Friday, July 19, 2024

African Problems Summary 7-19-24

African Governments need a strong “rule of law” a better governance of their economies and reduced corruption. They also need to be wary of Terrorist groups, Communists and Political factions.

The ability to establish credit keeps the focus on keeping their Bankers and Export Partners happy. Their populations are a burden, not an asset.

African citizens need a path forward to develop a stronger private sector economy based on their “informal sector”.  The informal sector involves economic activity that is not registered, regulated, or protected by existing legal or regulatory frameworks. In Africa, 85% of the population is engaged in informal labor, making it the region with the largest share of workforce in the informal sector. Sep 11, 2023 

If African citizens could develop their own agricultural infrastructure, they could clean up their water with chlorine, fix their sanitation with septic tanks and provide irrigation for crops. All of this requires hand labor.

The current model for external support to prevent political chaos is not working. The UN is focused on feeding the poor and is useless in reducing the poverty. The US State Department is equally useless in mediating between current governments and political factions who are diametrically opposed and represent existential threats to each other.

There is no common religion in Africa. Christians are 49.3%, Muslims are 41.5%, Tribal is 8% and includes Voodoo and folk medicine. Shia Muslims like Boko Haram are dangerous to African governments.

The US is a successful country that was blessed with a common Christian religion, but with Founders who were wary of Denominational differences and down-played them. The Founders were influenced by the Enlightenment Philosophers who suggested improvements in European governance. They based their model of the US government on the principles recommended by the Enlightenment Philosophers. The Christian Bible included the Old Testament and the 10 Commandments and the Founders established the US government based on Judeo-Christian principles.

The US built its wealth on selling timber to Briton and then selling tobacco, sugar, cocoa, corn, fruit other raw foodstuffs and finally cotton to Europe over a period of 200 years.  By the 1800s, the US had established a productive relationship with Europe through trade and immigration. The US government was funded by European Banks and Tariffs. The establishment of US manufacturing began with Tariffs. US furniture makers could sell US-made furniture to its citizens at a fraction of the cost of imports from Europe. The US continued to create canals for water travel and roads for the transport of raw materials to processing centers like saw mills. The development of water mills allowed grain to be ground and factories to be powered using the steam engine developed by the British. The steam engine also allowed the development of railroads in 1820.

The incentive to European immigrants was to become self-sufficient “land owners” to grow their own food, raise their own livestock and sell the surplus to buy tools, horseshoes, rifles, fabrics and mettle goods. 

Land could be bought cheaply and later was given away to complete the settlement of farmers in the Western Territories. The incentive to join the Industrial Revolution was the already established “US Private Sector”.

By the 1850s, the US had States and Territories from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans. This was just in time to participate in the Industrial Revolution began in Britain in the 1820s.  

African countries would do well to read the Enlightenment Philosophers to better align their governments to adjust to principles that are compatible with human nature.

Francis Bacon – scientific method 1561-1626

John Locke – natural rights 1632-1704

Montesquieu - separation of powers 1689-1755

Voltaire - free speech and religious freedom 1694-1778

Jean-Jacques Rousseau - human nature 1712-1778

Adam Smith - capitalism economics 1723-1790

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader

 

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