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Comment by w1ntermute | Hacker News Reader

The problem is that oil allows the dictators to fund their governments' without the people's consent. This is in stark contrast to the Western world, where our political leaders must pay at least a modicum of respect to the common man, because he's the one paying the taxes.

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That might be true in Libya, but it is clearly not true in Egypt, which has no substantial oil reserves. Mubarak made "his" fortune by stealing from the Egyptian people.

In the UK it seems like the government is quite happy to ignore the people aside from gesturing, and when the real decisions are made they listen more to their mates from Eton, who run banks and big business.

Which totally explains the existence of the NHS.

Either the Eton-conspiracy is less powerful than you think, or they have a bizarre concern for the health of the British people.

I apologize for the snarkiness, but really? Comparing the way that British politicians treat their constituents to the way that Qaddafi is literally gunning down his is pretty absurd.

Suggesting that the political situation in the UK is as bad as it is in the Middle East is a slap in the face to all those who have given their lives to overthrow brutal Middle Eastern dictators over the last two months.

Norway is a counterpoint. Western, plenty of oil money, yet has very low corruption and a very high standard of living for most of the population. The country has used their oil revenue wisely.

That's true, Norway is an exception. IIRC, all their oil revenue has been placed in a sovereign wealth fund. Then again, their neighbors don't have that same luxury, which no doubt pressured their own politicians into behaving. The Middle East is almost entirely ruled by dictators & monarchies, so it's not like the people can just go to a neighboring country if the going gets rough.

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