Posted November 18th, 2004 at 12:24PM
“Somalia is a pure free market,” one diplomat told me.
And the central Bakara market certainly looks to be thriving. Some businesses, such as telecoms, are also doing well, with mobile phone masts and internet cafes among the few new structures in Mogadishu, a city where many buildings still bear the scars of the heavy fighting between rival militias of the early 1990s.
the equivalent of $210
The lack of a government also means that the US dollar is the currency of choice – even refugees beg in hard currency.
Somali shillings are still used but the notes only come in one denomination – 1,000, worth seven US cents.
Three types of notes are in circulation – some still survive from the last government, some were printed by the newly elected President Yusuf, when he was in charge of his native Puntland region, and others were commissioned by private businessmen.
At first, some traders in Mogadishu refused to accept the new notes but now they are all used side-by-side.
Similarly, the printing of passports has been privatised. For just $80 and in less than 24 hours, I became a Somali citizen, born in Mogadishu.
As I had omitted to travel with any passport-sized photos, my supplier kindly left the laminate for that page intact, for me to stick down at home.
For a slightly higher fee, I was offered a diplomatic passport, with my choice of posting or ministerial job.
Category: 
So, are you really _aware_ of what libertarianism is? Or do you just use the word to advance the illusion that you’re intellectual?
Because I think everyone who has actually encountered any literature on classical liberalism or whatever you call it knows it has nothing to do with the political system in Somalia. It’s not a “free market”, and anyone with a real interest in ideas has the energy to refer to any website or book dedicated to the ideas of laissez-faire capitalism to know that businessmen don’t own prisons or drive tanks.
But, then again, why should I accuse you of being interested in ideas? It’s just fashion, isn’t it? I mean, it’s pretty cool to be leftist. What with the Radio Head banner and so forth. “Pissed off leftist,” right? So you can play Captain Sensitivity yet be abrasive! Everyone with a room temperature IQ thinks it’s more enlightened to be leftist.
You’re in good company. Jesus was big ol’ leftist, and so were the gnostics before him. Stalin was a leftist. Hitler was a national socialist (that’s what Nazi stands for… you learn something new every day, right?). John STEWART, no one’s smarter than John Stewart… Janeanne Garafolo. You guys rock!
Even though we’re in the minority, everyone who’s completed an introductory course in econ (and understood it) is laughing at you.
1. I make no claims to intellectualism. I leave that for people who post emo-filled comments to other peoples’ blogs. But I’ll humor you though for a few minutes.
2. Somalia’s government is fairly “hands-off” when it comes to economics, no? What is the driving notion behind economic libertarian thought? If you don’t believe that Somalia’s economy currently enjoys little government intervention, then you simply have no grasp on reality.
I love how libertarians wet themselves reading Rand or Smith, but then offer nothing in terms of real working systems. Somalia is as close to economic libertarianism as one will get.
Additionally, in case you’re confused, prisons and tanks have nothing to do with laissez-faire capitalism, nor Somalia’s market economy. I fail to see why you brought them up at all.
3. There is no point in responding to your third paragraph. If you gave me a website or a picture or something, I could make quaint, humorless jokes about you also. Alas, you provided nothing.
4. Simply because “socialist” was in the name of the Nazi Party (not new information, by the way) does not mean it was socialist or leftist. Go back to the drawing board little buddy. Jesus hasn’t figured prominently in my politics, nor has Stalin, Stewart or Garafolo.
I don’t even see the connection between any of those people, besides the fact that they are all (besides Hitler) left of center. You jump from a prophet, to a leader of the Soviet Union, to a comedian and an actor. Huh?
5. I’m sure you’re very satisfied with your introductory economics course. Congratulations.