Hello
I've been in Libya for months. Working there alone as foreigner with Libyan people (Libyan Arab Airline with Airbus leasing aircraft) Believe me or not this kind of countries and people are for some point more human than ours, and what means democracy what means freedom : credit crunch and people out of house per million ? a bank and money democracy ? The right to vote for a what ?
I'm sorry to say that, I'm a real traveller spending 3 years in Yemen, years in Bangladesh, Sudan, Armenia, Libya, Russia/Siberia but also Australia, USA, Canada, UK and many more. Most of the time fully integrated with local people and local life - not a tourist.
When a country thing to be able to give lesson to other it's the beginning of the end. When people of countries like Libya or other are speaking about what we do with our elderly people or mentaly disturbed people and compare with what they do, it's a shame to be from western country. About politician I met myself Gaddafi, this man was just crazy... But he gave me 800 us dollar for tip
Yep it's true ! But I also met some other "great people" of our western country... politicians are just like prostitute giving something and image to be re-elected, it's impressive to be in airplane and off the show. I can't give you example here but it's impressive ... And how some countries are black listed and other are "friends" only because of money, oil or other.
From my experience, only northern "small" countries politicians are "human". And about people, all are not like us but not worst or better. One thing is equal everywhere with same percentage : A large part are "normal" some are "stupid", few are just so good and on the opposite few are seed of madness and power over others, with weapon, money or vote.
Xtian