Because they're sitting on top of 3/4 of the world's oil, a huge pile of weapons and a demographic timebomb?
AII
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So we have 2 sets of solutions and some synergy.
Get off our oil addiction. Its a simple choice increase solar, tidal, wind and for base load nuclear and then use EVs rather then subsidising dictators. We should not be using food for petrol substitutes... maybe for machine lubrication and pharmaceutical substitution.
Help the youth in these countries get skills to get jobs. It will either diffuse the timebomb/get them ready for a oil independent economy or give them the skill set to fight for democracy themselves without leaving a bitter oily residue in their mouths about the west.
I think the first set has to be done, otherwise we will never have the willpower to front these regimes. In the end of the day our habits in oil and drugs are what are doing a lot of the damage in third world countries. As far as drugs are concerned treat addicts as well addicts, make it a health sector issue first and foremost. Any crimes that drug users comit make them face the full force of the law, without the benefit of 'I was under the influence'.
We kick out habits, we kick out the dictators. No need to invade, or prop them up. Help the people and one day those communities will be happy to trade with us.
It's very hard to know why we aren't doing this with all vigour. It would also create a lot of new jobs and industry at home. Just a big effort towards energy efficiency would make a huge difference.
Much more difficult. This is just another form of economic imperialism. Any failure immediately becomes our fault. No, let them sort out their own employment problems - by all means be a trading partner.
Quite a bizarre position. How do you ignore them when they turn the oil off - or even down? Our oil dependent economies are already in a deeply fragile state and we have been begging the Saudis on our knees for the last couple of years to keep the taps on full. How do you ignore someone who has you by the danglies?
Any western employment scheme for Arabs would be disastrous, not because we would be wrongfully blamed for failure, but because it would be a failure and we would be to blame. Western companies and bureaucracies have a horrible track-record in the Arab world already and the possibilities for fraud in such a scheme would be enormous, comparable to those of, say, the carbon emission trade or the niche for western contractors in warzones.
I mean, just look at our bankers these days. You think they wouldn't find a way to funnel those job scheme millions to the Bahama's before you can say 'job'?
AII
I didn't say give them jobs. I said give them skills to get jobs. Nuance gentleman :7madhatter:, nuance.
For example Ron Bruder and his Education For Employment
I think that counts as a viable proof of concept. :coffeenews:
It's because were spoiled Banquo.
I don't know if many people on the org really really really know just how wonderful a product petroleum is.
Basically it is a gift that we will take a long time to get back once we have used over 50% of it.
There are masses of unemployed graduates in the Maghreb and Mid East they will be fine. I don't doubt a little bit more freedom will go a long way to sorting there problems out (eventually).Quote:
Much more difficult. This is just another form of economic imperialism. Any failure immediately becomes our fault. No, let them sort out their own employment problems - by all means be a trading partner.
hmm how do you ignore someone who has you by the unmentionablesQuote:
Quite a bizarre position. How do you ignore them when they turn the oil off - or even down? Our oil dependent economies are already in a deeply fragile state and we have been begging the Saudis on our knees for the last couple of years to keep the taps on full. How do you ignore someone who has you by the danglies?
Two answers here
1 You don't ignore them and hope they let go.
2 you do ignore them but your eyes will water
Geez only 50.000 dead estimated, I feel so proud about my country having a hand in 'the liberation of the Lybians'.
Maybe with a friendly regime giving us good prices on oil the cost of Vaseline will go down
God put the Med there to keep them a nice long way from Europe. He even added another body of water to keep the UK away from Europe.
Good luck the AU and the Arab league. You're going to need it.
~:smoking: