Dear Friends,
It seems to me, the greatest opportunity in the history of mankind has been squandered, because of stupidity. What opportunity? The opportunity that oil wealth gave the Middle East. The rulers of those countries have spilled trillions in wealth preparing for and waging wars, on opulence, and in political intrigue across the world. Had they been smart and human hearted, they would have invested in infrastructure, educated their youth, created incentives to entrepreneurship, instilled a strong work ethic, greened the desert, put money aside for the future, built lakes to store water… but never give money to the people. That’s a sure way to obliterate a work ethic. History is unambiguous on that point. Moreover, people without gumption are soon poor… which is what the elite have made.
Imagine the trillions wasted on wars in the Middle East? Because of an unending hatred abetted by wealth. Compiling the numbers of tanks, aircraft and other military equipment is pretty simple and amounts to trillions in today’s dollars… but the cost in lost productivity of the boys killed, is incalculable. Plus, that loss in productivity extends to the end of time. I have to wonder how many Fords, Musks and Teslas have died face down in blood soaked mud? Not to mention the suffering their loss meant to their families. Nevertheless, the rulers in the Middle East seem to have an unquenchable thirst for blood. At cost to the future, to be sure, but unquenchable is unquenchable. Such a thirst must cost dearly, especially when there’s plenty of largess, to insure the cup is always filled.
Had the oil revenue been spent on education, creating incentives to innovate, and built a strong work ethic… the nations of the Middle East would be economic powerhouses now… instead of basket cases needing foreign welfare. The cost of establishing an international level university pales in comparison to starting a war. Setting up a reward system for innovation would be cheap and could be self sustaining with a grant. A work ethic can be inculcated through the culture. By propaganda, incentives and leading by example, the leaders of a nation can instill a strong work ethic in a people. The most effective way to create national wealth, outside resource wealth, is by becoming a meritocracy. That in and of itself is a certain path to national prosperity.
The nations of the Middle East could have been transformed, the deserts made green, lakes built and forests planted. All for the cost of a few T 55 tanks and a Mig jet or two. By building swales in the desert, pumping desalinated water to upland man made lakes, and clever use of that water. The entire ecosystem of the Middle East could have been transformed into fertile lands again. Yet, though soaked in oil, they can’t even get it out of the ground. All the work is done by foreign workers. Because, the rulers used some of their oil money to pay off the people, instead of helping them up. Destroying their work ethic in the process. Lazy entitled and dependent people aren’t safe though. They’re volatile. Alternatively, hard working industrious and innovative people are safe… and generate wealth.
If Iran was allowed to sell its oil on the international market, but the US stopped shipping pallets of money to them, they’d have a much harder time funding terrorism and war. Because the technology to get that oil out of the ground is nearly lost to them, and innovation, well, that’s a racist western thing. Just ask a progressive. Which is the result of the Middle East’s ruler’s choices. They chose to invest in war, opulence and pushing their failed philosophy into the world. Now they and the people of the Middle East are reaping the results. Had they invested in education, innovation and becoming a meritocracy, they wouldn’t need oil money anymore. They would be creating enough wealth to make it redundant. But they didn’t and so they aren’t. Do you think it’s too late to change… or is it?
Sincerely,
John Pepin
