Almaty, Kazakhstan
02/27/2012 5:40 pm (Updated 03/15/2012 4:25 pm)
Kazakh Constitution
This has to be the most straight forward government document I have ever read in my life. Everything from human rights, rights of the individual, health care, education - the things that "Republicans" in the United States cry as "Socialism" is all here in plain text in this document. It seems that the Kazakhs can have it pretty well as opposed to other neighboring countries where rights are tossed aside in the name of "security."
This is no United States with just two major parties - this country got many parties, and right now the government is made up of a coalition of them. The president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, has been elected by a huge majority during each election. The last election that took place in the country was in 2011, where Nazarbayev took about 95% of the vote. He chose to have an election after declining a petition to let him stay in office until 2020. Now, it might seem fishy - who the fuck wins by that much?
This man since the beginning and several years before the establishment of the Republic of Kazakhstan has been the country's leader. And for good reason, the economy is growing, foreign investment is huge and every move the government makes seems to have some benefit for the people. What else? Oh, he got rid of the nuclear weapons, that the U.S.S.R. decided to place in Kazakhstan during the Cold War, with the help of the United States cause he did not want WMDs in his country. Every election when western democratic watch dog groups visit Kazakhstan there seems to be a consensus among the population - fuck you, this is our guy. No one protests over here like you see going on in Syria or in Moscow. Ain't no Arab Spring going on here.
But, who knows? Maybe it's his time to step down. Give someone else the reigns, right? According to the Democracy Index, Kazakhstan is listed as authoritarian regime. Why? Cause the same guy has been president of the country since its inception and for some time before during the Soviet system. So, according to the Western view of democracy - he should go. I still don't know much about this country but, unlike the United States where anyone and everyone shits on Obama, no one shits on this guy except for the little opposition parties that don't even garner five percent of the vote in elections.
Do you know an authoritarian regime that gets rid of its nuclear weapons and gives its people basic rights? I don't. I say again, I have not been here for long. I've had a beard going on right and I've gotten funny looks from people when I go out to the malls and such. Yet, I have not been stopped by the authorities. No place is perfect, yet we all strive for that in politics and there are critics a plenty for no matter what you do. Mind you I've shaved about two weeks into my journey here.
Every time I am in Uzbekistan, I am told not to speak about politics or economics or anything smart for that matter. You say one thing, whether it's right or left (wrong,) in front of the wrong person and you could get arrested. They make you pay for shit like that over there - either with your wallet and/or possibly your life. But, here in Kazakhstan, it's different. Everyone criticizes the government (honestly, who the fuck does not?) cause they're free to say that shit.
So, I ask the people in the West and the East (except for the North, the South and, Uzbekistan) to think about Kazakhstan. Think about the surrounding countries. Look at their human rights record. Look at their regimes. Their governments. I think Kazakhstan is a shining light in a sea of darkness. And even if for a second Nazarbayev doesn't want to give up power, he's done more good than bad for these people.
'Till next time,
Shaak.
p.s.
02/27/2012 5:40 pm (Updated 03/15/2012 4:25 pm)
Kazakh Constitution
This has to be the most straight forward government document I have ever read in my life. Everything from human rights, rights of the individual, health care, education - the things that "Republicans" in the United States cry as "Socialism" is all here in plain text in this document. It seems that the Kazakhs can have it pretty well as opposed to other neighboring countries where rights are tossed aside in the name of "security."
This is no United States with just two major parties - this country got many parties, and right now the government is made up of a coalition of them. The president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, has been elected by a huge majority during each election. The last election that took place in the country was in 2011, where Nazarbayev took about 95% of the vote. He chose to have an election after declining a petition to let him stay in office until 2020. Now, it might seem fishy - who the fuck wins by that much?
 |
| This fucking guy. Nursultan Nazarbayev |
This man since the beginning and several years before the establishment of the Republic of Kazakhstan has been the country's leader. And for good reason, the economy is growing, foreign investment is huge and every move the government makes seems to have some benefit for the people. What else? Oh, he got rid of the nuclear weapons, that the U.S.S.R. decided to place in Kazakhstan during the Cold War, with the help of the United States cause he did not want WMDs in his country. Every election when western democratic watch dog groups visit Kazakhstan there seems to be a consensus among the population - fuck you, this is our guy. No one protests over here like you see going on in Syria or in Moscow. Ain't no Arab Spring going on here.
But, who knows? Maybe it's his time to step down. Give someone else the reigns, right? According to the Democracy Index, Kazakhstan is listed as authoritarian regime. Why? Cause the same guy has been president of the country since its inception and for some time before during the Soviet system. So, according to the Western view of democracy - he should go. I still don't know much about this country but, unlike the United States where anyone and everyone shits on Obama, no one shits on this guy except for the little opposition parties that don't even garner five percent of the vote in elections.
Do you know an authoritarian regime that gets rid of its nuclear weapons and gives its people basic rights? I don't. I say again, I have not been here for long. I've had a beard going on right and I've gotten funny looks from people when I go out to the malls and such. Yet, I have not been stopped by the authorities. No place is perfect, yet we all strive for that in politics and there are critics a plenty for no matter what you do. Mind you I've shaved about two weeks into my journey here.
.svg/250px-Kazakhstan_(orthographic_projection).svg.png) |
| Kazakhstan in the green. (Wikipedia) |
So, I ask the people in the West and the East (except for the North, the South and, Uzbekistan) to think about Kazakhstan. Think about the surrounding countries. Look at their human rights record. Look at their regimes. Their governments. I think Kazakhstan is a shining light in a sea of darkness. And even if for a second Nazarbayev doesn't want to give up power, he's done more good than bad for these people.
'Till next time,
Shaak.
p.s.
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| Although they did ban Borat for some reason. ┐('～`；)┌ |
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