Pastoral life is perilous because of perhaps 500,000 leftover land mines. Arms held illegally after the war suddenly appear from car trunks in fits of road rage. On New Year's Day, a man sprayed his neighbor's door with AK-47 fire in a disagreement over party noise. Economists insist that something must change soon. With population increases, the government can no longer pay benefits and subsidies that Kuwaitis claim as their oil-given birthright.
Citizens pay no taxes.
Medical care is free, whether a flu shot or a heart transplant in Texas. Kuwait University charges no tuition, and even builds shelters where students' drivers can escape the fierce heat while waiting for class to end. Asian embassies discreetly shelter hundreds of women who have fled sexual abuse, beatings or nonpayment of wages. Some servants kill themselves. At least, Kuwaitis say, they can complain out loud.