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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group
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To: michael97123 who wrote (198510)8/22/2006 11:59:24 AM
From: Hawkmoon  Read Replies (2) of 281500
 
Remember back in the 60s when every saudi citizen seemed to get a guaranteed stipend equal or above what the american middle class got.

Yes.. there is a danger in this, since if people can receive "welfare" entitlements that enable them to survive without having a personal business, or going to work, the overall culture will suffer.

It's one of the downsides of my proposal to divvy up a portion of Iraqi oil revenues to Iraqi citizens. However, I think it can be mitigated by insuring that these benefits are structured in such a manner that they can be part cash, and part retirement pensions that create a social safety net. I think there is also a place for offering choices of using these dividends for sending their children to overseas exchange programs for training, etc.

Your point is an extremely valid one though.. How to create national unity by sharing national wealth, while also not undermining the culturally important values of entrepreneurial incentive and personal achievement.

But on the other side, people generally only fight civil wars when they perceive they have more to gain than they have to lose. I'd like to create a situation where the Iraqi people have more reason to put aside their sectarian rivalries, and focus upon their common financial self-interest.

Hawk
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