Jordan’s King Remakes His Government

[thestoic]

Source: New York Times

In recent days, King Abdullah II, popularly perceived in the West as being among the most enlightened Middle East leaders, has dismissed the prime minister and replaced him with a palace aide and loyalist, dissolved Parliament and postponed legislative elections for a year.

The king’s decisions were widely seen here as an effort to free the government from a recalcitrant legislature so it could push through financial measures viewed as essential to shoring up an economy burdened by debt and deficit. The Parliament, dissolved midway through its term, had opposed cuts in spending and the reduction of business taxes, key components of the government’s financial plan.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/23/world/middleeast/23amman.html?ref=world

[Warpy]

1. I guess crybaby conservatives are hardly unique to the US

Jordan is lucky to have a monarch that really gives a damn about the country instead of just his own comfort.

We've got a lot of work to do over the next 11 months to convince people that conservatives are not their friends and that they need to be ejected from our government until they learn to behave themselves.

[NoNothing]

3. I don't understand your point

It says the parliament was opposing both spending cuts and tax cuts. That sounds like the opposite of conservatives.

[Goldstein1984]

2. “The nature of humans is they want democracy” ...

said Ali Dalain, an independent member of the Parliament that was dissolved. “Since 1993, democracy in Jordan has been receding. One person cannot solve all problems and cannot make everyone happy, so people must share in determining their fate.”

****

Democracy seems to be receding everywhere, whether it be in a republic or a monarchy.

Thanks for that post. Good article.

1984