World Change... Is It For The Better?

As if we needed another OPEC, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is considering forming a rice cartel. Over the weekend, the group "did agree very strongly to communicate and cooperate among ourselves" and "affirmed that access to adequate and reliable supply of rice and stable prices are fundamental to the region's economic and social well being." Now there is yet another way to leverage the military might of the United States... higher rice prices. Who is up for another war for resources?

Saudi Arabia had some major taboos broken this weekend; the country's first ever classical music performance in a public venue before a mixed gender audience. Typically public music is banned, and sexes are segregated. Is this a sign that the Kingdom is ready for change? The German Ambassador said, "Evidently the government has decided that a minimum of openness in our new world economy and in our information-based world is necessary for us and also for good understanding among cultures." The English-language daily Arab News reported, "For half an hour, we did not quite know whether we had stumbled into an unknown Jiddah nightclub or whether it was some amazing mistake that would suddenly stop." What next, Rock Band night at the local mosque? I think not...

So a wealthy state no longer wants to be part of a poor country, who can blame them? Santa Cruz vote for for autonomy in Bolivia passed overwhelmingly, but too bad the state can't just decide to leave. The president called the vote illegal, unconstitutional and dictatorial... he also claimed the referendum failed as only about 60% of the population voted. If it worked that way here in the United States, no one would ever be elected to anything!

In December, Putin picked Medvedev, then deputy prime minister, as his successor, even though he had never held elective office and has no political base of his own. Just because he was hand picked, apprenticed, and served as an adviser to Putin doesn't mean anything... he even pledged to "supplement and develop" Putin's programs. A prominent Russian commentator said, "I think one thing is dead clear... We have entered a period of profound instability in the country." Ok, so Putin didn't really step down... he just stepped to the right, he will be named Prime Minister later this week. Not to mention, he heads the dominant party, United Russia, giving him direct control of parliament and regional political leadership. So maybe Russia hasn't changed... can't win them all!