Thursday, June 21, 2012

Failed States 2012

What actually is a state? What makes it totally rock? What makes it totally suck? What makes a Failed State? 
Most countries that fall apart do so not with a bang but with a whimper. They fail not in an explosion of war and violence but by being utterly unable to take advantage of their society's huge potential for growth, condemning their citizens to a lifetime of poverty. This type of slow, grinding failure leaves many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America with living standards far, far below those in the West.  

Lack of property rights, Forced Labor, wealth stealing despots are just a few of the thangs FoPoOnline brings up and it helps to mention  
States don't fail overnight. The seeds of of their destruction are sown deep within their political institutions. 

Actually the weed seeds are planted deep within their lack of politcal institutions 
 What's tragic is that this failure is by design. These states collapse because they are ruled by what we call "extractive" economic institutions, which destroy incentives, discourage innovation, and sap the talent of their citizens by creating a tilted playing field and robbing them of opportunities. These institutions are not in place by mistake but on purpose. They're there for the benefit of elites who gain much from the extraction -- whether in the form of valuable minerals, forced labor, or protected monopolies -- at the expense of society.

Tolerant, egalitarian Societies with high literacy rates, a military under civie control, a penchant for periodic, transparent elections, a free uncensored press, an independent judiciary under elected Gov oversight and a Nat"l Treasury under public scrutiny are the best bet.


Kinda makes ya wonder why cause Free World even puts up with allowing despots to roam about



Pic - "And then there's the Most Dangerous Country in the World!"






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