PARIS, Oct 10 (AFP) — A young French woman was detained by police in Paris Monday as part of an investigation into underground groups allegedly recruiting volunteers to fight against US troops in Iraq.
The 18-year-old woman, who has not been named, is believed to have been the girlfriend of a man who left to join the insurgency and was killed.
Last month six men were arrested in the Paris suburbs as part of the same investigation, and all were released after the maximum four days of questioning allowed by French law.
“Most of the major ills of the world have been caused by well-meaning people who ignored the principle of individual freedom, except as applied to themselves, and who were obsessed with fanatical zeal to improve the lot of mankind.“
–Henry Grady Weaver
US plays economic hardball with NAFTA
Washington’s refusal to lift tariffs on Canadian lumber has highlighted its willingness to flout free trade agreements. * Smaller, more vulnerable economies have few tools available to force US compliance. * Canada is actively seeking new markets outside the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), while the US is looking to further its free trade area.
[Jane’s Foreign Report — first posted to http://frp.janes.com – 4 October 2005]
Good post LadyBird!
I hardly think Iraq, or rather the people of Iraq, are in a position to benefit from “privatisation”. The assets of Iraq, and it’s hard to think of what they are besides oil, are going to be sold almost entirely to American Companies and the wealth and income of Iraq creamed off by the USA. The money received from any such deal will be given to the “puppet regime” , itself totally corrupted, non accountable and criminal, and the affect will be the Iraqi people become poorer.
Now in the case of the UK where Thatcher privatised such things as electricity, gas companies, 50% of ownership of these companies were given in free shares to customers of the individual companies, but I can’t see that happening in Iraq.
Whichever American companies take over Iraq’s assets , no doubt at a knockdown price, need to consider what will happen when the US military leaves and the puppet Government is deposed. It could be a very bad investment indeed.
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People:
Check this out:
http://globalresearch.ca/articles/FUL506A.html
Bruno,
Is this article going to blame the US for slaughtering all of the shia civilians, and sunni ‘collaborators’?
Let me guess — will there be a ‘witness’ who is an old sweet grandpa who was taking his lovely granddaughter to market to sell melons when the US stopped him and put secret bombs in his truck?
Yup!
Its those darned yankees again — blowing up civilians.
Says Michael: “Whichever American companies take over Iraq’s assets , no doubt at a knockdown price, need to consider what will happen when the US military leaves and the puppet Government is deposed. It could be a very bad investment indeed.”
So what’s your solution/ You are against the “puppet” government; you were, we presume (perhaps wrongly) agaisnt the saddam government? What are you FOR Michael? Answer: nothing (or possibly the dialectic…).
A complete nihilist hiding behind a red fasciost mask.
Charles, read the damn article before commenting.
Of course, its all water off a ducks back to you. I’ll be sure to tell Americans in 50 years time, when they are fighting Chinese tanks, that if only they would put their weapons down, the violence would stop.
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Bruno “I’ll be sure to tell Americans in 50 years time, when they are fighting Chinese tanks, that if only they would put their weapons down, the violence would stop.”
Good.
The problem is that Iraq in Saddam’s time , even with the vindictive sanctions, was in much better shape than it is now, that’s an indisputable fact. The solution is for the US to get out of Iraq and allow a UN peace force to reinstate order until a proper democratic government can be elected without US interference.
Hmmmm. Considering that Iraq has already appealed to the UN for help and the UN has not lifted a finger, I wonder how this might work.
Mikey suggests that the US pull out and then… The UN will come in set things straight.
I’m trying to recall a major UN peacekeeping operation that did not include members of the current coalition. Since France/Germany have ruled out sending troops, I wonder who will provide the soldiers?
Thats a good one Mikey. Since no other countries have lifted a finger to help Iraq in a real mortal struggle to establish democracy and defeat terrorism, I wonder what would motivate and qualify them to do it after the US/coalition left?
Here’s a win win solution:
After the referendum, the UN forms up a few divisions of well equipped soldiers from member nations to come in and help establish security. The US could hand over regions one by one to the new forces. As this happens, US/coalition forces could begin to draw down.
US wins because its goals of overthrowing Saddam and helping establish democracy have been met.
The UN would win because they will at last be perceived as an organization interested in and capable of supporting democracy.
Mikey would win because he could claim that the US was forced to retreat.
Does this sound fair?
Please let me know when the UN is ready so I can tell my buddies to start packing their bags…
Excellent point.
Except the Chinese would probably not be invading to establish democracy. Also, it would be tough to pull off because every single Chinese soldier would be fish food at the bottom of the Pacific.
If 2–3 made it through, they would immediately defect and head to China town in San Francisco for a hot meal.
Iraq in Saddam’s time , even with the vindictive sanctions, was in much better shape than it is now, that’s an indisputable fact.
If you were a Sunni Ba’ath Party member, I suppose that’s true. If you were a foreign Arab (Palestinians especially) receiving special government benefits from embezzled Oil-For-Food funds and mandated free rent, I sure that’s true too.
If you were a Kurd receiving NO electricity beyond generators in 12 years, or a Shi’a in the south being intermittently punished by withdrawal of electricity and water then I would say that’s very disputable indeed.
Not to mention the constant fear of being arrested/tortured on a whim and no hope of things getting better.
The problem with you, Michael, is that you can only spare sympathy for the bad guys.
The solution is for the US to get out of Iraq and allow a UN peace force to reinstate order until a proper democratic government can be elected without US interference
Hmmm…that is almost exactly what Zawahiri says he wants to do to achieve a caliphate in western Iraq. Perhaps you two should get together and share. I’m sure you’d have a lot in common politically.
“I’ll be sure to tell Americans in 50 years time, when they are fighting Chinese tanks, that if only they would put their weapons down, the violence would stop” /sarcasm
So we agree that the terrorists won’t stop attacking Iraqi National Guard and police and civil servants just because the US leaves?
Charles– “Thats a good one Mikey. Since no other countries have lifted a finger to help Iraq in a real mortal struggle to establish democracy and defeat terrorism”
Try not to lie next time and they might be more willing to help.
“the UN forms up a few divisions of well equipped soldiers from member nations to come in and help establish security. The US could hand over regions one by one to the new forces. As this happens, US/coalition forces could begin to draw down.”
Why don’t you write Bush and suggest that? See how fast you get shot down.
“US wins because its goals of overthrowing Saddam and helping establish democracy have been met.”
To the victor goes the spoils, right? The US actually loses because we will be dealing with fallout from this for generations to come.
“The UN would win because they will at last be perceived as an organization interested in and capable of supporting democracy.”
And one completely impotent in stopping US fascism. I guess they might as well capitulate then, huh?
“Mikey would win because he could claim that the US was forced to retreat.”
One way or another, the US will be retreating. Would you like to retreat now or after the financial collapse of the US?
“Please let me know when the UN is ready”
You seem to forget that the UN already had a role prior to the invasion, but that wasn’t to the Bush administration’s liking. Must not have been enough oil kickbacks in inspections.
“Except the Chinese would probably not be invading to establish democracy.”
Nope. They’ll be invading to stop fascism. If they haven’t capitulated by then.
“If 2–3 made it through, they would immediately defect and head to China town in San Francisco for a hot meal.”
I don’t want to hear Hank anymore saying anything about me calling people racists. You people make me ashamed to be a white Christian American redneck.
CMAR– “If you were a Kurd receiving NO electricity beyond generators in 12 years”
Blah blah blah… and if the US hadn’t trashed the country with bombs everyone would be in better shape right now.
“The problem with you, Michael, is that you can only spare sympathy for the bad guys.”
The problem with you is that you lack the capacity for empathy.
“what Zawahiri says he wants to do to achieve a caliphate in western Iraq.”
And how is a caliphate in Iraq going to affect you way down in Alabammy or whatever red(neck) state you’re from?
“So we agree that the terrorists won’t stop attacking Iraqi National Guard and police and civil servants just because the US leaves?”
You mean INSURGENTS. Stop watching so much Fox News. Your brain is melting. And yes, the US has unleashed a nice little civil war there, haven’t we?
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