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I recently watched a documentary about Liberia on YouTube. It was really interesting to see the amount of poverty in a country (which I have never known anything about before this video.) Its capital, Monrovia, has over a million people and its beaches are covered with human feces and its slums have twelve year old kids doing hard drugs. It is currently listed as the third poorest country in the world (GDP). I was wondering what people know about Liberia and its people.
I only know a little because my sister was posted there with the US State Department. She was paid a premium because it is considered dangerous, and for that reason we never went to visit like we did when she was posted in Georgia and Napal. She had nothing good to say about the country or its prospects for a successful future. Chopped off arms and legs are commonly seen.
Just wrapping up a book on Liberia. The Americos (descendants of American slaves who founded the country, make up around 2% of population) didn't do a good job developing the country much outside of their settlements. Even their settlements weren't much to write home about but they were atleast civilized. In 1980 the native Africans overthrew the Americo president and native Africans took over and ushered in their "enlightened" rule.
The results of this rule are what you saw in the documentary. Did you watch the cannibal one as well?
I view Liberia as an example why full and complete democracy will fail over and over. To qualify to vote in Liberia one must be 18. That's it.
The literacy rate in Liberia is 60%. That means 40% of the people can not read a simple sentence, or write.
In my view, an illiterate population should have only tacit control of their government, and voting should be restricted to those who qualify by demonstrating that they understand the rudiments of governing, and are participating in the economy. Qualifying should not be automatic, should not be restricted, and should be earned.
I believe America is now in the process of demonstrating how an uninformed voting population will eventually do great harm - and perhaps even destroy - their host country, just like enough fleas will eventually kill a healthy dog.
Just wrapping up a book on Liberia. The Americos (descendants of American slaves who founded the country, make up around 2% of population) didn't do a good job developing the country much outside of their settlements. Even their settlements weren't much to write home about but they were atleast civilized. In 1980 the native Africans overthrew the Americo president and native Africans took over and ushered in their "enlightened" rule.
The results of this rule are what you saw in the documentary. Did you watch the cannibal one as well?
The cannibal one is the one I talked about. It was from vice correct? Makes me never want to venture to Liberia.
The cannibal one is the one I talked about. It was from vice correct? Makes me never want to venture to Liberia.
Yup thats the one. Some of the African tribes in Liberia are some of the most backwards in all of West Africa. I grew up with a Liberian but he was of African-American descent. His mom would always say awful things about them.
When I got older I worked with an African Liberian. She had these hideous marks on her stomach and back. She could never wear a bikini.
Just wrapping up a book on Liberia. The Americos (descendants of American slaves who founded the country, make up around 2% of population) didn't do a good job developing the country much outside of their settlements. Even their settlements weren't much to write home about but they were atleast civilized. In 1980 the native Africans overthrew the Americo president and native Africans took over and ushered in their "enlightened" rule.
The results of this rule are what you saw in the documentary. Did you watch the cannibal one as well?
I think a similar group of former American slaves settled in Sierra Leone.
If memory serves me correct, they made up the ruling class in that nation as well.
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