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Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Are We Obsessed With Imperialism?

By  Mwarang'ethe
Tragedy of human history is this. The world’s harvest is abundant enough to satisfy the needs of humanity. However, for want of wisdom, its reaping is regulated by the laws of battle.

In response to our last essay, Ocampo 4: A Flawed Defence Strategy, available here: http://is.gd/aAs8FE, a regular commentator at Kumekucha Mr Philip, wrote this:

“We have the imperialist, then we have our leaders who are equally as evil as them, with the same mission. There is a possibility that when all these imperialists are exterminated then our leaders will easily move from their front seats to the throne. I feel that's the connection you have TERRIBLY FAILED to fathom. Because in your case all our problems are caused by imperialists, so that when they cease to exist, then our problems will also end.”

Essentially, this is the same question Mr Taabu and other anonymous commentators keep on asking. However, we have refused to dignify his/their questions for at least two reasons.First, Mr Taabu and his friends, assume they know not knowing they do not know. For instance, with an air of an intellectual and finality, he tells us that, Kenya has not been able to build a single inch of railway. That is a fact. He then, tells us how South Africa is ahead because there are white people there. That is also, a conceded fact. However, if Mr Taabu was a man of learning as he fools himself to be, he would be able to differentiate between (a) facts, and (b) science. He seems utterly ignorant that, FACTS/KNOWLEDGE are only materials of science and not science itself. Thus, accumulation of bar talk/peasant facts is useless if the MEANING or the UNDERSTANDING of these facts is absent which should be the sole interest of men of learning. The fact that, he/they just mentions these facts and leaves them there tells us he/they confuse them to be science.

Secondly, we find his/their aversion to human experience in political and civil liberties as well as political economy akin to the barbarism of the Roman general who shouted at the Athenian general and a philosopher in peace negotiations to try and save Athens that, he had gone to Athens to punish the rebels and not study history. With that barbaric statement, he went ahead to destroy the ancient Athens.  In other words, many are deceived as to the GREATEST OFFICE of a well ordered society. It is not the office of the mere lawyer, the president, the minister, the general or the mere economist. It is The Sacred Office of the Historian. Anyway, with such men, you just leave them alone. Back to Philip’s query.

To answer Philip’s question, we first descend into the human laboratory, i.e. history. To the wisest of the Roman era, the corruption of the Roman government appeared so utterly incurable. As such, it was supposed to indicate the approaching dissolution of the globe. Actually, to some extent, the inability of the ancient people to reform their corrupt government, made many turn to Christianity which offered hope in a crumbling civilization.

The question we must first ask is this. Why were the ancient civilizations unable to solve the problem of corruption? Simple.Then, as is today, it was the pressing evils of the MOMENT that drew their attention and called for redress. As a result, there lacked a tranquil diagnosis and a patient endeavour to remove the deep seated causes. Thus, in all ages, it is the strain felt by the individual that furnishes the motive power for any attempted reforms and the individual cannot wait. As a result, the therapeutic measures are inevitably crude and however well meant or even well designed cannot do. So, is the ICC “solution” to the African mess.

So as to discover the disease which killed the ancient civilizations and hence be the seers of their generations, historians have done a thorough post mortem of that dead society. Their discovery is this. The degradation of the humanity of that age did not come about because of an inherent principle of decay proceeding from the inevitable state of exhaustion in the condition of a highly civilised society. Nor was not because of a moral deficiency that produced incurable corruption and thereby, rendered good governance impracticable.

In truth, the evils of that society were produced by the injustice and oppression of the Roman government. So, why couldn't’ they reform it? Simple. The Roman government was too powerful to enable the people to force it to reform its conduct. Given the fiscal rapacity of the Roman government which fettered the people’s industry and the oligarchical constitution of the curia, the PUBLIC OPINION became powerless. Thus, the destruction of the upper and the middle class made it impossible to regenerate the Roman State. In other words, the greatest imperfection of the government arose from the total want of any popular control over the moral conduct of the public servants. This is so because, political morality cannot live without the atmosphere of public opinion. As such, the fiscal system was the PRINCIPAL CAUSE of its decay. Check around the world today, and the same disease is rampant.

And, for comparative purposes, nothing offers more instructive lessons to humanity than the wealth and power of the Cherson city which was protected from fiscal rapacity of the Roman government. As a result of this, its commerce, freedom flourished under the institutions which protected property rights even as the whole Roman Empire fell into pieces. Now, if you follow the history of Europe after the death of the Roman Empire, you will discover that, the revival of civilization in Europe was only possible when the people had acquired power sufficient to enforce some respect for their feelings and rights.

In other words, the real problem in African is lack of an economic set up that can allow the emergence of a real middle class which can exercise the moral restraint on the African governments. As a result of this weakness, we have seen NGO’s, donors and the like of the ICC becoming the “defenders” of the Africans who are now treated like infants who need guardians to defend them from their own governments. Since these foreign bodies are the ones which give African leaders money, they listen to them and treat their citizens with contempt.

Therefore, if the West was serious, it would demand fiscal reforms which would create the necessary environment for the growth of the middle class for without it, the African governments shall never respond to the citizen needs. It follows then, that, any fiscal measure which deepens poverty and helplessness in Africa should be avoided at all costs. The question is, what does the West do? It does exactly the opposite and thereby, create conditions for more violence, corruption and impunity. Having forced the African governments to create such conditions, the West comes much later and proclaims itself the protector of the helpless poor Africans. They shamelessly mock the victims of their own rapacity and fraud! In other words, the West in its hubris like that of the ancient free men is accusing Africans of moral deficiency/degeneracy whereas, historians have proven that is not the real cause.

Before we show how the West is playing with the African minds, we descend again to the Eastern Empire of the Roman Empire. Under the reforms of Constantine, we add, just like the recent Kenyan reforms, he required additional revenues. As a result, he instituted two taxes termed Senatorial and Chrysargyron taxes. The first alienated the aristocracy because, the Senators had been exempted from tax before. Does that remind of something? The Chrysargyron taxes were a tax on PROFITS which was levied in the severest manner on EVERY species of receipt. Today, if you tell a man/woman that taxation of profits is robbery, they will wonder. Needless to say, contrary to the expectation of Constantine, these additional taxes fettered industry which led to decline in trade due to decreased consumption, poverty and insecurity which continued to lower the scale of civilization as society frames started fraying.

When Emperor Anastasius took over, being more enlightened than Constantine, he did what is a very rare virtue of a sovereign. He voluntarily reduced the revenues of the State by abolishing the lucrative, but, very oppressive taxation on profits which affected every industry and every one. The effect of this measure was INCREASED PROSPERITY which like an energy drink, reinvigorated the body politic of the Roman Empire. Despite him having relinquished State revenue to ensure the happiness of his people, the State revenue increased due to increased commerce and prosperity and left over £ 320, 000 pounds of gold in the public treasury.

Now, let us look at what the West is doing in cahoot with its puppets in Africa. Sometimes back, when all mainstream newspapers, lawyers like Kilonzo, Ocampo’s and even all bloggers were silent, we raised a red flag about a demand of the IMF to the government of Kenya to raise the VAT when we read this: “IMF calls for VAT reforms to increase collection.” Among other stuff, we read this:

A widening and simplification of the Value Added Tax(VAT) bracket could increase Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)’s revenue collection by an estimated Sh40 billion. This disclosure was made on Thursday by Mr Ragnar Gudmundsson, a resident representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), at a Nairobi Hotel. He was briefing the media on the forthcoming conference on Revenue Mobilisation in Sub-Sahara Africa...” Available at http://is.gd/0yFPYS.

When we raised this issue. As usual, we were accused of crying imperialism all the time. That was then. Now, we are reading this: “New VAT Bill threatens to increase cost of living.” Among other stuff, we are now reading that,


“The price of a number of essential commodities such as milk, maize and wheat flour is expected to go up, with the Bill proposing that processed agricultural commodities be struck off the list of VAT exempt items. ..Other items removed from the tax-exempt list include animal feeds, agrochemicals, newspapers, sanitary pads [DOES ANYONE REMEMBER WHAT RAILA SAID ON SANITARY PADS?] and cooking gas – all deemed essential. This means that prices of manufactured goods will go up by anything from16 per cent – which is the standard VAT rate – should the proposed bill become law in the current condition, as manufacturers of commodities increase costs to recover money paid to the taxman.” Source: http://is.gd/6cJRjJ

Basically, anyone schooled in real economics, i.e. anyone not mentally derailed by the IVY LEAGUE of FOOLS in pseudo - economics,  knows this. Men produce wealth for consumption. Therefore, when you curtail consumption, you curtail production. When you curtail wealth production, you create unemployment and attendant social problems. We can assure the reader that, the social effect of these VAT increases so as to pay Western debts, which are created by attacking our currency by the same West, SHALL create more social problems than the 2007/8 PEV violence. However, such stuff, the imperialists do not broadcast in their loud mainstream media. This leaves a lone blogger to bear the burden of raising such issues under epithets of ignorant mobs.  

The question we ask is this. If the Westerners are interested in the well being of the Africans as they claim, why is it that, in cahoot with their USELESS puppets like Kibaki and Raila, they are creating poverty and helplessness which makes it impossible for Africans to hold their governments into account? Also, why are the mainstream newspapers, lawyers, NGO’s, bloggers etc, so eloquently silent over such deliberate impoverishment of the African people by these Western schemes? It is only when the West comes to pick up one of their puppets as a means of fooling gullible and suffering Africans, we see the mainstream media, so called lawyers, NGO’s and bloggers vomit all their praises on their white saviors. This being the case, it makes us wonder, is it so difficult to understand the logic of what we are laying bare?

The ultimate question is this. Do the Western states controllers know that, they are creating poverty and wars in Africa? Yes. We know this because, we have done our research from their own recordings. During the World Bank and IMF hearings in 1945, bankers testified to the USA Congress to the facts that chaotic economic /economies, such as African economies, must as a matter of LOGIC produce CIVIL WARS and TOTALITARIANISM. So, the Western imperial planners know exactly what they are doing. But, why are they doing this?

Once again, during the same World Bank and IMF formation, it was stated in very unambiguous words that:

"Nothing is MORE MENACING to WORLD SECURITY, than to have the LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, comprising MORE THAN HALF OF THE POPULATION of the world, RANGED in ECONOMIC BATTLE against the LESS POPULOUS but INDUSTRIALLY more advanced nations of the West." So, TESTIFIED the USA Secretary of TREASURY, Henry Morgenthau at the SENATE in its 1945 hearings on the WORLD BANK.

The question is, how does undeveloped Africa contribute to whatever they call WORLD SECURITY? Again, it is simple. Today, just as example, Africa exports about 20 million barrels of oil per day. Now, if African living standards were to improve just by 20%, all this oil would be consumed internally. As a result, there would be shortage of 20 million barrels per day. With such shortage, the oil prices would be more than $ 500 per barrel. Does ANY IDIOT think the BMW of Germany, Toyota of Japan, the Daewoo of Korea, the GM of America and the millions of jobs they provide in the West would survive under such prices? No and no.

This being the case, the Africans must be kept in a state of confusion and stupidity with cosmetic reforms which means that, although their population is increasing, which is producing social tensions in absence of economic expansion, they must not be in a position to consume their raw materials. Increasing the VAT is one of the methods used. This leaves these resources CHEAP and AVAILABLE to the WORLD as they call it. To blind Africans from this brutalization and dehumanisation, they subject them to massive dosage of IDEOLOGICAL BOMBING which STUPEFIES them to run away from the TRUTH as they chase ILLUSIONS, DELUSIONS and CHILDISH FANTASIES created for them.

Finally, we ask:

(a) When a MERE lawyer like Ocampo speaks, every Kenyan listens.
(b) Why is it that, when an African who is a lawyer like Ocampo, but, also, learned, not listened to?
(c) Does it have to do with self hatred?

39 comments:

  1. No! we are NOT obsessed with Imperialism, only Mwarang'the is.

    I hope that answers your burning question!

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  2. Sounding smart has never looked so good as when the virtual African teacher sets out to teach "sheeple" in the Kumekucha class room about "the real world" and who really owns Africa and controls Africans-this is the true non ivy league of fools education we all missed growing up in imperialist dominated Africa


    But before the anonymous cheer leading squad comes out baying for Chris and Taabu blood, let the record reflect that Mwarang'ethe is a classic text book example of a western victim mentality. His true anger is simply against a few white foreigners, probably the same one's who educated him during his time in the Western Foreign capitals

    This does not mean Mwarang'ethe's points are invalid, however his pain should not be projected onto a whole entire continent of Africa, and Kenyans in particular, simply because of rejection and psychological abuse at the hands of a few white men/women.
    Seeking to cleverly blame imperialism behind the smoke screen of tainted history is still imperialism by another name.

    Are we obsessed with imperialism? no. Does Mwarang'ethe need to forgive his white enemies and those who hurt him and learn to view the world through non-biased eyes? YES
    Lay the blame squarely at the feet of the few white men/women who must have hurt you deeply at some point in your sojourn in the "white man's land" and ask your god/God/gods to help you forgive them. The world is bigger than the white man and his manipulative ways

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  3. Imperialism

    noun
    [mass noun]
    a policy of extending a country's power and influence through neo-colonization, use of military force, economic might, cultural trending, language (imposition of lingua franca), high tech (digital conduits such as Yahoo, Google, Microsoft, Apple and above all Facebook), transfer of superior knowledge and standards of living, immigrations quotas, or other means (that scare the real hell out of millions of nyeusi, Mwarang'ethe and comrades-in-arms)
    .

    Prof Emeritus, if you really want the world to change and to stop exporting neo-imperialism (neo-colonialism), don't complain about it twenty-four-seven, every day of the week, every week of the month, every month of the year, 367 days.

    Do something. Develop a pragmatic approach to counter modern day imperialism. Engage in a well orchestrated constructive and peaceful struggle against neo-imperialism as well as all local double agents that have been schooled in the art of progagating neo-imperial precepts in ouir schools, homes, media, all over Kenya and rest of Africa.

    Rather than using up your present moments with all kinds of immobilizing anxiety over what are putting off, take charge of this nasty erroneous zone - modern day imperialism (MDI) - and live now!

    Be a a doer, not wisher, hoper, critic, or basher of all things that reek of modern day quasi-imperialism.

    Why would anyone with a great mind like that of Prof Emeritus allow or let the genies of modern day imperialism haunt the hell out of them, day and night?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Panafricanist2/7/12, 1:25 PM

    Mwarang'ethe's is as usual right but delivers his message in such a lengthy difficult round-about way (with correct but largely unknown and obscure historical references) that many readers fail to capture the important points he makes.

    With the demise of the socialist bloc, Imperialism (primarily designed and led by the Western world), is the key driver to what is happening in Africa and virtually throughout the world. But even within the confines of the Imperialist boundaries, a smart and committed nationalistic African leadership can provide a decent life for its people (example - Botswana, Mauritius). That can, however, only happen if no attempt is made to challenge the Imperialist domination by the Western world. Any African leader, however smart, who attempts to challenge this domination would not last or would be gradually ground down - Sankara of Burkina Faso is a prime example. Other leaders (who were/are not that smart or had other weaknesses) that can be listed include Nkrumah, Nyerere, Samora Machel, Rawlings, Mugabe, Gaddafi, Nasser, Lumumba, etc. One can find an even longer list of fallen/sidelined leaders in Asia and Latin America where the challenge to imperialism was direct which triggered an extremely violent response from the West.

    It is, however, important to understand that Imperialism is colour blind. Chinese, Indian, Turkish and Brazilian capitalists are now showing the same imperialistic tendencies. Even in the West, Imperialism has turned on its people with, first, massive impoverishment of its working class (particularly during the Thatcher and Reagan eras) and now, with global financial crisis, Imperialism is systematically demolishing its middle class.

    This is why we in Africa should be trying to engage the Occupy movement in the West which, for the first time, has begun to draw attention to the deep structural injustices that Imperialism fosters not only in developing countries but also in industrialized economies.

    In my dubious Nigerian/West Africa accent, my message to Mwarang'ethe, is "My broda, yu are right and I agree with yu but can yu write like a common man so that those of us who have not read all the white man's books can understand?"

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is so sad BUT so true. Why is it that Mwarang´ethes issues are not attacked. Instead we always have some commentators here who are attacking him as a person. We ought to attack his issues soberly with facts of reality. Only then can this real issues be tackled and debated, and of course some will disagreee and some will agree. ........................

    Kumekucha i have always wondered why you as an Adminstrator of this vibrant political blog never seem to comment or discuss the causes of for instance unemployment, inflation, imperialism, poverty when ever they are brought up here. However am so thankful i found your blog in 2005, i have really learnt alot, you have clearly pointed out many interesting political events here on your blog. i have almost read them all........................


    i reached a point after alot of reading both here and other places, i started being very critical and began inquiring why Kenya after so many year of independence is still poor. i moved beyond the usual mainstream reasons like corruption, impunity, poverty etc and tried to understand the causes of them instead...... are we so afraid to seek the truth?Are we too afraid to accept the truth? Are we too afraid to hear an African say "i told you so" Well if we dont seek the truth we shall never be free...... Chris i still respect you and i still respects this blog. kudos

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  6. Panafricanist2/7/12, 1:46 PM

    Just saw a comment on the need for pragmatic responses to Imperialism which is spot on.

    I think Africa has a unique chance during this period when Imperialism from the West is being challenged internally by a re-awaked middle class that has been hammered by the financial crisis and by China, India (and other rising Asian economies such as Indonesia and Malaysia that we often ignore), Brazil and Turkey.

    A smart African leadership could exploit this unique moment to negotiate better terms in technology transfer, market access and prices for our still unprocessed goods. But alas, the clowns we have appear to be botching this unique moment in history. Have you ever heard, any Africa Government pushing for its students to learn Madarin, Turkish, Hindi, Portuguese? These are the key languages needed to negotiate better deals for Africa.

    So here is a smart pragmatic option - equip each key Ministry and key sector in Africa with a dozen smart young men/women fluent in the aforelisted languages!

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  7. The Occupy Movement has become its own worst enemy unlike all of its predecessors.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Even in the West, Imperialism has turned on its people with, first, massive impoverishment of its working class (particularly during the Thatcher and Reagan eras) and now, with global financial crisis, Imperialism is systematically demolishing its middle class.

    xxxx

    "Swedes should work until they’re 75: Reinfeldt."

    "Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt thinks that Swedes need to be prepared to work a lot longer than they do today in order to keep the same living standard as when they were working."

    “The pensions scheme isn’t based on magic. It is a welfare ambition based on large-scale re-distribution and citizens’ own work. If people think that we can live longer and shorten our work life, then pensions will get lower.”

    Annnnnnnd, the KICKER:

    The prime minister is scheduled to host a meeting in Sweden on Wednesday with the leaders of the Nordic nations, as well as with British PM DAVID CAMERON [OLIGARCHY JOINING HANDS FOR FINAL ASSAULT ON THE SHEEPLE], to discuss among other things the implications of an aging population."

    NB: In Greece, the Greeks are LAZY and CORRUPT.

    In the North, LIVING for TOOOOOOO LONG.

    Source: http://is.gd/BQG6S5

    Haiya, we see a repetition of the Medieval History.

    Lest we forget:

    "Sometimes you UNDERMINED OUR CURRENCY and WE BECAME VERY POOR.

    Well, we learn from each other. We were Euro-centric before. I think it should be a little bit Asia-centric now."

    So, says a man who SHOULD know,the former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

    Source: http://is.gd/M0sH90

    Anyway, since the African Teacher did see these things looooooong time ago, we leave to enjoy:

    Jah would never give the power to a baldhead,

    Run come crucify the Dread.

    Lock them up; oh, not the brothers,

    But the ones who sets 'em up.

    http://is.gd/1B45vU

    ReplyDelete
  9. As usual, a crystal clear message from Mwarang'ethe. And yes, the African teacher is CORRECT to a DOT.
    Its funny how some bloggers, mesmerized by his hard hitting facts result to personal attacks since they have nothing intellectual to oppose.
    I hope that Chris, phil or sheeple Taabu will not try to bury this post with another of their useless political blogs.
    We love you Sir Mwarang'ethe, you are the reason most of us visit KK.

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  10. If i gave a dollar for the quantity of great articles you might have written you'd be rich. Just thought i would let you know how grateful i am.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow you've carried out it again. Some great data here. You've got made me break my comment embargo, cheers :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Heard loud and clear. However, it's important to set an example by practicing what you preach in support of Mwarang'ethe's intellectual discourse and enduring politics of anti-imperialism.

    So, why don't you set a shinning example with your good model behaviour combined with intellectual contributions on every mesmerizing topic posted by Mwarang'ethe?

    Instead of belittling "useless political blogs" by the likes of Chris, Phil, Taabu and others that you so often love to refer to in a derogatory fashion as sheeple of Kumekucha?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Why is it that, when an African who is a lawyer like Ocampo but, also, learned, not listened to?

    On a side note, some of our African lawyers are never listened to on most occasions due to one sad fact of reality, their character simply precedes them.

    And tuning them out has nothing to do with an intense dislike of oneself, nor is it a reflection of self-hatred at all on part of the public.

    Other than, the very same public has become so fed up with most of the lawyers, especially with regard to the manner in which they handle themselves in their professional capacity as well personal lives.

    Majority of the lawyers are known to needlessly complicate people's legal problems and in most cases some of the lawyers never approach the legal problems creatively.

    While at the same time, some African lawyers are known to treat their clients as complete ignoramuses while at the same using them as cash-cows in situations where court cases are extended over lengthy periods.

    And many of the lawyers have yet to distinguish between urgency and importance when dealing their clients.

    The general public will only begin to respect them as well as listen to some of our so-called lawyers, solicitors, barristers, etc, when they decide to learn how to respect their profession in the first place, the law, their clients, the general public and country that issues them the licenses to practice law in relatively peaceful environments.

    Unfortunately, the current judicial system has yet to weed out a certain percentage of known rotten apples within the professional barrel.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anon 4:18PM said
    "Its funny how some bloggers, mesmerized by his hard hitting facts result to personal attacks since they have nothing intellectual to oppose.
    I hope that Chris, phil or sheeple Taabu will not try to bury this post with another of their useless political blogs.
    We love you Sir Mwarang'ethe, you are the reason most of us visit KK."
    -----------------------------------
    welcome anonymous cheer leading squad. Kweli nyani haoni kundule. Sir Mwarang'ethe himself is full of personal attacks craftily interwoven in between the historical quotes and lengthy round about way of writing.
    "ivy league of fools" and other personal attacks are all on record here in Kumekucha. If you live by the sword you face execution by the same sword.

    I know you won't bother to attempt the following exercise i am about to suggest but nevertheless trace the history of writers in Kumekucha and see if any has been more personally derogatory and negatively abusive like Mwarange'ethe in both comments and posts. Neither Chris nor Taabu or Phil have been as personally castigating as Mwarang'ethe and his online virtual supporters

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  15. anon 1:20pm
    It reminds one of President Kibaki and his "bure kabisa" "mavi ya kuku" "pumbavu" hurls of abuse.it seems the more educated an African is the more uncouth their public mannerisms towards the Hoi polloi become

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  16. Sheeple (pensioner) taabu is busy engaging himself in as anon, posting and then responding to himself. On the other hand, Mudavadi continues to receive an avalanche of attacks from the foot soldiers of the hair dyeing onctogenarian fellow. What a domo sorry democracy?

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  17. Well spoken Mwarangethe and I’d like to take this early opportunity to cheer you on. On a related discourse, an unknown author traces poverty and debt issues facing developing countries to USA. During the 1960s when “…the government had spent more money that it earned and to make up for this decided to print more dollars. So the world’s stocks in dollars fell in value”

    The story goes on, “ as the interests plummeted, the banks were faced with an international financial crisis. They lent out the money fast, to stop the slide, and turned to the Third World, whose economies were doing well but who wanted money to maintain development and meet the rising costs of oil.”

    As expected the sustained and calculated pumping of money to developing economies proved to be disastrous. Thus “In the end, little of the money borrowed benefited the poor. Across the range, about a fifth of it went on arms, often to shore up oppressive regimes. Many governments started large-scale development projects, some of which proved of little value. All too often the money found its way into private bank accounts. The poor were the losers.”

    Then the bitter reality set in “In the mid 1970s, developing countries, encouraged by the West to grow cash crops, suddenly found that they weren't getting the prices they were used to for the raw materials they sold, like copper, coffee, tea, cotton, cocoa. Too many countries - advised by the West - were producing the same crops, so prices fell.

    Then interest rates began to rise, pushed further by an increase in US interest rates. Meanwhile oil prices rose again. The trap was sprung - Third World countries were earning less than ever for their exports and paying more than ever on their loans and on what they needed to import. They had to borrow more money just to pay off the interest.”

    The result is that some poor countries could no longer afford to pay the huge debts. Subsequently the clever imperialists came up with SAPs. Basically SAPS demanded developing countries to:

    •Spend less on health, education and social services - people pay for them or go without
    •Devalue the national currency, lowering export earnings and increasing import costs
    •Cut back on food subsidies - so prices of essentials can soar in a matter of days
    •Cut jobs and wages for workers in government industries and services
    •Encourage privatization of public industries, including sale to foreign investors
    •Take over small subsistence farms for large-scale export crop farming instead of staple foods. So farmers are left with no land to grow their own food and few are employed on the large farms.

    Full article here
    http://www.jubileeusa.org/de/resources/debt-resources/beginners-guide-to-debt/how-it-all-began.html

    ReplyDelete
  18. It reminds one of President Kibaki and his "bure kabisa" "mavi ya kuku" "pumbavu" hurls of abuse.it seems the more educated an African is the more uncouth their public mannerisms towards the Hoi polloi become

    2/8/12 1:24 AM

    xxx

    Since when did the Hoi polloi start running IVY LEAGUE of FOOLS and VAMPIRE systems called IMF, ICC and such?

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  19. Mwarangethe

    What you mean is that the root of imperialism is at the West? So that when we successfully fight the Western imperialism then a lot will change in Africa, including the emergence and growth of middle class, which will then bring further changes.

    That fighting our leaders is tantamount to trying to uproot a tree by cutting its branches. That if we remove all our leaders, then, like a tree brings forth new branches, this Western Imperialism will bring forth and support new leaders, who will exhibit the same tendencies like the former leaders we removed, and it will be business as usual.

    That first of all we should dwell on Western Imperialism, as fighting it will make it easier for us to improve our lives through bringing the right policies. That even if we bring a new leader, he will soon be fallen through powers and influence of western imperialism.

    That our leaders have been forced to be the way they are by the imperialist policies. Policies that can only be changed if this same imperialists are destroyed.

    Let me further ponder. I'll get back to you.

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  20. Now, if African living standards were to improve just by 20%, all this oil would be consumed internally. As a result, there would be shortage of 20 million barrels per day. With such shortage, the oil prices would be more than $ 500 per barrel. Does ANY IDIOT think the BMW of Germany, Toyota of Japan, the Daewoo of Korea, the GM of America and the millions of jobs they provide in the West would survive under such prices? No and no.

    xxx

    Sisi (SATRAPS) NAJENGA pipeline ya MAFUTA from SOUTH SUDAN (where POVERTY is at home) PASS THROUGH Kenya (where we have no oil, we only see it when it BURNS SLUM dwellers) up to LAMU so as to supply ADEQUATE oil to:

    - Koreans,
    - Japanese,
    - Germans,
    - China etc etc.

    Oh, Lord!

    At 0:35:

    http://is.gd/tuPgAG

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  21. I recommend to those interested in a bit of eye-opening history the book;

    "The Black Man's Burden" - Africa and the curse of the Nation State
    by Basil Davidson

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hmm! And you of all people have the brazen nerve to claim that overwhelming attacks are being directed against the anointed king of your people.

    Well, well, your point man, the anointed one, king of Luhyaland, [excluding the fiercely independent Mighty Kingdom of Bukusuland].

    One in the person of Weakleaf Musalia the son of Moses Mudamba Mudavadi, is going no where, he does not have what it takes, let alone the hasãfah to make it to the old colonial building situated on the broken hill in the capital city.

    With all due respect, even if your point-man is lucky enough to win the ODM's presidential ticket, he will still be roundly beaten at the national polls by the likes of Martha Karua, Moses Wetangula, Raphael Tuju, Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Najib Balala, or any other contender out there.

    He just does not have the 'it factor' nor the necessary national appeal to carry him through the coming general elections.

    By the way, are you guys still blaming Weakleaf's imaginary political opponents and their foot soldiers for the Sh283 million cemetery land fraud?

    Anonymous, you were once known for your wit, scholarship, and communication skills here at Kumekucha. As a matter of fact you had a large following at one time due to your quality posts and witty comments.

    But it now seems as though you've lost sight of what was once essential to you at one point in time. Is that why astroturfing and trolling have become your trademarked grandiose style on Kumekucha?

    While always wandering here and there in search of fights from imaginary opponents.

    FYI, I would have loved to see Mzee Mwai Kibaki, Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, and twelve other senior politicians join the Ocampo 4 at The Hague.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Seek wisdom first my bretherns and you will not need imperialists or anyone for that matter.
    Just the same way King Solomon asked for wisdom and all things were added unto him then do so! King Solomon was not only the wisest man but he was also the richest man that ever lived! During his reign the nation of Israel enjoyed great properity, peace and fame in such a way Queen of Sheba travelled nearly 1000 miles from Ethiopia to Jerusalem to hear and see for herself the greatness of King Solomon. And she marveled!

    "If anyone lacks wisdom he should ask God who gives generously to ALL who ask..." James 1:5

    You wonder why Jews are so rich today?
    ...Because they see things that no-one else see!
    Just ask that young Jewsih boy Mark Zuckerberg, he will tell u he saw a "face in a book" and created facebook! Or ask Sergey Brin another young Jewish boy, he will tell you he "looked through his googles" and founded Google internet search engine!
    Or Alexander Fleming who saw mould/bacterias forming in his house and discoverd penicillin or anti-biotics!

    Friends, what are you looking at, what can you see around you?

    Maximus

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  24. @7:24 AM
    While at it do forget to review the Essay: On Tribalism As The Blackman's Burden.

    And Death and the King's Horsemen, Wole Soyinka, is a must read.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Maximus,
    I am looking at my village and all I can see is a neighbourhood full of unemployed university and high school graduates.
    Question: How comes they see things that no-one else is able to see, yet none of them since the days of great old wise Solomon have not found a cure for mortality?
    Ain't it funny that both the filthy rich (very wealthy), the super intelligent and super genius amongs us are all still susceptible to death, the one and only equalizer in life.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anon 8:50 AM

    Well done my friend! The fact you can see something that's something to celebrate about!

    You see, your village according to your words is "full of unemployed university and high school graduates." WOW!! That's an opportunity right in front of you!

    That's an amazing thing to see! Much greater than what Abraham saw when God told him to lift up his eyes and as far as he could see it was his!

    Do u know some people would wish to see what you can see. I am not kidding.
    If a Jewish person saw what you can see your whole village would be transformed instantly.
    Look how they transformed that desert called Israel into what it is today - in less than 60 years!
    The Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Jewish people were taken into exile (scattering all around the world)in 70AD. Israel was left desolate until they returned back in 1948 and founded the modern state of Israel.

    If u have never been to Israel I urge you to pay a visit - you will learn so much and see so much in such a way your thinking will be challenged forever!

    Maximus

    ReplyDelete
  27. Panafricanist2/8/12, 1:15 PM

    Congrats Mwarang'ethe for a common man-friendly comment - you even posted a link to a truly on-point tune from the one and only true brother Bob Marley - "clap, clap, clap - standing ovation"

    ReplyDelete
  28. Panafricanist2/8/12, 1:15 PM

    Congrats Mwarang'ethe for a common man-friendly comment - you even posted a link to a truly on-point tune from the one and only true brother Bob Marley - "clap, clap, clap - standing ovation"

    ReplyDelete
  29. Yes in deed we are really obsessed with imperialism from dawn to dusk. The shadows of imperialism can be seen every where from the rising of the sun to its setting.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Desolate until 1948? Says who? Talk of imperialism at work in one of the most volatile areas.

    Anyway, first of all, that patch of ancient desert that was forcefully taken away from the people of the land, the Bedouins and internally displaced Palestinians, not to mention over 10.6 million al-shatat, would not have been transformed into what it is today without the heavy infusion of foreign aid to the tune of over $3 billion grants annually from Amrika.

    And were you aware of the fact that a population of around 300 Christian Palestians have lived along the Kenyan coast since the mid 1960s? While hundreds of their fellow countrymen and women bypassed the coast of East Africa and settled in South Africa.

    As matter of fact the Magarini settlement scheme was first hived out for the resettlement of the al-shatat in mind, but the likes of Bruce Mckenzie, with the backing of the stalwarts at the FCO and company overuled the initiative and derailed the project.

    Hence compelling two ships ferrying an estimated two thousand Palestinians to change course from the port harbour of Mombasa and sail out to their present day adopted country, a home far away from home in Australia.

    Now you know the main reason as to why and how the Mzee Kenyatta admisntration found it so easy to resettle alternative populations (substitutes) in Mpeketoni and surrounding areas.

    Faysal ibn 'Abd al-Aziz Al Su'ud had already offered a generous grant of several million dollars to government of Kenya for the temporary shelter and housing construction for al-shatat. The rest is history.

    *al-shatat of Eastern Africa - Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Maputo, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  31. "Devolution team cries foul over changes to law."

    "Some members of the task force that wrote legislation on the devolved government structure on Wednesday came out against a new draft that seems to give the State president direct authority over county governors.

    Speaking at a meeting with the Kenya Parliamentary Journalists Association in Nairobi’s Stanley Hotel, Mr Kipchumba Murkomen and Mr Paddy Onyango said the changes were out to ensure that the governor took orders from the President, and that the provincial administration stays intact in the new dispensation."

    NB: "... added Mr Murkomen, a political scientist."

    NB: Where is that SCIENCE Mr Murkomen derives his title from?

    Source: http://is.gd/d1R1vH

    xxx

    For those who have been reading this blog, they must have read a looooooong article by the African Teacher where inter alia, it was written:

    "Now, when we come to the so called 3rd world, we find these nations to have no foreign policy of any shape or colour. And, if they appear to have one, it is just being a hand boy for the imperial nations.

    However, when it comes to their DOMESTIC POLICIES, all we find are very CENTRALIZED STERILE BUREAUCRATIC SYSTEMS.

    Dear reader, contrary to the CLAP TRAP you hear about who dismantled the Lancaster Constitution to create an imperial presidency, the truth is this...."

    "There Is A Mzungu At Wako's Office."

    @ http://is.gd/25dUAi

    xxxx

    As usual, we leave to enjoy:

    When is the Payday MR SLAVE DRIVER

    http://is.gd/GhCPFC

    ReplyDelete
  32. saw a tv doc by this swedish guy:
    said 50yrs ago Taiwan was as poor as Kenya; now Taiwan is 20 times richer;he interviewed kenya tenant farmer and jua kali business who say not being able to own land, high buiness licenses do not allow business growth; additionally the documentary indicate EU tarifs prevent kenya exports; EU also subsidizes wheat exports to kenya so that it is cheaper than what kenyan farmer can sell kenyan wheat for; he blamed kenya's corrupt govt of Moi ?!- yet Moi was always for indigeneous solutions not IMF solutions; one cannot blame moi 10 years later?!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Mwarangethe

    What you mean is that the root of imperialism is at the West? So that when we successfully fight the Western imperialism then a lot will change in Africa, including the emergence and growth of middle class, which will then bring further changes.

    That fighting our leaders is tantamount to trying to uproot a tree by cutting its branches. That if we remove all our leaders, then, like a tree brings forth new branches, this Western Imperialism will bring forth and support new leaders, who will exhibit the same tendencies like the former leaders we removed, and it will be business as usual.

    That first of all we should dwell on Western Imperialism, as fighting it will make it easier for us to improve our lives through bringing the right policies. That even if we bring a new leader, he will soon be fallen through powers and influence of western imperialism.

    That our leaders have been forced to be the way they are by the imperialist policies. Policies that can only be changed if this same imperialists are destroyed.

    Let me further ponder. I'll get back to you.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Mwarang'ethe is right. A confrontation with so-called global institutions, is unavoidable if the African is liberate himself.

    ReplyDelete
  35. The Virtual Teacher must be an idol mind, a 10,000 word article wah!


    PIG/KID

    ReplyDelete
  36. That first of all we should dwell on Western Imperialism, as fighting it will make it easier for us to improve our lives through bringing the right policies. That even if we bring a new leader, he will soon be fallen through powers and influence of western imperialism.

    xxx

    Philip, as you REFLECT, bear in mind that, the Mzungu is not sleeping.

    Sample this:

    "World Bank pledges Sh17b for slum upgrading."

    NB: Bear in mind what was said when this VAMPIRE was being formed as we note above.

    "The World Bank has pledged Sh17 billion towards improving informal settlements in 15 municipalities across the country.

    Speaking at Karagita slums in Naivasha, Kyle said the funds would address SANITATION, water, street lighting and road problems in the informal settlements."

    Source: http://is.gd/aEKMbn

    NB: We can show you MATHEMATICALLY that, improving slums is a DELUSION, ILLUSION and CHILDISH FANTASIES.

    However, let us JUST take SANITATION.

    To build a TOILET in Kibera, you need:

    (a) Philo's labour. The last time we checked, he was paid in KENYA SHILLINGS.

    (b) Bricks. The last time we checked, the soil and water is available in Kibera. This means that, KES is okay.

    (c) If it is roofing, the last time we checked, tiles could be bought at Thika and mabati somewhere in Athi River using KES.

    (d) If you want cement instead of the SOIL, the last time we checked, it could be bought in Mombasa using KES.

    So, if these are the FACTS, then, we need to be educated as to why, YOUR ELECTED Raila, Kibaki, Uhuru, Kalonzo, Musalia, KILONZO's, KAMAU KURIA's and these other MONKEYS with EMPTY HEADS, see it fit to BURDEN us with $$$$ loans.

    In other words, as you go to work TODAY, Philip, a lot of what you earn, SHALL BE TAKEN by FORCE and transferred to the Americans/Japanese/Germans/Britons/Jews etc.

    Using YOUR OWN /BLOOD/SWEAT/MONEY then, they shall:

    - FEED,their kids as yours STARVE,

    - CLOTHE, their kids as yours walk NAKED,

    - EDUCATE their kids in their IVY LEAGUE of FOOLS and come back and FOOL your KIDS as they fool you NOW with democracy, justice and such SATANIC words.

    Anyway, we are off to enjoy:

    They use MONEY to PENALIZE THE POOR

    http://is.gd/Er64NQ

    ReplyDelete
  37. By the way, why do we need all these money to upgrade our slums when all the materials are locally available? For sure something is wrong somewhere.

    Let me ponder further.

    ReplyDelete
  38. @2/8/12 6:19 AM
    So, it had to take a one sided documentary by some Swedish guy, wannabe the next director on National Geographic, for the likes of you to figure out how the dark underbelly of the EU, including the IMF, WB, FAO, WHO, continues to undermine progress in none European and North American nations?

    Lest we forget the fact that Daniel arap Moi is the one person who is responsible for propgating some of the worst indigenous political, economic, educational, agricultural and ethnic modus operandi that reversed the standard of living in Kenya by "a backward twenty years."

    The repercussions of political evils, economic failures and huge ethnic disasters can still be felt today as a result of some of Daniel arap Moi's mismangement style of governing the country for twenty something years.

    FYI, the stories about the Asian tigers vs Kenya of 1950s, have done their rounds on a million of occasions.

    Thanks for bringing it up again but never let Daniel arap Moi off the hook or rather tip of the spear for all the political, eeconomic and social evils that he brought about upon the republic of Kenya and its people.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hah, Italy demonstrators rally against Berlusconi

    ReplyDelete

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