NoisyRoom.net

By: Jeffrey Klein
Political Buzz Examiner

Mitt Romney was chided by the mainstream media, during his recent stop in Israel to meet with leaders, about comments he made at a private fundraising breakfast, wherein he identified ‘culture’ as the likely source of difference in the level of ‘economic vitality’ between Israel and the Palestinians residing in Gaza.

To no ones surprise, the Palestinians were immediately up in arms, charging him with racism and blaming their misfortunes on their occupation by Israel—with absolutely no consideration for their own folly of warring against the Israeli people with rockets, insurgents, suicide bombers and electing the internationally recognized terrorist group Hamas to a majority in their government.

Unfortunately, history, facts and the conclusions of the Arab Human Development Report of 2002, support Governor Romney’s position, according to Charles Krauthammer in his August 5, 2012 article in Israel Matzav, wherein he describes the report as written by a group of Arab intellectuals, commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme, and financed by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development.

Interesting genesis.

Krauthammer stated that the report unambiguously asserted that “culture and values are the soul of development,” citing existing cultural norms … “including traditional Arab culture and values,” as being among the major impediments to Arab economic progress.

The report specifically identifies and deplores rampant corruption, repressive governance and lack of women’s (and human) rights, as major contributors to backwardness in the Arab world.

Specifically, Krauthammer clarified Romney’s point about “culture,” which was to highlight the improbable emergence of Israel from resourceless semi-desert to First World “start-up nation,” a tribute to its freedom and openness, just as free-market Chile stands out from state-dominated Ecuador.

However, the book cited by Romney during his fundraising speech, supporting the idea of culture having a pivotal role in prosperity and growth is “The Wealth and Poverty of Nations,” by former Harvard professor David Landes, which concluded that “if you could learn anything from the economic history of the world it’s this: “Culture makes all the difference,” according to a July 30, 2012 Associated Press article by Kasie Hunt and Karin Laub.

We in the United States of America also have a similar, ‘sub-culture’ that makes regular use of these same asinine tactics–playing the race card and blaming their lack of success on someone else—without consideration for their own role in their misfortune…

Democrats—now led by President Barack Obama.

As Paul Ryan said on Saturday, during his acceptance speech … ‘America is not just a place–America is the only country in the world that is based on an idea.’ He channeled the United States Declaration of Independence, which sets forth our God-given, not government-given rights, and the primacy of individual liberty.

And Ryan also reiterated that according to our Constitution, America is a place of ‘equal opportunity,’ not ‘equal outcomes.’

So, the table is set for American voters to make [perhaps their last] choice for the future direction of America, either that which was created and fought for by our founders, or the collectivist-socialist model being peddled by Barack Obama and the Democrats.

The election of Romney and Ryan on November 6th will not only propel America toward a necessary return to her roots–but also provide the impetus for ditching the valueless ‘political correctness’ of diplomacy in favor of stark ‘adult conversations’ about the role of ‘culture’ in the growth and prosperity of the Middle East.