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London Café Philo

Anglo-French philosophy forum for the members and friends of Café Philo club of the London French Institute at South Kensington


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    Arab spring or American spring?

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    Anon.


    Posts : 4
    Join date : 2011-10-20

    Arab spring or American spring? Empty Arab spring or American spring?

    Post  Anon. Fri Oct 28, 2011 7:56 am

    The so-called Arab Spring has aroused considerable excitement and trepidation around the world resulting in major changes on the geo-political landscape in recent times. The Arab Spring is triggered by general discontent of corruptions in the nations suffering gross social injustice and poverty. To certain extent, it signifies the triumph of the Western sphere of influence in that region although it remains an open question whether these “liberated” Arab states would adopt the Western style democracy.

    The Arab Spring unravelled at a time of global economic crisis, which is reflected in three aspects: 1. Stagflation in western economies despite cheaper products exported from developing countries. 2. The expected shortage of energy resources and the drive to alternative sources. 3. Banking fraud coupled with mounting sovereign debt and collapsing currency. Faced with these problems the US and Europe may see the Arab Spring as an opportunity to reshape events especially in terms of the Arab oil resources.

    Following the Arab awakening, is the West itself becoming the scene of a similar uprising in the form of “OCCUPYING WALL STREET”? People want to know why Wall Street bankers still collect bonuses while the nation drifts nowhere in a state of economic depression. Has the Arab Spring suddenly spread to the West?


    Last edited by Anon. on Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:33 pm; edited 1 time in total
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    HPotter


    Posts : 1
    Join date : 2011-11-08

    Arab spring or American spring? Empty Re: Arab spring or American spring?

    Post  HPotter Tue Nov 08, 2011 12:10 am

    With Libya fallen, Syria next on the card, Israel is ready to strike Iran at any moment, now everything is falling into place. The scheme has been well plotted and executed according to the plan. We know who the real boss is and who has blackmailed the government of the “most powerful nation” to accept the ruling – without whose votes none of their president would have been elected.
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    stranger


    Posts : 1
    Join date : 2011-11-17

    Arab spring or American spring? Empty French revolution and today's world

    Post  stranger Thu Nov 17, 2011 9:42 am

    We can see some interesting parallels between the situation today and the pre-Revolutionary France of the late 18th century. France then suffered huge financial losses after the Seven Year’s War with England, and accumulated enormous debt by financing the American War of Independence. The bankrupt French government changed its Finance Minister (or Comptroller de finance) 3 times within a space of 10 years (1776-1787). However each time the new minister came up with a progressive reform proposal it was immediately rejected by the privileged classes (nobility and clergy at that time) who refused to change their tax-exempt status. The tax burden therefore fell on the working-classes resulting in an even deeper financial crisis.

    The working classes impoverished by the corrupted taxation system were further infuriated by the extravagant life style of the King and Queen, who were oblivious of the seriousness of the state of affair. The inequitable taxation burden not only aggravated the working classes, but also antagonised the bourgeoisie, the newly-moneyed classes who also did not enjoy the tax exemption status of the old moneyed class.

    Three things that caused the French Revolution closely resemble our situation today: Unmanageable expanding government debt caused by War financing, taxation exemptions for corporations and the ever widening gap between the rich and poor classes.

    The Revolution of 1789 signified a violent transition of political order from the Ancien Régime to a democratic Republic by physically removing the monarchy and replacing it with a new ruling class – including the bourgeoisie, the bankers and the equivalent business class of today. The new upper crust naturally becomes entitled to the same tax exemptions as the old enemy of the proletariat from 1789. The faces appear familiar because the repressed have stepped into the shoes as the new repressors.

    Now as they have served up their 200 years term, is it time for them to step down?

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