Afghaniland

This narco-craziness-"country" is ranked at a lowly 172nd out 180 in the Corruption Perceptions Index. Apostates get sentenced to death. Free speech isn't really free. Crazy people run around with guns burning books (apparently they're known as the Taliban). What a country. So what to do?

We all love democracy. Taliban wasn't one, the government in power doesn't have the right to be called one right now. But what if I told you about a new super-improved version that is currently workin in a thrid-world tribal oriented nation? Wouldn't you want to give it a shot?

Enter the Republic of Somaliland. It considers itself an indepedent nation, but is not recognized by anyone. It fought a long war with the former Somali dictator Siad Barre and won its independence in 1991. It's very stable, with a functioning economy (although a small one), and an interesting form of government.

You have an upper house of tribal elders representing the different clans. The lower house is democratically elected, although it is limited to two parties (in the first Somalian election after independence there were thousands of political parties representing all the different clans and families. It was terrible. So they limited it to two political parties), with some calling for a third.

Now the difference between Afghanistan and Somaliland is that Afghanistan is very diverse, with numerous ethnic groups currently residing there. I don't know how tribes in Afghanistan would handle it. But hey let's give it a shot.

And for now Afghanistan can be proud that it has a cool song.