Egypt's economy has been growing nicely in the last decade, but it is a very poor country and MOST of the people survives on free bread supplied by the government. It is something like the Roman system. The participation in the system costs three Egyptian pounds (50 US cents) a month, allowing to buy 20 loaves of flat pittah bread. The subsidization of bread costs the government $3 billion per year. (Pic.: Buying subsidized bread in Cairo).
Rationing food is, in my opinion, an infallible method of population control. I dont recall any successful rebellion or revolution in Ancient Rome or against a Communist regime. I dont think Mubarak's regime will collapse, except if he loses his nerve, like the Tunisian Ali did, and leaves the country.
3 comments:
Gratitude is not an actual human emotion - it exists only on paper. Those who receive charity hate the giver for their humiliation. The Roman emperors lived constantly in fear of their lives (more from their own palace guard than from the people). Indeed Sadat was killed by his own troops. The loyalty of the troops is not unlimited if the emperor has lost the support of the people. Think of the cruiser Aurora.
K
The people has not a chance. The Army will take over.
Of course "the people" won't end up in charge - they never do. The people don't have the power to crown a new head - the crown must be seized. But they have the power to remove the old one if the military loses the will or strength to support the old regime.
K
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