#1: abysmal incompetence of populist government leads many to mistaken belief it will be over quickly

#2: for a long time you think you've seen the worst, but you haven't seen anything yet

#3: the things that strike you as utterly shocking are applauded by others, perhaps even the majority

#4: when assessing a populist government it's always hard to tell whether it's just incompetence or dark designs

#5: nothing like a populist government to re-legitimize mainstream politics. If you manage to survive

#6: best way to boost opposition populist agenda/candidates? Ask experts to show why they are wrong

#7: populist parties are protest movements; they often ask good questions but have neither answers nor clues

#8: populists gain traction by scolding the "elites" for corruption, but when in power they out-corrupt them

#9: populist governments won't end just because their record is terrible; they can last if opposition is in disarray

#10: because populist governments have few achievements to sell, they manufacture polarization, division, hatred

#11: worst enemy of those opposed to populist governments? Believing "this is so bad, it can't possibly go on"

#12: most wrenching realization? That the demise of populism might require a major disaster

#13: populists' typical rhetorical weapon against opposition: "you aren't Greek enough"

#14: Wrong to think that people will turn against populist government as soon as it fails to deliver, but...

#15:...but equally wrong to believe that people will stick with populist govt for the long run not matter what

#16: because they are obsessed with control, populist governments erode institutions and undermine civil society

#17: ... but I don't know the extent or reversibility of this damage based on what I have seen so far

#18: debate and speculation about what a populist government will do revolve around three possible paths

#19: one, they will adapt, moderate, even be a semi-competent government like others

#20: two, they will create a mess through total incompetence, megalomania, graft, sheer adventurism

#21: three, it's a one way ticket to authoritarianism (or "revolution" if you are keen on it).

#22: Two and a half years later, people in Greece are still debating about which path the country is on

#23: Never underestimate populist politicians who have won elections; they get politics in a way you might not

#24: visceral excitement of voting for a populist candidate parallels teenagers' feelings when breaking rules

#25: the chasm between pre-election daze and realization of just what happened right after populists won

#26: When the moment comes for populists to deliver, they call elections; when they hit a wall, a referendum

#27: How populists justify yawning gap between promises and reality? "At least we try," "The others are worse

#28: Populists favorite style of government is to oppose the opposition

Credit: Stathis Kalyvas

We all need to read and digest this, both for now and later.

So true!

I hope it opens our eyes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHe0bXAIuk0

This video explains why most countries are going through difficult economic times right now. Rising Poverty is what has led to the rise of populist governments in many countries such as Greece, the united States, UK, and even Italy.

Two factors affect economic growth: productivity and credit( loans).

Productivity is our ability to create products and services people are willing to pay for.

Credit is the willingness of people to give loans out to other people. This is primarily built on trust.

In 2008, the United States entered into a credit crunch due to a housing crisis as a result of bad loans given at outrageous initial prices which tend steeply rise as time goes by.

The federal reserve (US Central bank ) reduced interest rates to almost zero percent thinking it would stimulate lending, but like in the Japanese housing crisis( started in the early 90's), this did not work.

Banks refused to lend out the money but instead invested the money in commodities like oil and gold so the prices of these commodities rose to unprecedented levels. Nigeria benefitted from this.

Unfortunately, the US economy has failed to recover until this moment as the rich bankers have failed to lend money to common people. The rich have gotten richer through speculation in the markets and everyone else has gotten poorer. Till this very moment, the united States is still in the middle of its credit crunch.

This is why Donald Trump is president and barney Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, are highly popular today because of their populist policies.

By 2014, most commodity based economies ( oil producers, gold producers, copper producers) also entered into a credit crunch, as the federal reserve started to raise interest rates. The bankers having made lots of money through speculation in commodities decided to shift their money back into US treasury bills. This activity sunk the price of most commodities and many nations went into recessions as a result.

THE WAY FORWARD.
Ray dalio gives a number of different suggestions on what needs to be done like increasing taxes on the rich.

All countries need to massively invest in education and health care to improve the productivity of their people since no one knows when this credit crunch is going to end.

IMHO, In Nigeria, investments also need to be made in improving our judiciary. An example may include privatising our prisons to enable private corporations to manage our prisons. This will lead to better living conditions of prisoners which may persuade more judges to send corrupt individuals to prison (as opposed to just fining them as it is currently done).

Enough said

Tianamen1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHe0bXAIuk0

This video explains why most countries are going through difficult economic times right now. Rising Poverty is what has led to the rise of populist governments in many countries such as Greece, the united States, UK, and even Italy.

Two factors affect economic growth: productivity and credit( loans).

Productivity is our ability to create products and services people are willing to pay for.

Credit is the willingness of people to give loans out to other people. This is primarily built on trust.

In 2008, the United States entered into a credit crunch due to a housing crisis as a result of bad loans given at outrageous initial prices which tend steeply rise as time goes by.

The federal reserve (US Central bank ) reduced interest rates to almost zero percent thinking it would stimulate lending, but like in the Japanese housing crisis( started in the early 90's), this did not work.

Banks refused to lend out the money but instead invested the money in commodities like oil and gold so the prices of these commodities rose to unprecedented levels. Nigeria benefitted from this.

Unfortunately, the US economy has failed to recover until this moment as the rich bankers have failed to lend money to common people. The rich have gotten richer through speculation in the markets and everyone else has gotten poorer. Till this very moment, the united States is still in the middle of its credit crunch.

This is why Donald Trump is president and barney Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, are highly popular today because of their populist policies.

By 2014, most commodity based economies ( oil producers, gold producers, copper producers) also entered into a credit crunch, as the federal reserve started to raise interest rates. The bankers having made lots of money through speculation in commodities decided to shift their money back into US treasury bills. This activity sunk the price of most commodities and many nations went into recessions as a result.

THE WAY FORWARD.
Ray dalio gives a number of different suggestions on what needs to be done like increasing taxes on the rich.

All countries need to massively invest in education and health care to improve the productivity of their people since no one knows when this credit crunch is going to end.

IMHO, In Nigeria, investments also need to be made in improving our judiciary. An example may include privatising our prisons to enable private corporations to manage our prisons. This will lead to better living conditions of prisoners which may persuade more judges to send corrupt individuals to prison (as opposed to just fining them as it is currently done).

Enough said

Well,
I feel the best thing to do is to put round pegs in round holes!

Let's vote for the right people to lead us, simple! There shouldn't be any sentiment to that at all.

Let's be delebrate about the people will put into the legislature. Let's enforce proper legislation in Nigeria for once.

DadaStephen1:


Well,
I feel the best thing to do is to put round pegs in round holes!

Let's vote for the right people to lead us, simple! There shouldn't be any sentiment to that at all.

Let's be delebrate about the people will put into the legislature. Let's enforce proper legislation in Nigeria for once.

My initial post explained that Nigerians (the people and the government) neither understand the problem we are facing nor the solution out of this mess.

The global economy is currently messed up. Whatever we try to do to improve our economy in the short term would not work.
Take a football match for example, if your opponents have the ball and are attacking your post, do you and your team mates defend your post or do you start running to your opponents post as if you want to score?

Nigeria needs to focus on playing defence now because the global economy is in crisis and should be prioritize the following-

We need long term plans that focus on improving public education for our people.

We need policies that would distribute our oil wealth more equitably amongst our people.

We need policies that would discourage our high birth rates.

We need policies that improve our prisons.

We need policies that improve our healthcare.


Without these things, Nigeria is certainly doomed. We are a ticking time bomb.

The only other way out is to move out of this country to save yourself and your family.

The best candidate in this election is Mughalu but Nigerians are not educated enough to vote in the right candidate.

We will not only experience another 4 years of suffering, but even worse, we will further worsen our situation.

This is deep though.

Tianamen1:



My initial post explained that Nigerians (the people and the government) neither understand the problem we are facing nor the solution out of this mess.

The global economy is currently messed up. Whatever we try to do to improve our economy in the short term would not work.
Take a football match for example, if your opponents have the ball and are attacking your post, do you and your team mates defend your post or do you start running to your opponents post as if you want to score?

Nigeria needs to focus on playing defence now because the global economy is in crisis and should be prioritize the following-

We need long term plans that focus on improving public education for our people.

We need policies that would distribute our oil wealth more equitably amongst our people.

We need policies that would discourage our high birth rates.

We need policies that improve our prisons.

We need policies that improve our healthcare.


Without these things, Nigeria is certainly doomed. We are a ticking time bomb.

The only other way out is to move out of this country to save yourself and your family.

The best candidate in this election is Mughalu but Nigerians are not educated enough to vote in the right candidate.

We will not only experience another 4 years of suffering, but even worse, we will further worsen our situation.

Dear Sir,
You made a lot of sense right there.
However, the government will be the ones to steer the ship in these directions yeah?

The government has three arms, why do we focus on Presidents alone?

DadaStephen1:


Dear Sir,
You made a lot of sense right there.
However, the government will be the ones to steer the ship in these directions yeah?

The government has three arms, why do we focus on Presidents alone?

It is easier for one person to steer the ship than 108 people with different opinions. There must be a captain of a crew, a captain on a team. That captain obviously must be the president.

The most effective changes to improve Nigeria also fall under the executive arm.

The judiciary only interprets the law and suggest possible considerations for changes.

The legislative writes new laws based on recommendations by the Nigerian people and the executive arm.

The executive arm does all the execution. This is where the work is carried out.

Again, it is much easier to blame one person than 108. The buck stops on the presidents desk. No one will remember David mark 50 years from now, but children will still learn about Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan.


Ps
In my opinion, nigeria is a socialist state confused about what system of government it wants to adopt.

PDP wants capitalism but all their policies and privatisation have only created monopolies and billionaires while leaving the majority of Nigerians impoverished. Capitalism abhors monopolies and proposes free and open competition, so PDP's capitalism is cronyism.


APC wants socialism but in APC all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others. Socialism is about reducing inequalities that exist amongst different income groups. APC has only given us tribalism, selective prosecution of corruption and fanatical religiosity.

Another 4 years of clueless leadership coming up.

Tianamen1:


It is easier for one person to steer the ship than 108 people with different opinions. There must be a captain of a crew, a captain on a team. That captain obviously must be the president.

The most effective changes to improve Nigeria also fall under the executive arm.

The judiciary only interprets the law and suggest possible considerations for changes.

The legislative writes new laws based on recommendations by the Nigerian people and the executive arm.

The executive arm does all the execution. This is where the work is carried out.

Again, it is much easier to blame one person than 108. The buck stops on the presidents desk. No one will remember David mark 50 years from now, but children will still learn about Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan.


Ps
In my opinion, nigeria is a socialist state confused about what system of government it wants to adopt.

PDP wants capitalism but all their policies and privatisation have only created monopolies and billionaires while leaving the majority of Nigerians impoverished. Capitalism abhors monopolies and proposes free and open competition, so PDP's capitalism is cronyism.


APC wants socialism but in APC all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others. Socialism is about reducing inequalities that exist amongst different income groups. APC has only given us tribalism, selective prosecution of corruption and fanatical religiosity.

Another 4 years of clueless leadership coming up.

The Legislature makes the law, that determines the economic and political stance of a nation.

They are the most powerful arm of government. They can impeach a President.

They're the highest paid.

If I ask you, who's the Senator and Honourable representing your constituency?
You might have no idea?

Revolution begins when we start to call these guys out, holding them accountable.

They to a great extent determine the progress or retrogression of Nigeria.

If you challenge them, they will challenge other arms.

The Legislature makes the law, that determines the economic and political stance of a nation.

They are the most powerful arm of government. They can impeach a President.

The problem is most legislators are not very educated and exposed. In fact, many of them are either sponsored by the executive or a former members of the executive branch. Complicating things, the general public is not educated enough not to vote in these cretins into power.


They're the highest paid.

Their high salaries are a symptom of the problem and not the problem itself. Malaria causes head ache but taking only panadol will not cure you. The problem is the lack of quality education at the basic level. We cannot have sensible discussions that would move this nation forward if a majority of our people cannot write formal letters or add 1\8 + 1\8.



If I ask you, who's the Senator and Honourable representing your constituency?
You might have no idea?

I work in one state and travel home on some weekends to another state. My parents are from a third state. I know most of the political office holders in all three states. Some even personally, that is why I can boldly say that the problem is lack of knowledge.


Revolution begins when we start to call these guys out, holding them accountable.


Only the Nigerian masses can start a revolution in my opinion and a revolution can occur in two ways: through the ballot box or bloodshed. It is easier to put all our eggs in one basket by voting for just one seat that is powerful enough to make changes than for us to concentrate on so many seats.

They to a great extent determine the progress or retrogression of Nigeria.

There are also victims of our poor priorities. Their high pay is a symptom. With education and exposure, their incomes will have to fall cause the people will not take their nonsense.


If you challenge them, they will challenge other arms.



The Obasanjo brought UBEC law to them. They passed the law. The state governors have refused to implement the law and the state governors are their god fathers. What do you want them to do. Did you see the picture of honorable mumuni jibrin of bebeji constituency sitting on the floor while hajia hafsat ganduje and her beautiful daughter were seated on chairs. This is the problem we are facing.

Tianamen1:
The Legislature makes the law, that determines the economic and political stance of a nation.

They are the most powerful arm of government. They can impeach a President.

The problem is most legislators are not very educated and exposed. In fact, many of them are either sponsored by the executive or a former members of the executive branch. Complicating things, the general public is not educated enough not to vote in these cretins into power.


They're the highest paid.

Their high salaries are a symptom of the problem and not the problem itself. Malaria causes head ache but taking only panadol will not cure you. The problem is the lack of quality education at the basic level. We cannot have sensible discussions that would move this nation forward if a majority of our people cannot write formal letters or add 1\8 + 1\8.



If I ask you, who's the Senator and Honourable representing your constituency?
You might have no idea?

I work in one state and travel home on some weekends to another state. My parents are from a third state. I know most of the political office holders in all three states. Some even personally, that is why I can boldly say that the problem is lack of knowledge.


Revolution begins when we start to call these guys out, holding them accountable.


Only the Nigerian masses can start a revolution in my opinion and a revolution can occur in two ways: through the ballot box or bloodshed. It is easier to put all our eggs in one basket by voting for just one seat that is powerful enough to make changes than for us to concentrate on so many seats.

They to a great extent determine the progress or retrogression of Nigeria.

There are also victims of our poor priorities. Their high pay is a symptom. With education and exposure, their incomes will have to fall cause the people will not take their nonsense.


If you challenge them, they will challenge other arms.



The Obasanjo brought UBEC law to them. They passed the law. The state governors have refused to implement the law and the state governors are their god fathers. What do you want them to do. Did you see the picture of honorable mumuni jibrin of bebeji constituency sitting on the floor while hajia hafsat ganduje and her beautiful daughter were seated on chairs. This is the problem we are facing.

I love your thought process... Simply beautiful!