Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Third-World Politics Is So Messy
Ali Bongo was elected President of Gabon in 2009, re-elected in 2016, and again this week. Many election observers complained of multiple voting irregularities in all three elections, but Mr. Bongo told a friendly media that those observers were enemies of democracy, the people had spoken, and he would humbly serve his country as he was called upon to do. Coincidentally, he has been accused of attempting to control the media as well.
Gabon is a member of OPEC and brings in billions in oil revenue every year, but the population remains poor. Mr. Bongo has been accused of enriching himself and his family by selling influence to foreign interests. He has used the police and the courts to prosecute his political opponents. He has even used riots and violent gangs to intimidate voters who don’t support him.
I know what you’re thinking — thank God I live in the land of the free and home of the brave — nothing like that could ever happen here. Gosh, those poor third-world people sure have screwed up politics, don’t they? Lordy.
Where was I? Oh, yes. As I mentioned, Mr. Bongo was re-elected this week in an election marked by remarkable voter irregularities, lack of oversight of vote counting by neutral and opposition observers, and a decision released before all the votes could be counted. Less than an hour later, he was overthrown in an insurrection, and a general in the military took his place. Observers of the events of Jan. 6 may be confused by this, but the Gabon insurrection involved men with guns who overthrew a government.
In West/Central Africa, there have been eight successful coups in the past three years. And many more unsuccessful coups. African politics has always been bonkers, but that’s amazing. The entire world seems crazier and less stable than usual, and that’s really saying something.
Of course, once citizens recognize that their government is clearly and obviously corrupt, what choice do they have? Voting doesn’t help anymore. So they must find other ways to have their voices heard.
Corrupt politicians create violent responses. Over and over again, throughout history.
I presume President Biden will release a statement denouncing the violence in Gabon. I’m sure he disapproves of violent overthrows of corrupt governments.
At least, he should.
**********
No, I am not arguing for armed insurrection. I am simply illustrating two blindingly obvious points:
1) Our government is as hopelessly corrupt as the third-world governments that we used to make fun of.
2) Democrats are playing with fire. They are leading us into VERY dangerous waters.
Published in General
What about non-violent overthrows of corrupt governments? Do you suppose he has (will be provided with) an opinion on that?
But where else would we send all the foreign aid money we need to ship to fertilize democracy?
Off subject, but I think Ali Bongo is a great street nickname.
Once it is widely believed that the game is rigged and elections no longer matter, it’s a short step from there to someone or group saying “Hey, If they stole it and it’s Ok, it’ll be Ok when we steal it.”
I for one think that’s how Democrats talked themselves into stealing 2020. They’ve been haranguing about stolen elections since the hanging chads of 2000. They finally believed their own press releases and concluded just that …“Hey, If they stole it and it’s Ok, it’ll be Ok when we steal it.” So they did. And here we are. Once that trust is lost it’s incredibly difficult to get it back.
BEAT ME TO IT
Ms. Ronin now says that since I’ve gone into my “golden” years, my street name should now be “La-zee.”
I was hoping his country was the Bongo Congo.
Maybe we are becoming inured to corruption.
There was an African immigrant I knew who was on staff in the office building where I worked. I used to sometimes buy a 4-digit lottery ticket (anniversary) and I would see him at the convenience store also buying tickets. We chatted about the lottery. He said that it had to be fixed. I said I thought that was unlikely. He said that it would be silly not to fix it if you had access because if you did not, somebody else would. Nobody lets such opportunities slide, he said.
A neighbor who worked for the World Bank in Africa told me that when they first opened a new regional office in Lagos, they had to have a switchboard in the building to place long-distance calls and when someone said they needed to call a number in Paris or London, the operator would demand a bribe. It took weeks to explain that the job and salary precluded bribes. This seemed baffling to staff because it seemed clear that if one had control of calls of anything else, why not profit?
A family friend of my parents was made head of security for a new IBM facility in Africa and had to adapt to an entirely different theft problem–data and the large machines that held it were not at much risk but every stapler, coffee pot and odd loose items was.
This is not a statement about African mores but a description of a society in which an expectation of lawful behavior and public integrity does not exist. We take that expectation for granted and it turns out that it is more vulnerable than we thought.
Hunter and Joe took the money because they could and the entire media and half of Congress think it is OK. Stores in San Francisco or LA are looted in broad daylight because the thieves know they can. And the rest of us are getting used to it and lowering out expectations accordingly.
I wish people would stop referring to “we/us” when they really mean “they/them.”
Superb comment #8. I particularly liked this bit.
The proper response to the Hunter Biden
absolutionplea deal was to fire everyone involved in any way, shape or from, including David Weiss.Merrick Garland delenda est.
I love satire that you don’t get until you do a double-take, and re-read the sentence.
Submitted without comment.
African coups? Been there, done that, have the OP to prove it.
https://ricochet.com/374188/september-group-writing-tall-tales-a-coup-in-chad/
Good tale, Scott.
There’s oil in Chad?
I thought there was nothing whatsoever in Chad.
A lot of oil, but very low gravity waxy crude. Interestingly, the aquifer below the oil was incredibly fresh water, some as low as 100ppm solids. I always thought that water was more valuable than the oil. I suggested we produce that water, use it for irrigation and/or bottle it and sell it – probably would have got more money for the water than the oil. No one listened.
So that type of oil is worth less than others?
Yes, more difficult to refine.
My wife would say that that’s the same reason I’m worth less than other men.
I suppose it was easier and more profitable for the dictators to sell the oil to other countries for “hard currency.”
I have lived and worked in North and East Africa, as well as, the Arabian Peninsula, and I can tell you from firsthand experience that bribing is just figured into the cost of doing business in these areas, which is the difference between “Get er done” now and “inshallah.” I wish I could tell you all the experiences I’ve had, but I signed the government non-disclosure. However, I’ll pass along a “personal Pro-Tip.” In conducting my business in these area I had to drive across “sketchy” frontier borders where the armed security personnel were of dubious origins who did not speak my “crackalacka” language. In situations like this, I’d pass out singles, packs, or cartons (depending on the size of the group), of cigarettes to break the ice. I do not smoke, but I had been advised by more “seasoned” travelers to always keep cigarettes on me for these circumstances. Nothing seems to calm down a tense situation faster than passing out Winston Reds and/or a chilled can of Coca Cola or bottled water in the middle of bumf**k nowhere. Most of the time it was enough to let me pass. If not, it at least open the door for further negotiations.
💯
I’ve had the same experience in Chad, Nigeria, Angola, and Mozambique.
Great comment.
It’s not unlike dealing with the Bidens. $5 million or so for Hunter can calm down the situation, or at least open the door for further negotiations.