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2007-12-17 Africa Subsaharan

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Posted by gorb 2007-12-17 03:33|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 It is miraculous that SA has pulled together since the end of apartheid. Its situation is such that it would seem to need an almost "panicked reconstruction", like what the US military has done in Iraq.

It is even more miraculous that in an effort to improve things, their government hasn't turned authoritarian, with the idea of forcing the public to accept known good ideas.

Not what people in America or Europe we would think of as "bad", but as "necessary" authoritarianism. For instance, we would demand that the government be intolerant of shanty towns; that by whatever means such places would have to be replaced by acceptable housing. But shanty towns would have to go.

Yet somehow SA is developing slowly without such authoritarianism. Whatever works, I guess.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-12-17 16:20|| 2007-12-17 16:20|| Front Page Top

#2 Much of downtown Johannesburg is a ghost town. I recall seeing people skating in a rink at the Carlton Center, tallest building in Africa. Now its all boarded up.

Posted by McZoid 2007-12-17 18:57|| 2007-12-17 18:57|| Front Page Top

#3 It is even more miraculous that in an effort to improve things, their government hasn't turned authoritarian, with the idea of forcing the public to accept known good ideas.

Yep - It's really miraculous, Perfesser.

Posted by Pappy 2007-12-17 21:38|| 2007-12-17 21:38|| Front Page Top

#4 Well, Pappy, you convinced me! I'm adding SA to my Kosovo/Beirut/Gaza/Sudan trip itinerary next year....

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-12-17 21:53|| 2007-12-17 21:53|| Front Page Top

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