Today's top story (the main headline when I checked the BBC world news page) is the continuing conflict in Libya. As with the previous blog about China, the solution is to do a deal.
As with all uprisings, the causes are economic. Most people just want jobs, and non-corrupt leaders. Land rent provides both those things. A land rent deal with Gaddafi (i.e. to send consultants to help set up a land rent system in rebel areas) would ensure the people got more jobs, better local leaders and more autonomy, while Gaddafi accepts it because he stays in nominal power and has a healthier economy.
This may offend those who want instant revenge, but the objective is to continually improve life for ordinary people, not to continue the cycle of failed revolutions.
EDIT: December 2011: it seems that the Libyans got lucky: Gaddafi had no friends, lots of oil, and an easy to defeat country (basically just one road along the coast). So the world got rid of him. But I stand by my assessment: these solutions are rare, and a lasting democratic result is even rarer. Meanwhile, what of all the other corrupt nations? Conflict is expensive, destructive, and only occasionally works. In contrast, good business (such as that offered by land rent) is usually more effective in the short term, and always more effective in the long term.
1 comments:
Libya. Barack Obama: fake birth certificate on the website of the White House. Chronicle of an announced failure. 6500 humanitarian bombings. Chacón: the murderers of civilians are the best example of the Spain brand ... See:
http://aims.selfip.org/~alKvc74FbC8z2llzuHa9/default_libia.htm
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