MENA House: Solving All of Egypt's Problems

Mohammed Amara from Al Masry al Youm has calculated that the Egyptian Government spends an average of 10 million EGP (Egyptian pounds) for every citizen from the momentof their birth to the moment they take their last breath.

Amari calculates that,  if the average age of an Egyptian citizen is 68.5 years, then the government spends (after calculating some figures) an average of 400EGP a day per citizen.

On Al do’ il ahmar (The Red Light), presenter Ahmed el Meslemani added this comment :

There’s a circulating joke in South America that goes something like this:

The US Government gave a country $1 trillion. The President of this State took half the sum, and gave the rest to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Chancellor of the Exchequer then took a quarter of the half a trillion passed on to him, and he further passed the remainder to the Ministry of Affairs. The Ministry of Affairs had a look at what was given and was pleased! He then took the remainder of the total sum leaving nothing for the people.

And so, to the people, he passed on a kind-hearted message, "The US says hello to you."

Meanwhile, the 1999 Nobel Prize Laureate in Chemistry, Ahmed Zeweil has written in British and Egyptian publications that economic progress in any society can only come about with educational reform. In particular, focusing on the Middle Eastern Region, Dr Zeweil highlights that "'the soft power of modern science, education and economic developments" is essential:

This situation is a timebomb that could be triggered by frustrated youth expressing their despair through national and international violence. Progress in the Middle East is important to the west not only for obtaining natural resources, but also for maintaining an influence in a region that is luring other powers such as China and Russia.

So if every Egyptian citizen receives the 400EGP daily allowance and good quality education, all problems are solved. Or is it really as simple as that?

Comments

[bigddady from Egypt]

do you think a new "white" revolution (military or islamic based) is likely to correct the endemic corruption rather than economic developed that will be sucked by the ellite and education that is not transelated into jobs and prosperaty will sort this timebomb.

a radical intervention might be the solution.

[Christina]

As Dr. Zeweil says, educational reform goes a long way. Neither a military no Islamic revolution have anything to do with educational reform. Going the complete opposition direction there...

[Dave]

Education is pivotal, but its aims should not be limited to specialisms and economic success. These alone will never bring about democracy, freedom, rule of law, and so forth. I think that in order for democratic institutions to take root in any society, that society must have a system of education that produces individuals who have the knowledge, character traits and sensibilities that support a democratic regime. However, in a society ruled by public opinion, you have to have a university/higher education system that can only be labeled as an island of intellectual freedom -- an island where ANY and ALL theories can be hypothesized and tested. If the individuals inside the university are simply a reflection of the individuals outside the university, then the system imposes restrictions on itself. As an outsider looking in, It seems to me that public opinion on many social and political issues in Egypt has changed over the last 30 years, with opinions and sensibilities that cultivate cultural and political institutions that increasingly absorb theocratic elements. Is the inside of the University of Cairo a reflection of what lies outside of its walls? I don't know...

[Baz]

Dave

I have heard Democracy being described as being potentially a "Dictatorship of the majority". In western countries, the "majority" is nearly always a kind of amorphous grouping. There are dedicated leftists and rightists - but there are also a large number of "swinging" voters who change their thoughts and allegiances. Thus, at least where I live, dedicated leftists/rightists are almost assured that if "their side" does not win this time, then there is the possibility of change next time.

But in countries where tribal/clan/religious/ethnic loyalties are stronger than political loyalties, Democracy struggles. I am not sure where Egypt fits into this situation - but I do see other countries where I have great doubts about their ability to really become democratic societies as we understand them. What are your thoughts re this.?

Barry

[Christina]

Dave,

Really interesting point, especially:

'It seems to me that public opinion on many social and political issues in Egypt has changed over the last 30 years, with opinions and sensibilities that cultivate cultural and political institutions that increasingly absorb theocratic elements'

Threre's been an increase of foreign schools and universities in Egypt. Great for those who can afford them. According to the Canadian school in Cairo, their motot goes something like this: '...to teach you how to think, not what to think'. There is a social class that has access to these schools and can afford to send their kids to places that instill 'democratic' principles as we know it.

Signs of Progress? Well, these schools existed long before the 1952 revolution under the monarchy. But it's the point you made earlier (about theocracy and society) that really started to kick in.

[Christina]

Barry,

What are the solutions to breaking down tribal.religious ethnic loyalties that may be so wisepdread in society? If it's possible to do that, do you believe 'democracy' as we know it, can be widely practiced right the way through from the political-social scene?

What's your thoughts?

[Baz]

Christina

I have no answer to your question - except that I believe it comes about with time and evolution. If you look at the long history of humankind - you will see a slow development from clans to tribes to city states to nation states, etc. You will also see a slow immigration of many people of differing nationalities/religions from their home countries to elsewhere. I see that places like Iran and Afghanistan are stagnant in terms of evolutionary movement (forwards) - and the fundamental law of evolution is that species (and I propose other entities) either evolve into something else more advanced or they die out. So, in my view, the cultural/religious stagnation in these places is what is slowly strangling them.

Barry