Nic,
1. We discussed it earlier too, in other posts. Let me summarize again, they (ok GCC not ME) got the wealth (not their fault but God’s gift for centuries of hardship) and they have possibly two options. One, to keep it in Swiss banks and in return ‘only a few’ enjoys its fruits. Two, they use it wisely for betterment of all and invest in basic infrastructure including (highly essential) human development. I agree that initially they lacked in investing in human development which gave critic’s opportunity to term it ‘know-how deficient’, agreed, but let’s see what’s happening now. They are NOW hugely investing in education, innovation, Sc & Tech etc. Just refer to efforts & huge outlays of QF and if cynicism is kept apart, in my opinion, they are on very right track for turning into a knowledge society. We are in agreement, fully, that third wave of development is based on knowledge/innovation.
2. On Ghost towns, I would put it this way. Rome was built HUGE (in your terms normally uselessly), appreciated for a period and got vanished with the time. (That’s cycle of development, nothing is permanent, new & big replaces older and smaller…), so if new Rome is being built (keeping the subject happy), I’m with the people who praise it, appreciate it.
3. Innovations (generateing brains) , yes in recent history, there isn’t much value addition from this part of the world. They do have their substantial value addition share in ancient times. Medieval period inventions are predominantly from Europe. Let’s agree on two postulates, (1) inventions are based on need and (2) potential of human mind is equal, intelligence depends on application of it. So they too have got intelligence equal to rest of the world and when ‘need’ arises there will be many ‘brainy’ outputs. (I do not, in general, agree of any brain deficiency)
4. On People’s say, we can not say if any particular form of govt is ‘the best’, different periods have different style of governing and fundamentals to all is – 'benefit to all’. Raising voices and revolution are normal human nature and based on needs, wherever there is need (like Tunisia) they will rise to it. Here, until they put tax on normal citizen or people in general have their ends meet, nothing will happen and there is no need to happen.
In nutshell, at least in 2030, this place will be shinier, I can’t say for 2050 though.
Nic,
1. We discussed it earlier too, in other posts. Let me summarize again, they (ok GCC not ME) got the wealth (not their fault but God’s gift for centuries of hardship) and they have possibly two options. One, to keep it in Swiss banks and in return ‘only a few’ enjoys its fruits. Two, they use it wisely for betterment of all and invest in basic infrastructure including (highly essential) human development. I agree that initially they lacked in investing in human development which gave critic’s opportunity to term it ‘know-how deficient’, agreed, but let’s see what’s happening now. They are NOW hugely investing in education, innovation, Sc & Tech etc. Just refer to efforts & huge outlays of QF and if cynicism is kept apart, in my opinion, they are on very right track for turning into a knowledge society. We are in agreement, fully, that third wave of development is based on knowledge/innovation.
2. On Ghost towns, I would put it this way. Rome was built HUGE (in your terms normally uselessly), appreciated for a period and got vanished with the time. (That’s cycle of development, nothing is permanent, new & big replaces older and smaller…), so if new Rome is being built (keeping the subject happy), I’m with the people who praise it, appreciate it.
3. Innovations (generateing brains) , yes in recent history, there isn’t much value addition from this part of the world. They do have their substantial value addition share in ancient times. Medieval period inventions are predominantly from Europe. Let’s agree on two postulates, (1) inventions are based on need and (2) potential of human mind is equal, intelligence depends on application of it. So they too have got intelligence equal to rest of the world and when ‘need’ arises there will be many ‘brainy’ outputs. (I do not, in general, agree of any brain deficiency)
4. On People’s say, we can not say if any particular form of govt is ‘the best’, different periods have different style of governing and fundamentals to all is – 'benefit to all’. Raising voices and revolution are normal human nature and based on needs, wherever there is need (like Tunisia) they will rise to it. Here, until they put tax on normal citizen or people in general have their ends meet, nothing will happen and there is no need to happen.
In nutshell, at least in 2030, this place will be shinier, I can’t say for 2050 though.