With the way in which Muammar Gaddafi finally met his end, the future of Libya was already in doubt. Certainly, the logical method to repay the dictator for his innumerable crimes was simply to execute him, yet therein lays the difference between organized society and mob rule. In western society, usually the government brings the charges, in the idea that the accused party has committed crimes against society and the law. This rule of law allows justice for all victims, a clear framework for a strong government.

                Therefore, the manner that Gaddafi dies sets a horrible precedence, forcing the new leaders to bring the killers on trial to appease and reassure foreigners. Mere days following the end of the revolution, Sharia law has been imposed, and an Al Qaeda flag flies from the Benghazi courthouse. Libyan militias from rival tribes have been clashing for control of key locations. For all the hype of freedom and democracy, we seem to have allowed an Islamist regime which struggles with anarchy.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2054344/Gaddafi-dead-Mob-killers-trial-vow-Libyas-new-rulers.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2055630/Flying-proudly-birthplace-Libyas-revolution-flag-Al-Qaeda.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/14/world/africa/six-dead-as-libyan-militias-clash-near-tripoli.html

                The Occupy movement as a whole has swept the imagination of people across the industrialized world for the past months, whether from exasperation at their stupidity or admiration of their courage. As Jasmine Yeh has pointed out, Occupy itself already lacks a cohesive goal, claiming to address a range of issues from corporate greed to economic inequality. Furthermore, as Piper Hoekstra describes, a majority of the populace is made up of hardworking individuals, who are willing and able to make sacrifices for future economic success. However, Occupy gets worse.

                Recently, it has decided to begin a side operation called Occupy Christmas, directed towards boycotting businesses by either not buying business gifts at all, or avoiding purchasing from large corporations. This completely neglect the fact that the very economy they depend on for their livelihood is powered through the very same consumer spirit they hope to avoid. In the case this movement was truly a populist struggle, the effects would cause businesses to collapse, further increasing economic inequality. As this blog notes, this would cause an extensive chain effect, damaging, manufacturers, service industries, and workers alike. Ironically, all this further fuels the occupy movement.

http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=106172

http://www.thespec.com/news/world/article/629532–occupy-christmas-targets-santa

http://www.nychristmas.net/

                Throughout the past few months, all eyes have been on the European Union and its ability to solve its ongoing debt problems. While great progress had been achieved with the €100 billion debt reduction from the IMF, extensive loans and austerity measures enacted in Greece, all this was undone through the Greek Prime Minister announcing the now cancelled referendum. Since then, numerous Eurozone nations including Italy, Ireland, Spain and Portugal of show increasing signs of economic unease. Most notably, the fall of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and the instalment of Mario Monti’s apolitical economic team have represented the dangerous shift in the encroaching situation.

                This brings into place a stark question; as Tom’s blog points out, is the European Union no longer a viable economic community. With the inability of individual members to control their currencies, internal political bickering and reliance on France and Germany, the future seems grim. Germany, as the most powerful economy of the Eurozone, seems especially poised to shoulder this burden of others’ folly. In throwing its weight behind the collapsing edifice, it may be dragged into the European debt crisis, but neglecting the rescue may mean the collapse of its currency, and ultimately its banks and markets.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-news/debt-crisis-standoff-puts-euro-at-risk/article2247334/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/afontevecchia/2011/09/08/what-would-happen-if-germany-seceded-from-the-eu/

                In this age of web-based technological innovations, increasingly complex methods of production and styles of organization, it may seem difficult to distinguish specific examples of entrepreneurship. Nonetheless, entrepreneurs have been introducing various methods since the times of Adam Smith, from the mechanization of the Industrial Revolution to our Information Revolution today.  Car manufacturing can be considered the atypical form of heavy industry; structured, efficient, and constantly improving. Yet all this began with Henry Ford and his Ford Motor Company. True to Schumpeter’s definition of entrepreneurship, Ford introduced the moving assembly line into his factories, creating an enormous increase in production. Aimed towards the often ignored market of common farmers and workers, he reaped in massive profits as his sales increased exponentially year through year. Despite its ultimate success, this entire enterprise was not without risk, as Ford himself had to convince investors to fund his initial operations.

Picture: http://autodesign-blog.com/tag/model-t/