Dark Side of the Dubai Dream--We all live in Dubai

Monday in the Independent, Johann Hari published an expose on the shocking inequality of wealth and freedom in Dubai. He profiled a Canadian Expat whose husband fell into debt after being diagnosed with a brain tumor and was imprisoned in an Arabic-only trial. She now sleeps in her car, waiting for his release.

More shocking is the treatment of the foreign laborers building Dubai. They come to Dubai through recruiting services that promise high wages, often selling their family land or inheritance to pay their travel expenses. Upon arrival their passports are taken. 300,000 are kept in un-airconditioned facilities without plumbing just outside of the city, and paid subsistence wages to work in 140 degree heat. Emiratis and expats train themselves not to look at them. They are the invisibles of Dubai.

The expats in Dubai--Canadian, American, and European gloat about the non-stop party and the exhilarating freedom of not having to do their own housework. One expat referred to it as an "adult Disneyland." The Expats have seas of maids and servants from Africa and Southeast Asia. They come from agencies as well, have no access to their passport, are paid a pittance and often beaten when they fail to please their employers.

There is something ugly, revolting even, about living, partying, feasting with such inequality right before one's eyes. We wouldn't have a foie gras and brie picnic in the park in front of the homeless, or plop down next to one on the street and munch down a stake sandwich. Yet it strikes me that Mr. Hari's chief critique is simply the proximity in which all of this inequality occurs. This begs the question, how much distance is enough? And to some degree isn't Dubai simply an instructive microcosm of the world in which we "civilized" people reside? How better people are we really that we enjoy our decadent meals out of the view of the poor. How much better are we than the Emiratis because the sweatshops that make our clothing are overseas?

It is true that Dubai is not a Democracy. It is clearly less free than the civilized world. Dissent is stifled completely. Those who speak out face having themselves and their families blacklisted--without the possibility of employment.

But if we are more free and Democratic, then we have choices Emiratis do not. What does it say about us that we choose to live in this world benefiting from the same inequalites we find so revolting when they're viewed up close in Dubai?

President of Indiana University's son, and IU Freshman Lucien McRobbie arrested for possession of marijuana and pariphenalia in IU dorm.

According to this article in the Indiana Daily Student.

As the article explains, he faces two class A misdemeanors, each carrying up to a $5,000 fine and a year in jail.

Though (assuming this is his first offense) he will probably "only" suffer the standard sentence of probation, fines, court costs and community service, he will no doubt also suffer the social stigmatization of a criminal conviction. Hopefully, with good legal representation and leniency in sentencing he will be able to obtain the eventual expungement of his record. But in McRobbie's case that will be mostly a technical matter. A cursory check into his background will reveal this matter to anyone checking in the future, so he will have to disclose it to anyone inquiring in the future.

Fortunately, if progressive trends continue, and unless any other youthful indiscretions he commits run afoul of the authorities, society-at-large will probably not hold him out as a deviant forever. (I certaninly hope he is not caught having a beer at a party, then interviewers twenty-years hence may want to ask about his substance abuse problem. Or if, God forbid, he is caught smoking marijuana again, they'll want to know about his illegal drug addiction.

Though his father's immense reputation will probably ensure lenient treatment, he will certainy face harsh fines, one would hope his father's finances would create some sort of financial buffer. A buffer will certainly be necessary if he is to stay in college. A draconian Federal Law will cancel his eligibility for student aid for a year, and up to life if he is convicted again.

So, at least for now, society won't pass permanent judgment on the young man. I don't know how he is paying for college, but hopefully, unlike many less well-endowed young men and women who are convicted of illegal drug crimes, he won't have his ability to complete college threatened.

This begs the question: does society considers it appropriate to withhold higher education from poorer kids convicted of drug crimes, but not appropriate to withhold it from richer kids convicted of the same crimes? If so, why?

'Made in America' used to mean something...that people would pay for...

Maybe if we can figure out how to make "Made in America," justify some sort of premium, we could find our way out of this financial crisis.