Africa is not Poor but it is poorly managed: I agree whole heartily. The thing that people fail to understand is that one man can not build a nation. If the new president of a nation is dedicated, self-righteous, honest, and intelligent, this doesn't matter if the rest of the government is made of incompetent fools. Africa suffers from poor leadership. Africa can not copy it solutions form the rest of the world. It can learn what not to do. But I don't think that Africans can implement a similar program such as was undertaken by Japan during the Meiji Reformation. That is by sending out government officials to learn how they could better run their government. Africans are unlikely to correctly implement any program foreign to them. Economics: Africans are not lazy. They are stuck. The average African does not have the means or the hope to make a vertical shift in his economic class. Africans need structural reinforcement for economic change. The state, the community, and NGO need to support business and entrepreneurs (not big TNC). Restricted Capitalism is the way to ride this crazy horse and have less of the side effects. Transportation: for development purposes people have to be able to get their goods to market. Just as they must have a market to sell their things. It is well know fact that a good transportation system if vital to good commerce. It would be very beneficial if mass transport systems like railroads was made more widely available and cheaper. This is all about fast, efficient, cheap transportation. It is more strenuous for the farmer and the merchant to have to purchase their own vehicles. In the same way it would be beneficial for us to modernize the open-air African market. Something to sell + someplace to sell it + a way to get there = a good start.

I agree that the root source of the conflict seems to be cultural one rather than a political one. I think the solution is for Somalis to accept change. Somalia now is stagnated. To modernize Somali style, we don't need to throw our soul out the window.

I think that Somalia needs to learn from the Meiji reformers. There ability and wisdom to relieve that there are systems (army, schools,etc) that are already created around the world that they can copy from was genius.

I will be honest; I am a devote socialist (not communism there is a difference). Socialism is a combination of capitalism and communism. I do how believe just like Marx said that Capitalist has its place. It is obvious that capitalism on its own doesn't not work, evident with the United States having to bail out its own economy recently. For Somalia, it should focus on capitalist free market ideals for while but have a socialist agenda. Nations such as Norway and Sweden are highly socialist and they have the most stable state/ economy in the world. Once the Somali economy is booming it is wise to try to stabilize it because we live in a finite world. And in a finite world Capitalism is a contrition to the laws of physics. A nation is its people, capitalism does not serve the interest of the people in the end.

Look if Somalia (the former Republic of Somalia)becomes stable and economical and socially viable then the areas of NFD and the "Somali State" in Ethiopia would want to join. I thinks its obvious that at current time NFD is better off with Kenya. But Kenya is having political trouble right now and Ethiopia I believe will have a regime change which will have enormous social and economic ramification for Ethiopia. During this time if Somalia can unite for the people (not for warlords, clans, or religion) then in the eyes of everyone Somalia would be truly a wonderful place (in comparison) and the idea of unification is already a desire but it would become a realistic desire.

The west is robbing Somalia just like it has for a hundred years, and just like it does all over Africa through oil exportation, coffee, and diamonds

I think the Latin alphabet should be thrown out and just use one of these. The Latin alphabet does not do justice for Somali as it makes it look quite out of place, to many vowels and use of uncommon letters like 'x'

Yes I agree too. I belive we are given a table full of oppertunites and the out come for us depends on how we play the cards on the table. In this sense even if an oppertunity does not appear on the table at that moment you still may be given that card through the will of Allah or what some may call a miracle. We could total mess up on what ever choice we make or be messed up by the choices of others but the will of Allah could still save you. That is the beatiful thing to belive in.

If I were to write a Manifesto and call it The People's Republic of Somalia National Manifesto, it would included the following: 1) everybody has the natural born right to be rightfully represented in any government, union, or associated organizations 2) And if they feel that they would be better served to create a different government they shall not be abridged by the mother government. 3) all who wish to separate peacefully shall be granted the duties and responsibility to carry on the business of the new state 4) the right to self-determination shall be recognized to all legitimate claims as signed by vote of the people. 5) it is in the naturally right of the citizen to take up arms against his/her government to protect what he/her believe to be his/her country but only to the extend that they do not cross the lines between rebel/resistance into terrorism. terrorism being the act of harming intentionally or through collateral damage the civilian population or even the government with out previous statement of grievance. In conclusion, I think it would be wise if Somaliland was recognized by the world as the Republic of Somaliland and the legitimate representative of the people of Somaliland. Now the people of the ****** have been fight for over 40 years or something for independence and we should not abandon their right to self-determination. Somalia weyn is an idea and like all ideas they need to planned out. But lets not create a nation out of sticks, lets give it some rocks to lay on. Lets lift up what we have now and stop dreaming about what we want to have now. If we are suppose to be a United Somalia then when we are a peaceful Somalia we can all get together for afternoon tea and see if we can stand each other for a few hours. P.S. the name People's Republic of Somalia is mostly to remind the governement that they are the people's government. It is not communist. Communism is not a bad thing,there aren't' bad governments just bad people. I don't mind being called a communist though I am not a communist, I will follow the lines of Socialism thought. Peace

Somalia can never call itself the republic of the Somali people if (1) there is no republic (2) if its is fragmented into the many pieces it is today. Now on the ******, I wasn't aware it was a clan, I thought it just referred to the area or what Ethiopia calls "the Somali state". I think we should reinvent the Somali flag; like say take the star out and put a olive tree there (better symbolism in my point of view). We should stick together, run together, fight together, die together, be free together, and make Somalia rise... together.

Somalia can never call itself the republic of the Somali people if (1) there is no republic (2) if its is fragmented into the many pieces it is today. Now on the ******, I wasn't aware it was a clan, I thought it just referred to the area or what Ethiopia calls "the Somali state". I think we should reinvent the Somali flag; like say take the star out and put a olive tree there (better symbolism in my point of view). We should stick together, run together, fight together, die together, be free together, and make Somalia rise... together.