Thoughts about Egypt

These are some rambling thoughts about the developing story in Egypt.

First, Wow! If I'm getting an accurate read on this, this could be a HUGE development in the region and possibly even the world.

Next, "Who's side should we take?" seems to be one of the questions floating around out there. It is an extremely valid question. I want to look at what may be a few angles of that question that may not be explicitly brought out in the media.

Does the U.S. pick the leaders of these countries? No, but we are certainly a force that is considered when whoever is leading these countries moves forward and crafts its own domestic and foreign policy. Why is that? You ask. Well, there seem to be quite a few reasons. First, let me point out, I pray I'm not your sole source of info on this, and if I am, please educate yourself elsewhere as well as here because I am by no means an expert in this or any other area. That having been said. We are influential because of our unique position of power in the world both economically and politically. Also, and perhaps most prominently, we utilize our nation's "checking account" quite liberally when it comes to gaining "allies" for our various foreign policies. I believe I've heard that Egypt has been receiving one of the largest of these kinds of checks for quite some time. It is also my understanding that Egypt, just like many other countries around the world, have a very limited scope of economic resources within their borders to drive their economy. They nationalize these industries and only a certain percentage of their population is able to make a living from employment and economic activity surrounding these industries directly. Therefore, the countries divide the profits up and dole them out at their discretion to keep the remaining population from starving. These checks seems to have been getting smaller and smaller.(thanks to my friend, Jason for this insight) When you understand this arrangement, you begin to see the important role our "foreign aid" checks play in these countries. For better or worse, our contributions are being used to prop up an ECONOMIC system that does NOT work. Welfare states don't work here or there. It lends itself to centralized control which further and further limits freedom and robs the people of the opportunity to realize and pursue their own economic self-interests. The problem, of course, is that our concerns about Egypt's foreign policy out strips our concerns about their domestic policy. I doubt very seriously that a new government birthed in the midst of such dire circumstances as the starving people of Egypt or any other nation will produce the fruits of democratic change the people are looking for in the streets, but I genuinely sympathize with their plight and can only pray for them, their leadership, and ours as we navigate this mess. I hope you can and will do the same in the days ahead.