"Money is not the issue ..."

"... Their actions are not the sort that attract much attention from the world's media, and especially not the TV cameras, but in a Saudi context they are momentous.
"Unhappiness with the current situation is something that has brought sworn enemies together," writes Eman al-Nafjan, a postgraduate mother of three who blogs under the name Saudiwoman:
"It's becoming more and more difficult to tell apart the demands of conservatives from those of liberals and the demands of the majority from those of minorities … Across the board, there's a demand for a constitutional monarchy and accountability and the end of corruption in handling the nation's wealth."......
King Abdullah, meanwhile, is plainly apprehensive. His response so far has been to dig deep into his – or the state's – pockets (in Saudi Arabia there isn't really much distinction between the two). Since returning from medical treatment abroad he has splashed out $36bn in the hope of heading off unrest, with promises of a further $400bn (£245bn) over the next four years for education, infrastructure and healthcare....
Throwing money around is the customary way for oil-rich Gulf potentates to deal with a problem. That is not a long-term solution and, even as a palliative, all the signs suggest it is becoming less and less effective.
It may be enough to placate some disaffected Saudis, as in the past, but many others are saying money is not the issue: they want real change. The question is whether that message will get through to King Abdullah without mass protests on the streets."