Self interest is one of the rudimentary elements of sound economic policy, in fact. For this
African Spring, as in development generally, we can actually identify at least five basic
principles which must be adhered to for success. These five pillars of economic
development would be:
1. free markets
2. free trade
3. promotionalism
(legalities and such)
4. capital intensiveness
(wealth creation)
5. self interest
(comparative advantage, self-determination)
It is not coincidence or mockery that the term 'five pillars' is utilized here to describe the
point. They are in fact part and parcel of the Muslim Koran system which has over the
centuries generated so much development, from the Timurid on. That does not suggest
that they are counter Christian by any means, either. They probably do as much to explain
the level of success both of those religions have experienced in history. Christianity and
Islam, in fact, have a great deal in common, and a great deal to work together on. These
five pillars are, indeed, the essence of the Judeo-Christian and Islamic tradition. Anyone
who does not understand that and is not willing to accept that is, in fact, rejecting the
entire tradition of Abraham, Moses, Christ, and Muhammed -- probably consciously rather
than by error, though few will be prepared to admit that. Some may wish to proselytize to
the contrary. They, however, can read, if they would, and they will have to answer to their
God for their abuses. John, in fact, had a name for them. He called them alternatively the
beast and the anti-christ. He also identified the logos which is the essence of these five
pillars -- we find the term filoque used in the same fashion.
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