If the army is a factory for men, then our government is a factory for the lazy and consumers.
Most of its policies and decisions oppose the productive person who is beneficial to themselves and their community—from home designs to pursuing activists in homes and on beaches.
Kuwait Municipality’s legislation and regulations produce unhealthy concrete-box houses, turning them from homes where a person lives and grows intellectually and physically into a place for sleeping, reproduction, and receiving deliveries.
Public open spaces between houses have turned from breathing spaces and playgrounds into parking for violating homes—if one of them does not annex it to their livestock pen. Government youth centers and scouting activities (in which Kuwait was a pioneer) have become a forgotten relic.
Government policies encouraged disguised unemployment and retirement at a very, very early age; they even granted a pension that may be higher than the salary during employment (where did that go?). Foreigners are also pursued on beaches, all the way to banning food production and cooking at home—until one might think the government’s slogan is: “The vigilant citizen is the customer citizen.”
Thousands of producers in the latter field became lazy consumers. Some were hobbyists who did not need the money but kept their hands and minds busy; others were retired men/women who needed work to occupy them and income to support them; others were financially in need—yet all were forced to shut down.
The vigilant citizen is the customer citizen
But the government provided around 1,000 delivery companies to serve them—the highest among the Gulf countries.
For the young Kuwaiti and the retiree, self-employment is difficult and costly thanks to government policies whose outward appearance is mercy, but whose inward reality is torment and clear loss. Unless you own millions and another source of income in addition to your project.
The Fifth Gate checkpoint is buzzing with business owners who ended up with financial losses, debts, and lawsuits. The projects fund benefited its employees more than anyone else.
Foreign workers—those not affiliated with a group, sect, or commercial clique that supports and employs them—have seen job opportunities shrink; some resorted to crime, and even enjoying the sea has become difficult and costly, as they are pursued and driven away from beaches and perhaps fined, as some of them recount.
All these policies and others have turned productive people into consumers—customers for someone.
In public markets and private malls, it is hard to find comfortable “free” seating—you have to pay to rest. There are cafés that fight retirees’ diwaniyas.
Psychological crises and physical illnesses have escalated, and the government is ready to boost the revenues of drug agents and contractors building the largest hospitals in the developed world. The health indicators are alarming.
They even banned free charitable water dispensers in markets under the pretext of regulation.
Thirsty? Drink at home, or buy from my trolley.
