Let Them Eat Stocks

By Jim Sciutto, Senior Foreign Correspondent, ABC News London In what has to qualify as supreme optimism or just bad timing, the Egyptian government has announced with fanfare a bold plan to offer shares in state companies to all its citizens. Officials chose a day when world markets fell to new lows to make the announcement. One said every family will get "a respectable amount" of shares. For solace, Egyptians I suppose can look to American taxpayers who are now effectively part owners of several U.S. banks. And granted, the idea is part of a long-term privatization plan here that’s had some success. But as a solution to the country’s rampant poverty,I haven’t found any Egyptians who are particularly excited about their new windfall. Read more blogs by Jim Sciutto Read more blogs from the ABC News Staff