Co-Dependent of the Month: The people of the central Asian country of Kazakhstan
The people of the central Asian country of Kazakhstan, who likely will now be ruled by “President” Nursultan A. Nazarbayev, 66, until he dies. The Parliament of the oil-rich country of 15 million approved a package of constitutional amendments that remove term limits for the President. Kazakhstan has never had an election that outside observers have judged fair and free. His rise to the top is described by the Russian word, hitryi, which translates roughly as “tricky” or “cunning,” like a fox, which describes many alcoholics. How about, “liars”? When opposition leader Zamenbek Nurkadilov was found dead from a gunshot wound to his chest and another through his head, police determined that the cause of death was suicide. Nazarbayev was “re-elected” President shortly after, “winning” 91% of the vote. He chooses to be viewed as an economic Westerner, going so far as to feign seeking advice from Harvard Business School’s famous economic-development guru (and enabler) Michael Porter by flying him to Kazakhstan. While Porter says, “He really wants his country to be a success in a market economy,” the three-hour lunch with Nazarbeyev was punctuated by numerous vodka toasts. He reportedly has been seen downing 48 ounces of vodka in a single day. So far, he’s considered a relatively “soft” dictator, even while running a power structure that is described as “totally corrupt” by another opposition leader, Zharmakhan Tuyakbay, who adds, “He thinks he is the Messiah.” Unfortunately, Zimbabwe’s ruler Robert Mugabe was also a less-than-totally-despotic dictator for the first 20 years of his reign, but made a U-turn about seven years ago. Zimbabwe now suffers from 80% unemployment, annual inflation of some 3,000% and unspeakable horrors. The problem with alcoholics is we cannot predict how destructive their behaviors may become, or when.