Study Break Memes and Funny Images
Quotes, Messages, and Social Media Posts of the Day
Nothing to See Here
I can’t see any nefarious uses of sulfuric acid in a sex trafficking ring; however, the Dow dipped back below 50,000, so maybe Pam will look into it now? 🤔
Divide and Distract
I rarely tune into Fox News these days, but EVERY time I’ve flipped it on recently, they’ve been covering this damn disappearance story. Yes, if the story isn’t a hoax, it’s sad that someone’s mother was kidnapped, but in the grand scheme of things, does a missing 84-year old mother of a journalist have ANY significance to the channel’s millions of viewers. or the world in general? How about the Fox website? This is the front page as I’m typing this blog:
Gee, Fox, you couldn’t think of anything else going on in the world to focus? There wouldn’t be a specific story you’re trying to bury or distract from, is there? 🤔
Oil Wealth: Receipe for Disaster?
Did you ever notice the majority of oil-rich countries in the world seems to be somewhat ass backwards? Their economies are far down the list in GDP, and they seem to be behind in nearly every measure of a modern developed country? It doesn’t make sense. If you’re blessed with loads of this natural wealth-building resource, shouldn’t you be among the richest and most advanced? There are two main factors why this doesn’t seems to be the case.
The first reason is economic development. When a nation isn’t packed with an abundance of oil, they’re forced to direct capital to diversified other areas, such as education, technology, food production, manufacturing, and so on. Japan is a great example. Despite being a relatively small nation with few natural resources, it has the 4th highest GDP in the world, while being one of the most educated and technologically advanced. Of course, there are other factors, but contrast Japan with the list of countries with the most oil reserves. Oil creates such easy wealth that almost all investment capital flows to extracting, refining, and transporting it. Oil then becomes so critical to the national economy that government and oligarchs end up taking control, making matters worse. Plus, drops in world oil prices can create deep, unplanned economic downturns for the whole nation.
The second reason oil-rich countries are so underdeveloped is that world powers can’t help sticking their noses in internal politics, resulting in wars and propped-up authoritarian regimes to keep the oil flowing. One of the reasons the Middle East has remained a powder keg for the last 50+ years is because it became a central battleground for the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union. This is one of the reasons why the U.S. is so tethered to Israel and why every Arab militant seems to possess a Soviet AK-47. Religious rivalries are rampant in Africa, but you don’t see world powers getting involved there. As heroic as Western military powers were in saving Kuwait from Saddam, do you think they would have formed a 40-nation coalition if Sudan invaded Chad? Saddam may never even have been in power in the first place if not aided by the U.S. in Iraq’s costly war with Iran. Even when war isn’t involved, richer nations tend to exert every influence they have to keep oil flowing, using economic policy blackmail, making foreign aid conditional, or providing military aid to enemies. Anything and everything to make sure the focus of these nations stay on one thing: oil exports.
Other Links That May Interest You
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Trivia Quiz
Job, Work, and Career Meme Gallery 3
Movie Theme Soundtrack Trivia Quiz
Without oil or a similar VOLUMINOUS natural resource, the division of labor, the profit centers, the power centers, etc. are SPREAD across the nation. Power itself cannot be concentrated in the hands of a tyrant, and wealth is created everywhere, rather than just in the oil fields/backrooms, etc. Infrastructure happens because people live everywhere, wealth is created everywhere, and needs are fulfilled by neighbors rather than having to BEG the central power for some crumbs. America is blessed to NOT have that kind of natural resource concentration, but rather an abundance of wealth-creating/need fulfilling resources and talent throughout the 50 states.