There may well be a lesson for Australia behind Egypt's woes but I suspect it will be forgotten very quickly. In fact quite the reverse because the captains of industry tell us we must aggressively export carbon fuels while increasing population. The difference between the two countries is that Egypt is staring over the cliff but for Australia the cliff hasn't come into view yet.

Australia will probably 'help out' Egypt by taking a lot of immigrants from there and sending them more wheat on credit which they can't afford. That wheat will be from local production we may eventually have trouble sustaining since Australia will also have expensive fuels, increasing population and erratic seasons.

There is no doubt that the figures quoted in the article are correct. The population has increased as is normally the case in Muslim countries and the shortage of food are being spoken of in the streets during this current anti-government demonstration.

The source of some of the information, the CIA Factbook colours the writings somewhat as any mention of CIA, whether Factbook or murder and mayhem is somewhat distasteful to any reader, anywhere.

But putting that aside, by far the greatest contributor to the problems in Egypt, other that the aforementioned population/import/export matters is the urgent need by the great majority for a government that addresses these problems which they have overlooked for decades.

Revolutions, of any kind, just do not happen overnight. It is accepted that the level of graft in ‘favoured’ government circles is very high indeed, the disparity between the very wealthy and the large majority is noticeable. The purchases in the billions of dollars for military armaments, fighter aircraft and the like are seen by the people as a waste of money and a burden that they just cannot afford. Who are they arming against?
They are one of two Arab countries with a peace treaty with the greatest contributor to instability in that part of the world, Israel, with who they appear on the surface to have a friendly relationship but such a relationship is only with Israel and Egyptian government leaders and the elite (wealthy) who profit from such an arrangement. Certainly not the people themselves who, almost universally have an intense dislike of Israel and what they stand for. Quite understandable.

A second factor is the well-publicised criminal role that Egypt engages in on behalf of the US, the rendition, the torure, all of which has now become a profitable industry for Egypt who curry favour in kind from the #1 superpower for such services. That has made America on a par with Israel.

Finally, the average Egyptian relates to the struggle of the Palestinian people and see Mubarak as a Muslim, compromised by Israel.

Most bible scholars agree that Israel will be deserted before all out war. It seems Obama and the Muslim brotherhood are pawns in this. We ain't seen nothing yet. Hopefully enough people will be smart enough to see that God has provided a way out through His Son.

Don't believe anything you read on u tube.

It isn't just pop pressures,oil etc that creates poverty,it is the debt created by the Western banking system which stops sovereign Govts from creating enough money to equal increases in the productivity of their own people.This new money should be created a tax credit and not as debt.

It seems to me that Egypt is the classical 'family' situation.

But a family has no choice but cut it's expenditure in order to remain in the black.

You cannot spend...what you do not have.

If this means Egypt must prune back the 'lifestyle to which it has become accustomed'.. then so be it. There is only one other solution.. i.e.. WE simply 'give' money to them so they can have a lifestyle they cannot afford.

Wise? I don't think so.

Another approach. Use the Suez canal to 'redistribute' world wealth..seeing as we all benefit from it. i.e.. TAX the ships more.

PROBLEM there is a limit to how much you can do that.

a) It if becomes too expensive, ships will take the long way around.
b) It will be the highest motivation for a pipeline to completely avoid the Suez.

In the end.. if you keep on making babies when you have a single income family and your costs overtake your income.. you are in deep trouble. Self inflicted.

ANOTHER REASON. If you look closely, the problems are simply being exploited by nefarious power hungry elements. Socialists and Muslim brotherhood. It wouldn't matter if the problem was fixed 'tomorrow' such groups would never waste a good ol crisis to take power.