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Special Report
Prerequisites to True Freedom in the Middle East
Without economic freedom, what’s the point?
There are several profound lessons in the specific event that is thought to be what triggered the spreading unrest in the Middle East. Much can be learned from the particulars of what happened and the fact that they have resonated so widely. The event and its ramifications were the subject of a recent 60 Minutes segment.
The following is how Wikipedia summarized what happened:
Twenty-six year old Mohamed Bouazizi had been the sole income earner in his extended family of eight. He operated a purportedly unlicensed vegetable cart for seven years in Sidi Bouzid 190 miles south of Tunis. On December 17, 2010 a policewoman confiscated his cart and produce. Bouazizi, who had such an event happen to him before, tried to pay the 10-dinar fine (a day’s wages or about 10 USD). In response the policewoman slapped him, spat in his face, and insulted his deceased father. A humiliated Bouazizi then went to the provincial headquarters in an attempt to complain to the local municipality officials. He was refused an audience. Without alerting his family, at 11:30 a.m. and within an hour of the initial confrontation, Bouazizi returned to the headquarters, doused himself with a flammable liquid and set himself on fire. Public outrage quickly grew over the incident, leading to protests. Bouazizi died on January 4, 2011.
Apparently a lot of people in the region identified with Mr. Bouazizi’s frustrations. Anti-government demonstrations in Tunisia inspired similar demonstrations in Egypt, Libya, and Yemen. Dictators who have ruled for decades are wondering who’s next.
It would not be possible to generalize about the various objectives of hundreds of thousands of demonstrators in a number of different countries. Replacing dictators with democratically elected governments seems to be one goal. Political freedoms such as freedom of speech and assembly are another likely objective.
However, it was not specifically political freedom that drove Mohamed Bouazizi to his desperate act. Rather, it was the absence of economic freedom. His last words before setting himself aflame were, “How do you expect me to make a living?”
Economic freedom is at least as important as political freedom, particularly in practical, day-to-day terms. Your freedoms to earn a living and freely engage in voluntary exchange are at least as important as your freedom to vote or freedom of speech.
The government took from Mr. Bouazizi his ability to earn a living. It arbitrarily took from him, and his customers as well, the freedom to engage in voluntary exchange. That is obnoxious interference with a most fundamental human endeavor. What could be a more basic economic activity than operating a vegetable cart in a village market?
It has been reported that the unemployment rate among college graduates in Tunisia and Egypt is 50 percent. Dictatorships smother the human spirit in numerous ways. Millions of people who want to be gainfully employed cannot find jobs. Centrally controlled economies are functionally incapable of delivering authentic full employment.
Human rights are inextricably connected with property rights. As Ayn Rand observed many years ago, “Just as man can’t exist without his body, so no rights can exist without the right to translate one’s rights into reality—to think, to work and keep the results—which means the rights to property…. Without property rights, no other rights are possible. The man who has no right to the product of his effort has no means to sustain his life.” Rand could well have had in mind someone like Mohamed Bouazizi when she wrote those words.
Each year the Heritage Foundation computes a “property rights index”:
A subcomponent of the Index of Economic Freedom, the property rights index measures the degree to which a country’s laws protect private property rights, and the degree to which its government enforces those laws. The index also assesses the likelihood that private property will be expropriated and analyzes the independence of the judiciary, the existence of corruption within the judiciary, and the ability of individuals and businesses to enforce contracts.
In the Mideast, Israel has a property rights index of 70, the highest in the region. Egypt’s index is 50, and Libya’s is 10. (The U.S. has an index of 85.) Raising their property rights index should be a top priority for the revolutionaries in the region. What drove Mr. Bouazizi over the edge was the confiscation of his property.
Lack of dependable property rights is a major deterrent to investing. An investment is a current expenditure for a future benefit. Reliable property rights are one of the best ways to create a predictable future.
Whether or not economic freedom is important is one of the dividing lines between liberals and conservatives. Liberals never met a regulation they didn’t like. They’re strong advocates of rent control, minimum-wage laws, and oil and gas drilling bans, for example. They believe our problems result from too few regulations rather than too many. They generally see nothing wrong with countless diminutions of property rights.
About the Author
Ron Ross Ph.D. is an economist who lives in Arcata, California. He is the author of The Unbeatable Market. Reach him at rossecon@gmail.com.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (92) | Leave a comment
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Intelligent Design| 2.25.11 @ 8:23AM
There will never be peace or freedom in Islamic countries, since by definition they ban religious freedom and individual rights. Islam is about the merger of "church" and state, and arbitrary "holy" law (shari'a) instead of secular law. Nothing could be more hostile to our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Muslims will be free only when the become ex-Muslims ... when they reject the 7th century and join the 21st. This point is proven by the penalties suffered by Muslims who are brave enough to commit apostasy. The problem is not so much "radical Islam" as it is Islam itself.
Congress could help by being bold enough to identify Islam as a subversive ideology and organization determined to undermine our Constitution. Islam is not a religion. It is politics or it is nothing. True religions oppose evil, whereas Islam embodies evil.
richard ryan| 2.25.11 @ 8:36AM
So true. The so called "radicals" are following their religious texts to the letter. A woman being free in Islamic culture? They are slaves, pure and simple.
Alan Brooks| 2.25.11 @ 12:05PM
Agreed, which is why the GOP saying Bush helped set in motion what is transpiring today means little or nothing. If women aren't free, and Islam has no intention of freeing them, then freedom is empty.
Brian Mc| 2.25.11 @ 8:51AM
Petty tyrants! Local, State, or Federal? How's that incandescent bulb burning for you? Look at your Federal Notification board at work but brush up on your Spanish, first. Excuse me, I must go and pass my OSHA test-talk to you later!
Alan Brooks| 2.26.11 @ 8:45PM
"Liberals never met a regulation they didn't like. They're strong advocates of rent control, minimum-wage laws, and oil and gas drilling bans, for example. They believe our problems result from too few regulations rather than too many. They generally see nothing wrong with countless diminutions of property rights."
Partly true. But you leave out that rightists want a statism that serves their interests above all others.
So the poor live in dysfunction; the rich pay too much in taxes.
Everyone is checkmated.
simon templar| 2.27.11 @ 11:11AM
You write, "rightists want a statism that serves their interests above all others. So the poor live in dysfunction; the rich pay too much in taxes." Please explain..elaborate...I do not have a any frick'n idea of what you are trying to say.
Albert| 2.27.11 @ 12:54PM
Neither does Brooks.
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.25.11 @ 9:21AM
Mr. Ross
well written, but as Intelligent Design zeroed in above, there are NO property rights under Islam.
Not even the right to your own body if you happen to be female.
...Not even your conscience if you are male.
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.25.11 @ 9:24AM
Mr. Ross, correction perhaps...
Since you are addressing property rights, how about a more direct contrast?
....Not even your intellectual property rights if you are a male.
Occam's Tool| 2.27.11 @ 4:07PM
Let's see: pre-requisites for freedom under Sharia.
1) Stop raping little girls.
2) Stop Throwing Acid in the faces of little girls.
3)Time machine to go back and kill Muhammed at age 2.
KyMouse| 2.25.11 @ 9:25AM
"Economic freedom is at least as important as political freedom," and religious freedom is crucial as well. The Middle East needs that, too.
John| 2.25.11 @ 9:59AM
the dictators of the ME have crushed their people to nothing. There is no dignity for people in these states. The tyrants steal all the money. The tyrants only run these countries for the interest of foreign powers. Some of whom occupy whole swathes of the ME. and regularly wipe countries of the map. This revolution will transform the ME and provide dignity to it's people after 200 years of oppression . property are central aspect of Islamic jurisprudence and that includes intellectual property. most Islamic scholars reject any kind of government taxes. Most countries in ME have no concept of taxation. in this regard the American libertarian view is very close tothe conservative Islamic concepts .
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.25.11 @ 11:46AM
John/muhamed,
I keep asking myself: "Is "John" that stupid, or is he simply a propagandist?
It doesn't matter.
Hey, pig's-son, Your wonderful "pure " Islamics were herding goats and camels...and killing female infants, until we horrible westerners found your oil...and developed it for your ignorant...MUSLIM MASTERS.
Then your MUSLIM masters nationalized those oil fields...(stole our sweat), and the rest is history.
Go back to goat herding and reading your koran.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.25.11 @ 2:05PM
LOL
So much truth in your words Ken, and so eloquent I might add. ;-)
Occam's Tool| 2.25.11 @ 8:22PM
Dear Ken: He is a stupid propagandist. You are brilliant and uplifting, as usual.
Mistral| 2.25.11 @ 12:13PM
"Islamic scholars'? This is an oxymoron in a religion that cannot be debated since anyone who questions the faith could be liable for punishment. There is nothing to be discussed so how can there be scholarship? Poor old John you're really clueless about the basics aren't you?
John| 2.25.11 @ 1:14PM
'Islamic scholars' is a tautology.
Mistral| 2.25.11 @ 5:19PM
Well it hasn't taught you very much.
Occam's Tool| 2.25.11 @ 8:24PM
No. It's usually an oxymoron. I can think of a few Islamic scholars, but they don't tend to be fundamentalist.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.25.11 @ 2:08PM
Yes, he's missing the basics.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.25.11 @ 2:07PM
I bet you weren't talking like that about those dictators when Bush kicked Suddam's behind, commie.
W| 2.27.11 @ 8:53AM
You are describing every country run by sharia law muslims, primarily Iran, Iraq, and soon Egypt. Why do you not have democracy and representative government based on free elections in the muslim countries? At some point you have to face reality, stop blaming other countries, and blame yourself, primarily your religion.
Emily| 2.25.11 @ 11:14AM
Property rights are human rights! Thanks for putting the spotlight on economic freedom.
Intelligent Design| 2.25.11 @ 1:59PM
Exactly. Without property rights freedom cannot exist. Our very wise and brave founders knew that in 1776.
Dustoff| 2.25.11 @ 11:21AM
Sometimes I think to myself. It's time to get out of the M.E
Let them kill each other off.
Granted we need to drill now and build our power systems.
We should only go there to kick their tails if they threaten us.
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.25.11 @ 11:39AM
Dustoff,
You are going to orgasm reading my new novel.
(heh)
Sir, you have brought it down to a nutshell.
Paul| 2.25.11 @ 11:57AM
Individual property rights is foundational to our republic. What is the foundation for these rights? Look to our Judeo-Christian heritage. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were only sojourners in the Land of Promise; Jacob's descendents served as slaves owning no land in Egypt for 400 years. After the miraculous deliverence from Egypt, almost 40 years were spent journeying to the Promised Land. This nation finally entered the land having received many instructions from Jehovah God about its use and benefit. Much is said about private ownership and inheritance. God said, "the land is mine" (Lev. 25) but he gave it to the descendents of Jacob (Israel). While we owe much to our English (British) heritage, it is this history of Israel that is the foundation for our property rights.
David T| 2.25.11 @ 12:12PM
Exactly. The right to own property and to buy and sell in a free and open market is implicit throughout the Old and New Testaments.
John| 2.25.11 @ 12:10PM
Ken (ignorant) Texan ,
there's nothing wrong with goat herding. Many of the prophets were Goat herders.
USA is welcome to explore for oil in ME. Just keep your armies, bases at home. while America fiddles in the ME the Chinese are getting ahead. If America could have spent 3 trillion dollars on its people , infrastructure instead of useless wars - where it would it be today. Whose the stupid one now ken.
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.25.11 @ 12:19PM
Well, John, muhamed,
You are stupid. We have saved our oil for "last".
We are BUYING yours...at market value...not stealing it.
Fortunately, we here in North America have a five hundred year supply of oil and coal under our ground.
China will squeeze you when our guys pack up and leave your oil-fields.
Lottsa luck with them, fool.
John| 2.25.11 @ 1:28PM
In that Market price you better include the trillions spent controlling the ME. not very smart . The Chinese pay just the Market price. I thought you guys were capitalists. You can't even add two numbers together. I'm sure the Chinese will stop buying your debt very soon. Bye bye military industrial complex . Yeh, you'll be needing that dirty coal. And the guns that you so love. shame really since your nation showed so much promise. ofcourse if America made a strategic alliance with the Islamic world based on respect who knows you might have few more hundred years left in you. Freinds good friends are very useful. the American right loonies have difficulty understanding this . Don't forget to borrow anothe 100 billion from the Chinese, the isrealis will be wanting more of your dollars this year. A fool and his money are soon parted.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.25.11 @ 1:51PM
Dillusion. The american right? GTFOH
That makes a lot of sense buddy. The American right has been the idealogues that led to the creation of the EPA who has stifled our domestic oil production. If it weren't for us buying the ME oil then you fools would be living like cavemen. Please, take your communist-inspired ranting to moveon.org. At least you will be appreciated there and not mocked.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.25.11 @ 2:02PM
We did just spend 3 trillion on "the people, infrastructure, and roads", dipstick. And our debt doubled over the past two years, while unemployement has nearly doubled alongside it.
You Commies just don't get it. Any real economic growth is acheived via economic freedom.
These are the basics. Any economists worth a damn today will tell you the Keynesian Economics was proved a fraud 75 years ago, but morons like yourself still believe in it for some reason.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.25.11 @ 2:03PM
I'm tired of being "civil" with these people. Like Rush says, "They must be defeated. There's no compromises to be had with them."
Seek| 2.25.11 @ 6:48PM
An economist you are not.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.26.11 @ 3:02PM
So you are? I know i'm not. I work in insurance, but I do have a masters level understanding of economics, not to mention a historical view of how markets respond to "stimulus".
So please, next time explain how im so wrong on economics and I will be more than happy to discuss.
Occam's Tool| 2.27.11 @ 4:17PM
Phil,
you are no Pig, sir. An expertly prepared Reuben, perhaps. But no pig.
Occam's Tool| 2.25.11 @ 8:25PM
Indeed. There's only one decent country in the Middle East.
Occam's Tool| 2.27.11 @ 4:09PM
Yes, but upon goat herding a complex economic system, complete with 21st Century Medicine and Communications, does not exist.
Dave Williams| 2.25.11 @ 1:00PM
Our favorite troll Alan Brooks keeps harping on how the current wave of freedom sweeping the Middle East is meaningless because it's for men only. A bit of perspective, sir: freedom for men will, in the fullness of time, inevitably result in freedom for women as well. Look at the West's own history; and keep in mind that Swiss women couldn't vote until 1971. One gender at a time -- it isn't fair, and it isn't right -- but the upheavals over there are to be celebrated as loudly as we can.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.25.11 @ 1:57PM
How about we wait to celebrate until we see if freedom is increased or decreased? Just a thought..
Occam's Tool| 2.27.11 @ 4:20PM
Dave,
here is my expectation---that Islamist fundamentalists will take over and repress the hell out of everyone, as opposed to the current Dictators. The people there have no concept of Western Civilization or values. None.
Incidentally, I hope your are correct. Doubt it, though. Data points elsewhere.
Occam's Tool| 2.27.11 @ 4:20PM
Sorry, "you are correct," not "your are correct."
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.25.11 @ 1:47PM
Let's take it a step further, without economic freedom in the U.S., what's the point?
I've been told we are the second highest taxed nation in the world, so in that sense you can make the argument that we are the second least free nation in the world.
"Communism is the modern operational form of slavery." -- JFK
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.25.11 @ 1:53PM
Anybody else think of Goldwater while reading this?
Islam = Clitorectomy| 2.25.11 @ 2:57PM
What if 91% of AMERICAN women had ALREADY had their clitoris mutilated by, say, the regnant Christian church?
I’m sorry, but economic freedom ain’t spit, when barbarism is the rule.
Tell EVERYBODY that 91% of Egyptian ladies have been SCREWED by Islam!
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.25.11 @ 4:21PM
And Ahmed (Below aka "John") says we worry about their private parts too much?!
Uhhhh... At least we don't "Pop Cherries" at church.. lol
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.25.11 @ 4:22PM
He wants to stay off "private parts" bc he's lacking in "The margin."
John| 2.25.11 @ 3:48PM
What's the obsession with womens private parts. You guys should stop watching porn. Not very healthy. Try going out a bit more. Porn is very damaging. What is about America and porn. Why do you reduce women to their bits. all very disturbing. but then that is your religion and culture.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.25.11 @ 4:01PM
Yeah, and you guys stone a woman for being raped by her uncle bc she doesn't have 5 witnesses to prove that she was raped. I would like to have about 3.5, maybe even 4 minutes with you dirtbag womanizing bastards over there.
Does treating women like a disposable rag make you feel like a tough guy? You are fool..
Sorry, Ahmed, you have no moral ground to stand on.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.25.11 @ 4:05PM
You see, us american men (I mean, MEN) understand that ANY man who assaults, rapes, stones a woman is a COWARD. Guys that do these things prey on women bc they are too weak to prey on other men, pussy.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.25.11 @ 4:07PM
BTW, I would watch less porn and go out more if we have nice little terrorists groups to hang out in like you cowards in the middle east.
Just the whole strategy of war via terrorism is cowardly. Show your face, coward. Fight like a man, and die like a man.
"A coward dies a thousand deaths, a soldier dies but once."
Coward.
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.25.11 @ 4:14PM
John/muhamed
I'm really glad you come here.
You remind us of just how ignorant Muslims truly are. Thank you.
With every one of your posts you remind us of why we should just build a barbed wire fence around all of you and watch the pornography of your lives and religion put you back on your donkeys, and wiping your butts with your left hands.
...The next time you wipe your butt with toilet paper...or rinse with your bidet, thank a westerner.
The next time you write a post here, thank a westerner for inventing the computer.
The next time you eat a decent meal, thank a westerner.
You poor bastards, (literally), are simply parasites in the walls of the houses we built for you.
Your time has come to an end.
I'm very sorry.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.25.11 @ 4:20PM
Hey Ken, did you notice the similarities between "John" and Liberals?
They both like to tell us how bad we are without ever examining themselves..
Occam's Tool| 2.25.11 @ 8:26PM
Right, and it was a bunch of Americans raping Lara Logan while shouting "jew, jew."
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.25.11 @ 4:13PM
Seriously, people, with ignorant ppl like our boy "John" aka ahmed, aka muhammed, who is either the heir to some oil fortune, or just terribly naive and ignorant, we must understand that there is NOTHING we can do to help these people. You can expect cavemen to behave like intellectuals. So lets pack our shit up and never look back.
We can produce all of our own oil here, keep our wealth here (never to be redistributed again) and if anybody wants to come get some of the U.S., then not only will they get some, they will take some! We should be so strong financially as a nation that China shouldn't even be a threat. Let's get back to what made this nation great: Uncommon Men. And lets get away from the narrative of the "common man."
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.25.11 @ 4:14PM
You *Can't expect...
John| 2.25.11 @ 4:41PM
Wow. Guys. Calm down. Take a deep breath. I must have really touched a nerve with this porn thing. I promise I won't mention it again. What you do in your private life is your evidence. but I do think that all this porn coming out of the west is damaging both men and women.
Occam's Tool| 2.25.11 @ 8:27PM
And the biggest per capita downloaders are in Islamic countries.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.26.11 @ 3:06PM
What about killing anyone in the streets who is an "infidel"? Is that "damaging to men and women"?
Please take your self-rightgeous ranting back to your al-qaeda buddies. They will make you feel good about your upside down morality.
Richard Baker| 2.25.11 @ 6:51PM
Sounds good but this occurs in a system which treats property rights, human rights, and life itself as fit meat for Islam. Unless Islam disappears and the oppression that travels with it, as well, nothing will much change in the Arabic/Moslem countries. Democracy? Freedom? Anyone who thinks that this form of government or our type has a chance in the Middle East is positively addled.
John| 2.25.11 @ 7:07PM
Islam is not disappearing. in the next 100 years half of humanity will be muslim. Better get used to that buddy. universal suffrage is a new concept for humanity. I have no doubt Muslims can make use of this political innovation. It will of course have an Islamic flavour. But that isn't suprising. America can really help here. it can remove backing for tyrannies in ME. Stop funding states which want to implement apartheid policies. bring tensions down in ME.
Occam's Tool| 2.25.11 @ 8:31PM
Apartheid policies: like Hamas, Egypt, Iran, Syria, etc.
John: you will lose. Painfully, hugely, horrifyingly. You will meet your Pat Buckman (American President during the start of Caliphate, by Tom Kratman), and it will go very, very, badly and eerily glowingly for your people, the Islamofascists.
Universal suffrage is old hat for Israel. Only scumbag vermin countries find it a new thing.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.26.11 @ 3:08PM
Amen.
Occam's Tool| 2.25.11 @ 8:32PM
Dear John:
Review the Bible on Sodom and Gomorrah, for that is your people's future. The G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who is NOT Allah, is going to open a Texas sized jar of whup ass.
Richard Baker| 2.25.11 @ 8:42PM
Occam:
There will be a tremenendous fight against the Moslems because they want domination of the world in the same old sorry way that Hitler, Stalin, and other despots wanted. Personally, I'd be greasing a bunch of the imams, mullahs, and ayatollahs. Since most of Islam is illiterate or very near, these "religious leaders" are inciting and fomenting much trouble because they feel immune. Let's help them find their 72 Virgins.
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.26.11 @ 3:09PM
I'll be more than obliged to help, sir.
John| 2.25.11 @ 10:40PM
Neoconservative fantasies mixed with Christian eschatology. The nutters are out in force today. Is it a full moon today?
Tom Kratman | 2.26.11 @ 7:49AM
You don't seem to understand the first thing - and I do mean the _first_ thing - about Islam. That first thing is that God has already legislated all the important things and any attempt on the part of mere man to set different rules for himself is impious and evil. What meaning does democracy have when there's nothing important to vote on?
PhilTheCapitalistPig| 2.26.11 @ 3:18PM
Thanks for the compliment. Im proud to be a neo-conservative. Do you even know what it means? Its "new conservstism" and its conservatism with an emphasis on national defense. And as long as there are wackos in the world who are so intolerant as to try and force everyone to live under REAL, hard tyranny, i'm gonna go out on a limb and say we should focus on national defense so we can send you guys to the slaughterhouse if you try to bring it to our shore. Please believe, a free man has a lot more reasons to fight than a drone such as yourself. So keep posting for your slavemaster, whether its by the muzzle of an american m-16 or by your slavemasters sword, you will be defeated.
All I can say is, bring it. I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees like you, fool. So just know that, when the chips get put down on the table, is doesn't matter if you have more soldiers, we will destroy you. This is good vs evil, and its pretty obvious we're the force of good. You guys are repeating the bigotry and genocidal ideas of dirtbags like hitler.
So, bring it.
Richard Baker| 2.26.11 @ 5:48PM
John:
Just paraphrasing a comment made by GEN Schwarzkopf on that subject with which I'm in full agreement. When the time comes, you can sit at home and contemplate your navel, or whatever you contemplate, and be safe in your own little world. I would refer you to George Orwell's quote regarding Rough Men.
John| 2.26.11 @ 6:38PM
The Muslims are not your enemy. Islam is not your enemy. you are being fed lies by those who want to give the two trillion dollar military industrial complex a purpose. So that can continue to suck you dry. American armies, bases in the ME add no value to american security. The support of arpatheid in ME brings no security. Supporting tyrants brings no value. Its time america spent trillions on its own people- healthcare, food, infrastructure. Aipac, fanatical racist Christians , neoconservatives will never allow that. they hate America and its people. time to wake up. Peace.
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.27.11 @ 9:48AM
Question, john muhamed,
When you get your 7 some odd virgins, will they have been pre-mutilated for you?
There is an old American song named "Can't get No Satisfaction".
Maybe you Muslims are so violent is because your women can't respond to you . Their ability to be responsive and affectionate has been cut out.
You guys will always have no satisfaction.
simon templar| 2.27.11 @ 11:35AM
John is not a muslim but wants you to think he in order to solicit a reaction against muslims. He is using phrases and jargon that a real muslim would never use. This is a classic liberal socialist troll technique. They believe in their liberal hearts that conservatives are racist and all they need is a little prodding to push it out in the open. They also know that there are a lot of confused people out there that are surfing the web for answers; particularly now that it is clear that alternative media as Fox News and conservative web sites are getting wider and wider audiences. This is why we get a constant onslaught of trolls hitting these sites. Have you ever noticed how it spikes when there are very critical issues at hand like the recent Wisconsin events going on and they are feeling really threatened? They do not give a rats ass about debate or a free exchange of ideas but rather the opportunity to propagandize, confuse, name call, slander, and define and frame the debate. We need to remember this and bear in in mind when we respond. Think about it.
W| 2.27.11 @ 1:31PM
agree with you simon, at first i thought johny was a foreigner, but the more excited he gets with his rants, the phrases come through. good call.
he is just another lefty lunatic, now pretending to be a muslim. must be some handbook for lefty trolls.
John| 2.27.11 @ 11:34AM
yeah, you continue insulting while the real enemies of America continue to suck you dry. Americans living on food stamps, poor schools, no healthcare. why is that. Because they're sucking you dry. Why do Americans get very little for their taxes. Because they ( aipac, isreal, neconserbatives, military industrial complex, fanatical racist christains, wall street) are sucking America's lifeblood away. It's all very sad that those who hate american are bringing this country down. You ken are either a fool or with those who hate America . Real true Americans are waking up.
simon templar| 2.27.11 @ 11:42AM
You really need to be consistent when you pretend to be a foreigner not knowing the english language. Try being consistent with the use of sentence fragments and the misuse of verb tense through out the paragraph. Stay away form using phrases in a manner that are dead giveaway that only an America liberal would know. Remember you are from far away country where you have not been exposed to concepts and nuances that only american liberals would be aquainted with.
W| 2.27.11 @ 1:29PM
You are describing every country run by sharia law muslims, primarily Iran, Iraq, and soon Egypt. Why do you not have democracy and representative government based on free elections in the muslim countries? At some point you have to face reality, stop blaming other countries, and blame yourself, primarily your religion
putra | 2.27.11 @ 1:13PM
Basically, the Islamic culture is depending on their leaders like a King. Everybody wants to be a leader and who is to become a leader they act like a King, no false and always right.
They always demand justice with a sword because there is a full conflict of interest among their leaders. And very difficult to be invited for peacefully negotiate.
So, that peace in the Middle East can only be temporary, not for peace forever.
John| 2.27.11 @ 1:54PM
Democracratic traditions have had difficulty embedding themselves inME because occupying powers like USA, isreal oppose Any democratic urges. Remember what happened in Palestine. The gulf people are knee deep under american armies and bases. The Arab struggle for freedom is now unstoppable . American should bring troops, bases back home where they belong. They're definitely not welcome in ME. we don't like foreign troops in our backyard. I bet you guys feel the same.
George True| 2.27.11 @ 2:50PM
The actual truth about everything is the exact opposite of the nonsense that you come here and spout. That is quite an accomplishment - to have everything exactly ass-backwards. You are stuck fast in your illusions.
In any case I truly feel sorry for you. The Dalai Lama once said that to become disillusioned should actually be a cause for celebration. The term means, literally, freedom from illusion. In other words, finally seeing things as they really are. It is very liberating, which was his point.
The reason your rantings are so thoroughly mocked here is that by and large, the posters here are people who, over a lifetime of hard experience, have won their freedom from illusion. They see things as they actually are. You unfortunately have not reached that point. I will pray that sooner or later you do.
Occam's Tool| 2.27.11 @ 4:16PM
Israel, John. Use your spellcheck, buffoon.
John| 2.27.11 @ 3:52PM
60 years of American hegemony in ME is an illusion. American bases, armies in ME an illusion. the holocoast in Iraq an illusion. Six million Palestinian refugees an illusion. American tyrannies in ME an illusion. Even the dalai lama couldn't wake from this dream. Just bring your troops and bases home. They are absolutely not welcome in ME. Not wanted.
Occam's Tool| 2.27.11 @ 4:15PM
Six Million Palestinian refugees IS an illusion. I agree about withdrawing our bases once we extract the oil we need. Poor farmland. Just fuse the sand.
John| 2.27.11 @ 8:01PM
Just another fascist empire. Do as we say or else. Tyrannies do not last forever.....
George True| 2.28.11 @ 12:25AM
Hello!!! Earth to John! Do you even read anything than anyone else posts here?? Not once, not even once, have you ever, even ONCE, addressed the many irrefutable, incontrovertible pieces of FACTUAL evidence presented to you in some of the responses. Such is one of the hallmarks of someone who is at the same time immature and narcissistic.
I also suppose it was too much trouble to read, let alone attempt to comprehend and think about my earlier comments about what it means to become free from one's illusions. Perhaps that represents too deep a level of thinking for you in your current stage of evolution.
As previously mentioned, most of the regular posters here have won their freedom from illusion. You would do well to ponder the meaning of that, as you cling tightly to your many illusions. And rather than come here and spout nonsense to people who know better to listen to such claptrap, you would be far better served to do your homework for a change.
Remember, there is an old saying: Better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth (when you really don't know what you are talking about) and remove all doubt. So instead of regurgitating your worn out talking points yet again ad nauseum, how about you just THINK for a change before commenting? Just saying.
W| 2.27.11 @ 8:54PM
Johny, you believe the U.S. is a fascist empire, but you like Iran, Syria, and sharia law, and you want to destroy Israel. Is that about it for your politics. Now that we know, go away, go back to your fantasy world of lefty sites.
Richard Baker| 2.28.11 @ 2:34PM
W:
The way some of these lefties talk you'd think English is a new language in their daily lives. It's almost as if they spit out the slogans without realizing what they've just said. When we look askance at their statements, they get angry because the words seemingly confuse them.
Mistral| 2.28.11 @ 3:56PM
As I have stated before - mahomatenism is only communism/national socialism with a false god and a false prophet. There's the ruling theocratic elite & the corrupt leaders they support in return for religious sponsorship. Then there are the poor, indoctrinated masses who are at their beck and call and ultimately at their precerious and capricious mercy. Anyone else is treated as a third class parasite who could be exterminated at any moment. Jihad is putting the whole of the society on a war footing ready to lead the alleged struggle for universal supremacy by militant propagandism.
Reebok | 8.11.11 @ 2:46AM
is good
العاب | 4.11.12 @ 5:20PM
I bet you weren't talking like that about those dictators when Bush kicked Suddam's behind, commie.