Notes and tidbits posted on FB and Twitter. Part 119

There is no such “Arab civilization”: it is the civilization of the people in the Middle-East (Syria, Iran, Egypt…) within the Islamic Empire. That the commanders of armies were selected from the “elite classes” in Mecca and Medina do Not constitute a civilization

Is it true the Maronite Patriarch is to visit Saudi Kingdom this Monday before they release from prison our Saad Hariri PM and return to Lebanon? The Lebanese have Not yet forgotten his treacherous visit to Israel.

Until Saudi Kingdom remove totally the blockade on Yemen, then Hezbollah of Lebanon will Not consider to tactically change its policies in Lebanon or Syria

The inner circle of Bashar Assad and of the Baath party before 2011, who punished the Syrian uprising for 3 years with constant air bombing of their villages and cities and forced millions to flee, should Not expect to be part of the political deal.

Two hubris mindsets: money-first mindset is being matched (attached) with the other mindset that says that any interference in the market is unnecessary and inefficient.

The demise of ISIS (Daesh) started when they applied their retrograde constraints, brutally and violently, on the civilized vast majority Sunnis in Syria and Iraq.

Lebanon President Aoun asked Maronite Patriarch to delay his visit to Saudi Kingdom until the clouds are cleared on the detention of Saad Hariri PM: Apparently, this treacherous Patriarch thinks he is above national entente

PaulaYacoubian fed Saad Hariri information in her questions that she guessed he had no access to them?

Black Water, US private security company, in charge of securing the prisons of Saudi princes?

The verdict of the greedy financial managers and analysts on this international financial crisis is: ” the culprit is a non-entity: It is human risk-taking nature, driven by greed for the enjoyment of the present moment.”

Capitalism is based on 4 foundations: Private property of means of production; free internal people movement and exchange (products, services…); open free market for commerce; and availability of a vast pool of people willing to work for salary.

Your worldview is a unique model that you tailored-made throughout your life, experiences, conditions, situations… in order to survive the thousands of daily problems, frustrations and barriers.

Lebanon President Aoun sent this message: We want our Saad Hariri PM back with All his family members. Saudi Kingdom still applies the tradition of keeping hostages, members of Key allied “leaders”

The frequent visits of Lebanon Saad Hariri PM to Saudi Kingdom were to visit his family members, kept hostages, when Kingdom was satisfied with his “performances”

As if Iraq and Iran needed a major earthquake (7.2) to taste the horrors of a wide range of calamities. Half a dozen major cities (over 500,000 each were affected). So far, 500 killed, 8,000 injured and 13,000 demolished properties. The same region of Karmanchah is still being hit by repetitive earthquakes of magnitude 5.

The Maronite Patriarch of Lebanon agreed Not to display the Cross in Saudi Kingdom. It would be lovely if all religious sects hide their stupid symbols under their tunic (3abayat)

What plagues us in human behaviors is that the one-directional minded people are the ones who frequently suggest flexibility of the mind. And they constitute the vast majority in the Silent Majority

You have these Lebanese who say: “Just show me a single event where Saudi Kingdom was Not good to Lebanon”. As if in the political history of Lebanon pseudo-State ever took a position that dissatisfied the the Saudi mind-set.

Saad Hariri fi mar7alat ta2ammol? ma ba3da raj3ati ila Loubnan? Moubaya3at Baha2?

Since when does Capitalism exist to maximize civilization? What Degrees of freedom?

There’s a school of thought that argues that markets are the solution to everything. That money is the best indication of value created.

That generating maximum value for shareholders is the only job. That the invisible hand of the market is the best scorekeeper and allocator. “How much money can you make?” is the dominant question.

And frequently, this money-first mindset is being matched with one that says that any interference in the market is unnecessary and inefficient.

That we shouldn’t have the FDA, that businesses should be free to discriminate on any axis , that a worker’s rights disappear at the door of the factory or the customer’s at the lunch counter–if you don’t like it, find a new job, a new business to patronize, the market will adjust.

Taken together, this financial ratchet creates a harsh daily reality. The race to the bottom kicks in, and even those that would ordinarily want to do more, contribute more and care more find themselves unable to compete, because the ratchet continues to turn.

The problem with a race to the bottom is that you might win. Worse, you could come in second.

There are no capitalist utopias.

No country and no market where unfettered capitalism creates the best possible outcome. Not one.

They suffer from smog, from a declining state of education and health, and most of all, from too little humanity. Every time that the powerful tool of capitalism makes things better it succeeds because it works within boundaries.

It’s worth noting that no unbridled horse has ever won an important race.

The best way for capitalism to do its job is for its proponents to insist on clear rules, fairly enforced.

To insist that organizations not only enjoy the benefits of what they create, but bear the costs as well.

To fight against cronyism and special interests, and on behalf of workers, of communities and education. That’s a ratchet that moves in the right direction.

Civilization doesn’t exist to maximize capitalism.

Capitalism exists to maximize civilization. (And failing because it confused optimum and sustainability with maximization?)