Corruption is part of life in Cameroon. You can’t get rid of it, you can’t escape it. From an outsider’s perspective, it seems so easy, just ask that your politicians not be corrupt, and only vote for the ones that are not, but it isn’t easy.
The culture is such that what we call corruption is just part of regular life. Leaders are like the fathers of the country, and are expected to take care of their kids, but are also expected to take their part.
So the politicians enrich themselves and let the power get to their head.
It took the west hundreds of years to go from feudalism (basically what we have here), to the republican governments we have now. Who knows what kind of government we’ll have in Cameroon in a hundreds years, but it will be interesting to see.
That reminds me of Churchill’s quote, that democracy is the worst type of government, except for all others.
So, if not the US, what is the best country in the world, and how would you even rate it? Maybe in the running could be some countries like Saudi Arabia (if you’re a rich Arab oil Tycoon) or South Africa (if you’re a rich white diamond magnate) or the Vatican (if you’re catholic), but I think for the regular Joe (the plumber), America offers the most opportunity to make what you want out of life. We bitch about our political correctness, big government, high taxes, crowded malls and Mc-everything, but even when some anarchist is out there burning our flag, he is showing us what makes our country great.
So, seriously, what other countries are possible contenders against the US?
Also, Justin once mentioned that the whole world could team up against the US and the US would still win in a war. I’m not sure that’s true, but what do you think?
November 13, 2008 at 9:42 pm
“Justin once mentioned that the whole world could team up against the US and the US would still win in a war. I’m not sure that’s true, but what do you think?”
hmmm. not if ‘the world’ included the NVA and the NLF
November 14, 2008 at 2:43 am
You didn’t quite say it the right way. What I said is that the rest of the world could not come in to the US and take over our country and replace the government with foreign rule (like what we do to other countries). I stand by that statement.
Nugget
November 14, 2008 at 3:55 am
Having lived in both the US and Canada I have at least a little perspective. The things I don’t like about America is lack of tolerance for people that are different, ie not white, not Christian, Gay etc, etc.
American also is too violent, it really scares me the amount of people that own guns, I don’t think it makes you safer, I think it makes it more dangerous.
The third thing is a lack of social conscious, without at least some type of health coverage for the poor is disgusting – a recurring theme in the Bible is “a test of a man is how he treats the poor”.
I would argue that there is just as much opportunity in Toronto as there is in any American city.
I don’t judge the a Country by the power of their military, but I would say it may only be 10 to 15 years before China will be able to destroy the US in a war – they already have 4 times the population and growing, they will soon be the world’s superpower, 1.3 Billion is a lot of people to kill! Good luck.
November 14, 2008 at 11:06 pm
The US does have health care for the poor and it’s practically free. It’s the non-poor that have trouble getting coverage unless it is offered by their employer.
November 16, 2008 at 4:35 pm
@big ben, good observation. In this century, it looks like the United States is on its way to becoming the Athens to China’s Rome.
“if not the US, what is the best country in the world, and how would you even rate it?” Depends on the yardstick you use to measure ‘greatness’ I suppose. FWIW, here’s one comparison:
http://i36.tinypic.com/2qs8m4z.jpg
November 18, 2008 at 5:58 pm
That is right, how would you meassure greatness?
It looks like through out history we’ve meassured it in terms of military and economical power.
If that is the case… then I’d also say that at this point, US is the greatest country in the world.
But, also one can be also very PROUD of his/hers country to say it, regardless.
and damnit… I am !
The Velarde’s are the greatests… ha-ha!!!
November 20, 2008 at 9:47 am
Yea, at the end of the day, the Velardes are the greatest. Whatever country they’re in!
and right now, we’re in three countries, so I guess we’re taking over the world.
December 20, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Rodriguez already owns everything. Hispanics are growing more than any other race. WE WILL DOMINATE!!