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polly7

(20,582 posts)
58. Thanks for all of this Catherina.
Wed Dec 12, 2012, 12:25 PM
Dec 2012
http://www.zcommunications.org/navigating-egypts-revolutionary-crisis-by-shamus-cooke

Moreover, the IMF usually demands privatization of public services that are directed toward helping the poor. One example of a common IMF attack on the public sector is the elimination of government fuel subsides, which lower the price of gasoline and oil used for cooking. This IMF policy has created mini-Arab springs in Jordan and Nigeria; and now Egypt's IMF loan includes the same attached string. A report on Reuters explains:

"If the [Egyptian] government does begin cutting the [fuel] subsidy and publishes a timetable for its eventual removal — probably a minimum IMF demand — then we would expect
funds from the IMF and other donor organizations to provide Egypt with breathing space [to fund its government]."

At the same time, the IMF loan also helped insure that Egypt's Mubarak-era miniscule taxes for the wealthy and corporations stay where they are, at 25 percent.

Thus, in one stroke of the pen — signing the IMF debt deal — the Muslim Brotherhood proved in practice that it will continue the economic policies of the wealthy-dominated Mubarak dictatorship.



http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/25/imf-arab-spring-loans-egypt-tunisia

Beginning in the 1990s, IMF-led structural adjustment programmes saw the privatisation of the bulk of the Egyptian textile industry and the slashing of its workforce from half a million to a quarter-million. What's more, the workers who were left faced – like the rest of Egypt – stagnant wages as the price of living rocketed. Though you wouldn't know it from western coverage, the long and gallant struggle of these workers, particularly the strike of textile workers of Mahalla el-Kubra, is credited by many Egyptian activists as a crucial step on the Egyptian people's path towards revolution.

This failure to appreciate the revolutions as a rebellion not just against local dictators, but against the global neo-liberal programme they were implementing with such gusto in their countries, is largely a product of how we on the western left have been unwitting orientalists, and allowed the racist "clash of civilisations" narrative to define our perceptions of the Middle East. We have failed to see the people of the region as natural allies in a common struggle.

It is this blindness that makes the revolutions appear as instantaneous explosions, like switches suddenly flicked, rather than as events in a continuum. A good place to start the story, if you want it to make sense, would be the Egyptian bread riots of 1977, which came following an initial round of economic liberalisation (which was as much a part of Sadat's change of cold war allegiances as his salute to the Israeli flag in Jerusalem). It should not have surprised us that as people's struggle to survive grew more and more grinding following the IMF-led reforms of the subsequent decades they would rise up once more.

Nor should we surprised at the moneyed fightback, which will no doubt be attempted. During this transition period, forces like the IMF will seek to lock in and enlarge the neoliberal project before there is an accountable government to complain about it



The Hospital that makes you Sicker

Joseph Stiglitz

http://www.newint.org/features/2004/03/01/imf-failure/
Judges refusing to give referendum vote any legitimacy Catherina Dec 2012 #1
Dear Western fuckwads kindly read some ACTUAL investigative work on #Egypt's constitutional draft Catherina Dec 2012 #2
Protesters pulled down army metal barricade by wall 30mins ago-standing by tanks Catherina Dec 2012 #3
Huge pro #Morsi crowds at Rabaa El-edawaya mosque now-ppl saying 9,000 Catherina Dec 2012 #4
Electoral commission: Number of judges sufficient to supervise constitution referendum Catherina Dec 2012 #5
BREAKING: Egypt's Judges Club to refrain from supervising constitutional poll Catherina Dec 2012 #6
an "increase in misinformed articles by foreign analysts who seem paid to do so or know nothing Catherina Dec 2012 #7
Again, thanks so much for keeping us up-to-date on Egypt. sinkingfeeling Dec 2012 #8
My pleasure to keep the record as straight as possible Catherina Dec 2012 #17
The US: rewarding Arab obedience Catherina Dec 2012 #9
So Morsi's government sold Egypt out to the same criminals that are in the process of destroying sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #24
It really is and he parroted the same talking points we get here Catherina Dec 2012 #37
Marches, gathering steam Catherina Dec 2012 #10
The new SCAF calls for a "national dialogue" tomorrow, says Mursi will attend. denials Catherina Dec 2012 #11
Internet is down in half of #Maadi. n/t Catherina Dec 2012 #12
"America stop supporting terrorists" Catherina Dec 2012 #13
Contradicting reports from govt on whether Defense Minister invited political forces to dialogue Catherina Dec 2012 #14
Morsi as a Pharaoh, underneath reads "Void" Catherina Dec 2012 #15
Dear Western Media & Think tanks: If you're too bloody lazy to read, feel free to watch. Catherina Dec 2012 #16
Morsi still can't say whether call for meeting is a rumor or not, MB declares they're attending Catherina Dec 2012 #18
another blow to #Morsi, court does not recognize prosecutor general Catherina Dec 2012 #19
Alexandria protests are HUGE! Catherina Dec 2012 #20
Morsi, deal with this! Egyptian women in black, with "retribution" written. & "Down with... Catherina Dec 2012 #21
Good question. It was all propaganda. I remember Laura Bush using Afghan's women to get support sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #30
Remember the wikileaks documents of the CIA's program to use Feminist Groups Catherina Dec 2012 #32
Yes, I do and that is one of many reasons why they are trying to shut down Wikileaks. sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #36
One march to on way from #Tahrir to presidential palace Catherina Dec 2012 #22
Livestream Link in English Catherina Dec 2012 #23
no exaggeration there are about 100 MB mini bus & travel bus... with MB guards Catherina Dec 2012 #25
Numbers at palace increasing rapidly. Merghany street is full of protesters. Tanks are filling ... Catherina Dec 2012 #26
Interview with men who get paid to carry out mob attacks on women in Tahrir Catherina Dec 2012 #27
I just posted a link above to an interview with some of the men who are being paid to attack women. sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #31
Reuters Livestream Catherina Dec 2012 #28
Huge crowds of anti-Morsi protesters at palace Catherina Dec 2012 #29
Conflicting narratives emerge on new prosecutor general's past Catherina Dec 2012 #33
Someone is defending Morsi's actions on DU? sabrina 1 Dec 2012 #38
Oh yeah Catherina Dec 2012 #39
Egyptians outside Al-Ittihadiyah palace, no violence or injuries reported. n/t Catherina Dec 2012 #34
Nuba will announce tomorrow that no referendum voting boxes will be allowed in their villages Catherina Dec 2012 #35
MB Statement on Shootings by Masked Men in Tahrir Square Catherina Dec 2012 #40
FJP (MB) buses attacked en route to Cairo, six injured Catherina Dec 2012 #41
Beltagy: We'll protect "Itehadya" with our blood. Abu Ismail supporters: Victory or martyrdom Catherina Dec 2012 #42
Beltagy, part-time parliamentarian & full-time bigot, asserting that >60% of protesters r Christian Catherina Dec 2012 #43
Morsi orders referendum in two phases for shortage in participating judges' numbers Catherina Dec 2012 #44
Presidential order to hold the referendum on December 15th and 22nd, due to shortage Catherina Dec 2012 #45
When will the west pay the price for its support of political Islam in the Arab world? Catherina Dec 2012 #46
Hegazy: Who ever thinks of toppling #Morsi will be beheaded Catherina Dec 2012 #47
MB chant at palace "No to constitution, yes to shari'ah (to law of God)" n/t Catherina Dec 2012 #48
" preparing 100s of 1000s of jihadis waiting for zero hour" Catherina Dec 2012 #49
MB #Ikhwan leader says MB violence is because of the rudeness of the protesters Catherina Dec 2012 #50
"15 hrs of street clashes show an organized group of disciplined Islamists. military-type exercises Catherina Dec 2012 #51
MB: 'Morsi's legitimacy or ppl's necks' Catherina Dec 2012 #52
MB not leaving Media Production Village. Will build bathrooms outside village & plan 2 build Mosque Catherina Dec 2012 #53
Image of the bathrooms they began building.. just like that Catherina Dec 2012 #54
New voter rules announced before Egypt vote Catherina Dec 2012 #55
Hegazi inciting ppl against ElBaradei & specifically agnst Church Catherina Dec 2012 #56
An overview of the IMF debacle raising important questions Catherina Dec 2012 #57
Thanks for all of this Catherina. polly7 Dec 2012 #58
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