Biggest problem

[Franconicus]

From a global point of view, what is the biggest problem today? One that our generation has to solve. ~:grouphug:

[Fragony]

Islamic facism I would say. I recently read a book of Gilles Kepel that said it is really nothing to worry about, but I fear the worst.

[Franconicus]

You are really fast.

One remark: Please do not vote "bugs in RTW". This one is obvious!

[JAG]

Poverty, poverty, poverty. It is a disgrace and an embarrassment on all of us that we allow so much poverty and suffering to continue, it is the biggest problem facing the world and has been for some time. We might be on track to start solving the problems in terms of Africa, let us hope it works.

And don't worry, not that many actually play R:TW in this part of the forum ~;)

[Fragony]

We might be on track to start solving the problems in terms of Africa, let us hope it works.

When it comes to poverty, Africa is the biggest problem with the easiest solution. No more dumping of that stuff we grow here. They would still have to learn how not to slice eachother in pieces, but having something to eat helps.

You are really fast.

and furious ~;)

[JAG]

When it comes to poverty, Africa is the biggest problem with the easiest solution. No more dumping of that stuff we grow here. They would still have to learn how not to slice eachother in pieces, but having something to eat helps.

Ignoring your predicatable racism / xenophobia I will state that I agree with you that we need to stop dumping our excess on their markets for cheap prices, it is totally abhorrent that we do it.

[Franconicus]

I voted for overpopulation. If we learn to stop increase or to reduce population to an reasonable limit most of the other problems will be solved or can be solved easily.

[doc_bean]

Fundamentalism in all its forms, with totalitarianism a close second, and probably poverty as a third.

I don't think overpopulation is such a big problem, we can produce quite a lot if we have to.

And I agree with JAG and Fragony we need to stop dumping our stuff, we should just destroy it like we used to.

[tibilicus]

Quite a few problems i say: main ones being, poverty and fudementalism. Terorism is a problem, but some countrys are blowing it way out of proportion. To be honest i really dont think the whole we could get bombed at any minute is realistic. In the most resent Presiental election Bush wiped people in to a frenzy by giving his good old war on Terorr stuff. And the sad thing most people fell for it, There was an iteresting program on resently called something like nightmares. It disucesed the stuff we fear and why. A guy being interveiwd on said, that a terorist organizeation with any real potential to damage the world did not exsist. Yes 9/11 hapend. That was tradgic, but it was also a mistake. The terorist should of never been aloud on that plain. Terorists are real, very real. But there not a big a problem as people make out. Why is poverty worse, Because more people die from it than anything. Starvation, Desise, most of its roled into poverty. On a note of China. They to are a problem. But why will people not sort them out? We relly on china. Where is everything coming from? China. To be honest i can never really see China estsablashing a Democrcy. There have been changes but there needs to be more. If Russia however maniged to establish one thanks to political presher. Maby the same could hapen to China. As for Fudementilism, It needs to be stoped now right now. Religion is ment to be peaceful and bring hapiness to its folowers. Religious leaders encouriging violence is not what religion is about. Those people shouldnt consider themselves to be religious leaders. If dsnt stop it can only get worse. On a final note, please mister Bush. Dont go rasing into the Gulf for another war try and help the people that need it, The African people. Same for us England. You promise aid, but its all promises. Promises mean nothing if action is not taken. Well i hope my point were of actually some use. Wow my first real post in the Backroom, It is adicting ! :book:

[Templar Knight]

order through chaos

[cunctator]

I voted for nationalism. It would be much easier to solve the true global problems if the mankind would not be divided in ~200 states.

[Beirut]

Too many people.

Every person should have at least five acres of land. That would be an adequate amount of space for living properly.

[Don Corleone]

I'm going to take issue with putting China up as the 'Biggest Problem Facing the World'. That's kind of xenophobic in my eyes. I defend the US against bashing all the time, try to stick up for France (who also seems to take a few unfair shots) and likewise, I don't think it's appropriate to list 'China' in this list.

Amazing. I actually agree with Jag, that global poverty is the biggest problem facing us right now. I guess the piss and vinegar come from us figuring how to fix it. ~D I picked poverty, because it's an endemic problem that breeds many of the others. Wealthy nations don't have famines, they can afford to keep the enivornment cleaner, etc. But before everyone thinks I've caught the Socialist bug here, remember, that wealth must be created before it can be distributed. And there in lies the rub.

[Al Khalifah]

These US and their if you can't beat 'em, nuke 'em foreign policy.

[Templar Knight]

Either poverty or Religious Fundamentalism

[Don Corleone]

These guys:


and their if you can't beat 'em, nuke 'em foreign policy.

Aaah very helpful. That's right, Americans are the root cause of all evil in the world. We dream of ways to make your lives more miserable. As long as you delude yourself into believing that, and blame us for all your problems, your problems will remain because they will remain unsolved.

And for the intelligent folks int the crowd.... like I've said, I've been out of touch for a while, wandering around China. Did anybody else happen to notice that Bush said in a speech that Israel must tear down all settlements? The Chinese press picked up on it as proof of a forming division between Washington and Tel Aviv. They actually hailed it as real progress on Bush's part. But I'm sure there's going to be plenty of you out there *cough* Al Khalifah *cough* that are going to say this is just another fiendish plot by the evil Americans.

[Al Khalifah]

USA likes the following:

War - to get their own way.
Terrorism - US paid for and established the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Nationalism - fierce flag waving and devotion to 'the American Dream'
Imperialism - setting up client states around the world with ruthless dictators allowed to remain in power in exchange for oil and other natural resources.
Capitalism - 5% of the population own 95% of the wealth in America.
Globalization - American corporations exploit foreign workers to provide cheap goods to American citizens.
Totalitarianism - if we suspect you of plotting terrorist activities, then we will detain you. If someone accuses you of such things, we will mercilessly investigate your private life.
Religious Fundamentalism - in the US Presidential Election, numerous states had as Republican slogans the phrase "God wants you to vote Bush" and similar. Also opposes many issues including abortion on purely religious grounds.
Global Warming - 4% of the world's population is causing 25% of global warming. Refuses to submit to Kyoto.
Pollution - same again. Is causing irreversible damage to the world's sea water and air.
Hunger - many in middle America are poor due to insufficient social welfare systems and are forced to eat low quality foods. Also responsible for using food sanctions against third world nations that don't affect the leaders, only the innocent populations.
Poverty - many in middle America are poor due to insufficient social welfare systems. Maintains numerous oppressive regimes throughout the world that allow the leaders to live in American oil money funded luxury while the population live in abject poverty.
Diseases - biochem companies make such outrageous proffit margins that basic pharmacy products and equipment are unaffordable for poorer nations.
Extinction of Species - many species run to extinction by extensive deforestation, water pollution and game hunting.
Overpopulation - global warming is increasing the number of inhospitable areas of the Earth forcing mass build-ups of population in already over-crowded areas. America is sparsely populated, yet a strict immigration regime will not allow many genuine immigrants entry.
Shortage of Resources - overuse of fossil fuels by America will leave the world without sustainable oil supplies in 30 years. Refusal to seriously look into alternative fuel systems will leave the world without reliable energy supplies.
Violation of Human Rights - the Patriot Act and the abuses of Guantanamo Bay are blatant violations of the Human Right's Act.
Others

Oh but America isn't too of them:
Communism - having built a society born to hate Communism and all its ideals through the 70s and 80s.
China - by virtue of being America.

[KukriKhan]

Point of Order: 'USA' is not one of the 20 poll choices, unless you picked 'other' - which has not yet been selected by anyone. Therefore, although you obviously spent much time constructing your assertion ( :bow: ), it is a rant, not a vote.

Such content more correctly belongs in a separate thread. I recommend it be ignored in this thread. If a flame war ensues, the usual actions will be taken.

[Redleg]

Point of Order: 'USA' is not one of the 20 poll choices, unless you picked 'other' - which has not yet been selected by anyone. Therefore, although you obviously spent much time constructing your assertion ( :bow: ), it is a rant, not a vote.

Such content more correctly belongs in a separate thread. I recommend it be ignored in this thread. If a flame war ensues, the usual actions will be taken.

And it would be such an easy rant to show how the individual who made the post is so incorrect - but you are correct KukriKhan its best ignored because the most likely intent of the post was to generate a flame war.

[Lazul]

Voted Fundamentalism. In my eyes, its Fundamentalism that fuel wars and are used by the once in controll.

We have seen what happens when Christian Fundies and Islamic Fundies clashes.

[Franconicus]

I'm going to take issue with putting China up as the 'Biggest Problem Facing the World'. That's kind of xenophobic in my eyes. I defend the US against bashing all the time, try to stick up for France (who also seems to take a few unfair shots) and likewise, I don't think it's appropriate to list 'China' in this list.

Amazing. I actually agree with Jag, that global poverty is the biggest problem facing us right now. I guess the piss and vinegar come from us figuring how to fix it. ~D I picked poverty, because it's an endemic problem that breeds many of the others. Wealthy nations don't have famines, they can afford to keep the enivornment cleaner, etc. But before everyone thinks I've caught the Socialist bug here, remember, that wealth must be created before it can be distributed. And there in lies the rub.

Don,
I put as many possible answers to the poll as possible. That does not mean that I think that all of them are problems. I took China because it has the biggest population, a rapidly growing economy. This may be a problem to the world economy.

[Quietus]

The biggest problem is Religion. People will keep saying they are right with zero basis, citing materials that have zero basis. Result? No unity, because there's no search for a single truth. Truth that is offered by science.

Example: Muslims enraged by purported flushing of the Koran. Yet, you do not see the same riots and outrage when peoples' heads are being beheaded on camera.

Division on religion.

If you take out religion from the equation, people will be more reasonable. Because they cannot, ever invoke "God" which is not proven in the first and not supported by any scientific reasoning.

:charge:

[Franconicus]

[QUOTE=doc_bean]
I don't think overpopulation is such a big problem, we can produce quite a lot if we have to. QUOTE]
I think it is. Even if we produce more and share it in a fair way (?) there will be problems like polution, decreasing resources ... . And if everybody has enough to eat, there will propably more increase in population.

[Al Khalifah]

A vote for other then.
I don't believe that America is the root cause of evil in the world, but I do think that many of its actions are setting about chains of events that could lead to bad things happening. I was merely trying to point out that for many of the poll choices, the US can be blamed.
It's a point of view not a goad.

[KukriKhan]

I also picked "other". The other 19 problems definitely merit attention, but my choice for overall problem that could be solved this generation:

Illiteracy.

If we could get all humans, male and female, young and old, able to read at least at an elementary level, and provide universal access to material - hardcopy or electronic, we would be well on the way to solving many of the other 19 problems. Readers are more likely to be better informed about their own and other's situations and pasts; and more likely to actively participate in solutions to problems, in my opinion.

[Devastatin Dave]

I voted other...
That other would be LIBERALS!!! ~D

[Byzantine Prince]

Good post Al Khalifah. You could have added a hole lot more, hell one can write a whole book about the abuses of the US.

Well it's poverty IMO. Poverty will drag the world straight into hell if we don't make economic plans to reverse it.

[Steppe Merc]

So many too choose from. I'm not really sure. I put War, but I don't think I should have. Probably a mix of poverty, war, and environment problems... Damn. I wish i could revote and choose poverty...

[Redleg]

A vote for other then.
I don't believe that America is the root cause of evil in the world, but I do think that many of its actions are setting about chains of events that could lead to bad things happening. I was merely trying to point out that for many of the poll choices, the US can be blamed.
It's a point of view not a goad.

And one can do that for almost every nation on the planet. That you chose to single out the United States shows how much influence the country has on the world - and something else also.

Should I do the same for China, Russia, England, France, Iran, and a few others to prove a point.

KukriKhan hit the main problem that faces the world today. Illiteracy.

Think about it for just a minute or two - how many of the mentioned areas can be reduced in impact by improving the overal literacy rate of the world.

[Byzantine Prince]

And one can do that for almost every nation on the planet. That you chose to single out the United States shows how much influence the country has on the world - and something else also.

Should I do the same for China, Russia, England, France, Iran, and a few others to prove a point.
Do Liechtenstein. I'de like to hear this. You said you could do every nation, right? Do Greece, probably the most influential nation on earth.


KukriKhan hit the main problem that faces the world today. Illiteracy.
Lot's of countries have full literacy and are not going anywhere economically. South America has pretty adequate literacy rates and yet their countries are mostly dirt poor.

[KukriKhan]

I should have provided something to look at, besides my own opinion:

2001 worldwide literacy rates (global color-graph), showing BP isn't entirely wrong about S.Am:
http://www.uis.unesco.org/ev.php?ID=4950_201&ID2=DO_TOPIC

Long discussion of functional literacy, and some conclusions to be drawn for the near future:
http://warriorlibrarian.com/CURRICULUM/global_literacy.html

Extract:

"...One issue can not be ignored: Is there a relationship between illiteracy and income? Some of the figures at the extremes in the rates of literacy compared to the range of GNP per capita could suggest that there is a correlation.

Literacy rate Per capita income
below 40% less than $600
above 98% more than $12,000

In the comparison of these figures, as the literacy rate doubles, so doubles the per capita income. The message here, at least in individual economic terms, is that literacy has payoffs and is a worthwhile investment—so it seems..."

[Byzantine Prince]

Kukhri, I think you are misinterpreting data. Low education levels are a result of poor economies, not the the other way around.

Literacy rates mean little in developed countries as well, considering tow things. 80% of the population on average(in the developed world) are manual workers, and the fact is that most of them don't need to read anything. So compare that with obsenely undedeveloped countries in Africa where literacy is completely useless for 90% of the population that would never get manual work that is in the sevices industry(which traditionally requires reading and wrinting skills).

Unless you haev anything better to add, I'll stick to my guns.

[KukriKhan]

Please do 'stick to your guns'. I was trying to respond to Franconicus's poll question:

"From a global point of view, what is the biggest problem today? One that our generation has to solve."

I think global functional literacy is an achieveable first step to solving many of the problems he proposed, and that illiteracy is a problem in its own right, that he may have overlooked. I think there is significant correlation between literacy, poverty and the 'trouble spots' in the world, as reflected on the blue-er areas of that map.

You think...something else.

Of course, if the poor would just stop being poor, or fundamentalists would just stop being fundamentalists, or Americans would just stop being Americans, I guess that might work too.

[Byzantine Prince]

Ok here's some reasons why that extract you have is wrong.

My encyclopedia on the computer has the Congo(DRC) at 88% literacy(total literacy). Compare that with Canada's 96.6% and it's not that bad. Especially consider how many low level jobs there need no education whatsoever.
Also Eastern Europe has an average literacy rate of 98%(higher then Canada's) and it's definetly one of the poorest regions in the world. Also it has almost no wars. Thailand has 96% and it's also very poor.

Qatar has 82.5% and it's pretty rich. The standard of living there is probably higher the US's.

I think this requires a topic of it's own though.

[Al Khalifah]

The gap between the haves and the have-nots worries me.

More often than not the have-nots are those outside the loop. In the past I would have agreed that literacy was the main factor that influenced this prescence but nowadays I feel it takes more than just being able to read to consider oneself part of 'the revolution.'

If modern technology and computer literacy rates were available for the world's nations, as well as regular access to such resources, I think you would see a much more regular corelation to living standards and wealth.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

:help: :furious3: I voted other. The other is.................*drumroll*..................you didn't include a GAH! option! ~:eek: ~:eek: :embarassed: :duel: :duel: ~:handball: ~:handball:

[Redleg]

Do Liechtenstein. I'de like to hear this. You said you could do every nation, right? Do Greece, probably the most influential nation on earth.

I stated almost every - not all countries, there are a few exceptions to the rule as there is always. Liechtenstein might be just one - however thanks for proving a point.

That some are only viewing the United States as the problem without looking in depth into the jest of the poll or the areas that the author mentioned.

Now Greece wouldn't be all that hard considering some of the views expressed by several posters in this forum who claim to be greek or from Greece. Nationalism, Proverty, Fundmentalism and several other issues would be very easy for Greece. But you have already proven that point with your statement.

[Kaiser of Arabia]

I'd have to say Communism, with China and other (the UN) close behind

[Papewaio]

Biggest Problem: Fundamentalist 'Absolute' Knowledge/Education

Biggest Solution: Education.

With that you fight overpopulation as the more educated a person is particularly the women the less children they have.

Also with more educated individuals you get a larger set of people able to solve problems while diminishing the number who cannot solve issues for themselves.

Poverty is linked directly to education levels of a country the only exceptions are those with massive mineral wealth. Even then the education is rarely evenly dispersed throughout society.

Democracies work better with better informed citizens. Education is a key part in learning how to interpret information.

Fundamentalists, whatever their powerbase be: KKK, Catholic, Nazis, Apartheid South Africans, Neo-Nazis, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish etc all thrive on having absolute knowledge and answers. They do not thrive particularly well in an educated democracy with good social services. Education gives a broader view and too much grey scale for most fundies.

Countries that invest in education have over time seen their economies perform better. Ireland with its emphasis on education and IT have shown how a knowledge economy can help resolve problems in one of the poorest western european nations. Singapore operates on a similar methodology. New Zealand has a very strong education system and does well economically considering its more of a primary producer and tourist destination then a manufacturing base.

[Byzantine Prince]

Pape, not everyone needs to be an engineer, and scientist. We need 80% of people to be plain workers until machines can totally tak that over as well, in which case we'll need 80% of the population with really low college education.

[sharrukin]

Globalization and the clash of concepts, morality and cultures. Mutually incompatible value systems will lead to conflict and managing such change will be difficult if we cannot even agree on who should do the managing. China's emergence into the world markets, the Islamic-Western cultural and religious issues, dumping foodstuff in Africa, language issues, and the EU are all signs of this.

That's my vote anyway.

[Papewaio]

Pape, not everyone needs to be an engineer, and scientist. We need 80% of people to be plain workers until machines can totally tak that over as well, in which case we'll need 80% of the population with really low college education.

I did not say that only engineers and scientist are educated (I would hate to bring that point up with my wife who has a degree in Politcal Economics and Management).

I am talking about all education from pre-school to university and trades. Arts, languages, chefs, philosophers etc are all included in education.

[Tribesman]

Biggest problem ..... Humans .

[ichi]

Religious fundamentalism.

or maybe that asteroid

ichi :bow:

[Laridus Konivaich]

War. It depletes resources/money and does not provide any benefits to the average person involved.

[Byzantine Prince]

War. It depletes resources/money and does not provide any benefits to the average person involved.
Except for great games. ~;)

[bmolsson]

Violation of human rights.

This is a no-brainer. If we can guarantee everyone on earth human rights, most of the other listed problems will vanish, except the evils of US and Liechtenstein of course.....

[PanzerJaeger]

Al Khalifah, please confirm that you are in fact a muslim.

I want to make sure before I list what muslims like in government and social issues. :bow:

[Papewaio]

Turkey and Indonesia are both democracies while Pakistan was as well.

Malaysia is kind of a democracy just don't expect any other party to be voted in...

[PanzerJaeger]

On further thought its rude to ask someone about their religion, so scratch that - it wouldn't change my answer anyway.

The biggest problem plaguing the world is the arab street.

Arab muslim "sensibility" and the countries that support it like:

Terrorism - they foster and support killers by telling them its what Allah wants and then when they get too powerful the muslim authorities tell the their plight is all the US fault.

Totalitarianism - Muslims seem to like oppressive regimes. More than 90% of the many muslim countries aren't bothered by living in such an environment.

Poverty - While sitting on some of the worlds richest resources, being dirt poor is cool!

Oppression of Women - Could there be any better symbol of this than the burka? "Hey Akbar - your wife just got raped, when are we going to string her up?"

Hunger - That goes with being poor as shit while also living on a sea of oil. ~:rolleyes:

Hatred In All Forms - Arab muslims seem to hate everyone! Americans, Jews, Hindus, and so many more! Is it jealousy?

Violence - Wherever they go they seem to cause trouble no? India, Africa, Europe and America haven't escaped their rage.

Fundamentalism - Did Allah tell them they'd get 40 virgins in heaven.

Capitalism - 5% of the people control 95% of the wealth.

Backasswardness - They stone rape victims for fun! Need I say more?


Now in all seriousness, Arab muslims seem to be causing much of the world's problems today. They have untold amounts of wealth at their disposal yet they live in trash and export their jealous rage toward other peoples. :help:

[Papewaio]

On further thought its rude to ask someone about their religion, so scratch that - it wouldn't change my answer anyway.

The biggest problem plaguing the world is the arab street.

Arab muslim "sensibility" and the countries that support it like:

Terrorism - they foster and support killers by telling them its what Allah wants and then when they get too powerful the muslim authorities tell the their plight is all the US fault.
:

Really all muslim authorities support terrorism?



Totalitarianism - Muslims seem to like oppressive regimes. More than 90% of the many muslim countries aren't bothered by living in such an environment.
:

Indonesia and Turkey combined have a population of about 300 million, they are democracies that are getting more demcratic as time progresses. If they represent 10% of muslim population you are saying that their is 3 billion muslims in the world.



Poverty - While sitting on some of the worlds richest resources, being dirt poor is cool!
:

The richest resources would probably be South Africa and PNG. Indonesia is pretty well off to, but the people where screwed over by their secular government dictator(s) supported/appeased by Australia and USA.



Oppression of Women - Could there be any better symbol of this than the burka? "Hey Akbar - your wife just got raped, when are we going to string her up?"
:

Not all muslim countries make women wear burkhas and in some countries burkhas are banned in some occupations. Turkey is fairly strong in that one, while in Indonesia I cannot remember seeing many burkhas. On the other hand a lot of Hindu indians where similar garb. Overall they tend to be worn in countries with stronger sunlight more then being worn in more fundamentalist areas.



Hunger - That goes with being poor as shit while also living on a sea of oil. ~:rolleyes:
:

Yes, unfair distribution of oil wealth is not limited to muslim nations. South America for starters and the former USSR are two good examples of this.



Hatred In All Forms - Arab muslims seem to hate everyone! Americans, Jews, Hindus, and so many more! Is it jealousy?
:

It also seems that some people hate all Arab muslims and group them altogether as terrorists.



Violence - Wherever they go they seem to cause trouble no? India, Africa, Europe and America haven't escaped their rage.
:

I wonder what the Aztecs and Incas would say. As well as the rest of the worlds EU colonies...



Fundamentalism - Did Allah tell them they'd get 40 virgins in heaven.
:

I wonder what the KKK, Nazis and IRA were told?



Capitalism - 5% of the people control 95% of the wealth.
:

Are we arguing the first world vs the rest of the world or the muslim world?



Backasswardness - They stone rape victims for fun! Need I say more?
:

I think all countries that have the death penalty is backwards. Do more modern methods make it more moral?



Now in all seriousness, Arab muslims seem to be causing much of the world's problems today. They have untold amounts of wealth at their disposal yet they live in trash and export their jealous rage toward other peoples. :help:


Now in all seriousness, American fundamentalists seem to be causing much of the world's problems today. They have untold amounts of wealth at their disposal yet they live in trash and export their jealous rage toward other peoples. :help:

Just flipping the statement... it is a bitter pill to swallow even if you know it isn't true and it definitly doesn't open up dialogue.

[PanzerJaeger]

I should have just told Al Khalifah how idiotic his anti-american rant was instead of trying some tricky reciprocation debate tactic.

Im not going to defend that rant because I dont believe half of it. I was just using common anti-arab propaganda as he used anti-american crap. My temper got the best of my yet again.. :embarassed:

[Papewaio]

Well shall we row together since we are in the same boat PanzerJager?

I'm sure our bad temper could make us row faster... and since we on different sides of the politcal spectrum right/left it should mean the boat goes straight rather then in circles.

~:cheers:

[PanzerJaeger]

http://ucsu.colorado.edu/~monsen/images/rowboat.jpg

I like those hats.. ~;)

[Papewaio]

Well row faster and we can catch up with those two chicks!

Left / Right together... :bow:

[Franconicus]

Biggest Problem: Fundamentalist 'Absolute' Knowledge/Education

Biggest Solution: Education.

With that you fight overpopulation as the more educated a person is particularly the women the less children they have.

Also with more educated individuals you get a larger set of people able to solve problems while diminishing the number who cannot solve issues for themselves.

Poverty is linked directly to education levels of a country the only exceptions are those with massive mineral wealth. Even then the education is rarely evenly dispersed throughout society.

Democracies work better with better informed citizens. Education is a key part in learning how to interpret information.

Fundamentalists, whatever their powerbase be: KKK, Catholic, Nazis, Apartheid South Africans, Neo-Nazis, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish etc all thrive on having absolute knowledge and answers. They do not thrive particularly well in an educated democracy with good social services. Education gives a broader view and too much grey scale for most fundies.

Countries that invest in education have over time seen their economies perform better. Ireland with its emphasis on education and IT have shown how a knowledge economy can help resolve problems in one of the poorest western european nations. Singapore operates on a similar methodology. New Zealand has a very strong education system and does well economically considering its more of a primary producer and tourist destination then a manufacturing base.
Papewaio,
I do not think that it is as simple as that. People who can write and esp. so called intellectual people also tend to fundamentalism. Look at the Nazis in Germanyin the 30ies. Germany was a democracy and most people could read.

[Al Khalifah]

Al Khalifah, please confirm that you are in fact a muslim.

I want to make sure before I list what muslims like in government and social issues.

No I'm not. I'm a Christian. I still don't like the slandering of religions that share my God, but many of the points hit the nail on the head about those who abuse the words and teachings of a religion to further their own aim. There are plenty of Christians who do the same.

Maybe the biggest threat facing humanity is the conflict of value systems and interests between the fundamentalists and the strong secular powers - although the two can often work together in tandem. Many western democracies are also quite happy to leave oppressive Islamic fundamentalist regimes in power because they can operate a far more efficient and cost-effective oil production cycle than a more humanitarian democracy ever could. The fundamentalists are also happy to accept money from the western heathen that they condem.