4 ms·

> the money brought in by the government does go to benefit the average Saudi Except the oppressed 33% of the population might not actually benefit: https://a

• Mediterraneo10 6y ago
  The 33% of the population you talk about are foreign gastarbeiter, not Saudis. Certainly they deserve better treatment and an end to the controls compared to slavery. However, even if gastarbeiter were free, they would not necessarily be entitled to the welfare state that Saudis enjoy; it is common even in free countries that foreign workers have limited recourse to benefits. And again, in solving the problem of exploited laborers in these countries, one must simultaneously avoid any drop in the local population's standard of living, because that will only breed resentment. I can see that my post above has offended some readers, but can't we learn lessons from the past and avoid e.g. another Iran?
  • rhn_mk1 6y ago
    While I mostly agree with the rest, this part: > However, even if gastarbeiter were free, they would not necessarily be entitled to the welfare state that Saudis enjoy is not the (only) alternative. The alternative is working under better conditions in general, not necessarily in Saudi Arabia. This shines some light on which countries (?) one should cooperate with, in order to make this cooperation benefit average people the most.