Margaret Scobey, the hypocrite who was publicly praising Mubarak as an ally in the past, only to change the rhetoric and become some Nelson Mandela following the revolution, is now trying to tell us what to do and what not to do about our economy, even when she’s leaving her post. Speaking to Ahram Online:
“A return to nationalisation will be a huge disincentive to investment,” the United States ambassador to Egypt said in a media roundtable held at the US embassy on Saturday.
“I think Egypt has to make its choice and find an economic policy that would solve its prompt problems; to create jobs and social justice,” said Margaret Scobey, answering a question from Ahram Online on whether Egypt’s growing appetite for nationalisation and public sector involvement would affect US aid policy towards the country.
“Yet I think the public sector cannot [solve its problems],” she said. “History proves privatisation has been very healthy, helpful and successful in helping many countries transform to democracy.”
History has proven that privatization has destroyed our lives, our economy, accumulated the wealth even more in the hands of few. Which history books do you read Scobey? The demand for nationalizing the privatized industries has topped the agenda of the strike wave over the past five years and during the revolution. And whether the American viceroy agrees or not, the campaign to reclaim the privatized factories will continue.
Haha – when ur angry, you write brilliantly :)
If you want to privatise stuff thats your business, but it ain’t all that great.
Privatisation usually means cost cutting, that could be maintenance, workers rights and conditions, or simply quality of services.
Australia has been in the grip of a privatisation frenzy for 25 years. Two years (2009) during a massive drought a bushfire (the Kilmore East-Murrundindi “fire complex”) that wiped out 2 towns, killed nearly 150 people and destroyed thousands of homes (One of many fires on “Black Saturday” – feb 7 2009).
There were many fires that day but the one I’m referring to, the worst in terms of death and destruction was caused because a privatised electricity company hadn’t done the right thing wrt maintenance. Their powerlines failed in the heat due to poor maintenance and the sparks started the fire.
Thats just one example of the potential dangers of privatisation, and its an extreme one sure, but it happened.
Privatisation makes it harder to regulate an industry and that may make for more profits but it also means costs are cut left right and center. Thats without the corruption etc etc interfering.
Right now the G8 are meeting and pushing to “support” this so called “Arab Spring”. That means they will be pushing privatisation on you wherever possible.
If you go that route just make sure you do iton your own terms and take the time to assess the decision properly.