RE: Ending famine by ignoring the experts

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RE: Ending famine by ignoring the experts - 12/3/2007 1:03:42 AM

popeye1250

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quote:

ORIGINAL: FullfigRIMaam

popeye1250, I'd recommend reading ""Confessions of an Economic Hit Man (BK Currents) (Hardcover)
by John Perkins "", but I doubt you will, as than you'll have little to get you off anymore, since you're always needing the "third world sucks" viagra. M

Fullfig, but, the third world DOES suck.
It sucked 50 years ago when we started pouring money into it and it sucks now.
It's a corrupt endless money pit for anyone who is so enclined to give them money.
You'd figure that after 50 years or so of foreign aid they'd be in good shape but they're not.
Are you aware that every single country in the Carribean is on "foreign aid" from the U.S.?
If foreign aid really *worked* the amount we give should be going down every year not up!
It's just like welfare only on an international scale.

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RE: Ending famine by ignoring the experts - 12/3/2007 7:43:37 AM

SimplyMichael

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popeye,

Your rather gross ignorance of the facts is rather stunning. There is a case to be made for your side of the argument but you don't know enough to make it. This isn't a slur, it is a simple fact.

Do you know the standard of living in those countries has also fallen while US corporate ownership of those countries has risen and so the case can easily be made that that aid was used as a lever to loot and bankrupt those countries.

That foreign aid is also used to "buy" us foreign policy success or access to something strategic, or even commercial access or protection. That was how Bush created the "coalition of the willing" was by bribing countries with foreign aid.

We fund the World Bank which is even more fucked up in this regard.

quote:

In April 2000, Bechtel signed a contract with Hugo Banzer, the former president of Bolivia, to privatize the water-supply in Bolivia's third-largest city, Cochabamba. The contract was officially awarded to a Bechtel subsidiary named Aguas del Tunari, which had been formed specifically for that purpose. Shortly thereafter, the company tripled the water-rates in that city, an action which resulted in protests and rioting among those who could no longer afford clean water. Drawing water from community wells or gathering rainwater was made illegal. [11][12] Martial law was declared, and Bolivian police killed at least six people and injured over 170 protesters.

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RE: Ending famine by ignoring the experts - 12/3/2007 7:48:45 AM

joanus

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Joined: 2/28/2007
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Heres a better idea forget about Africa, and try fixing the problems in this fucked up country first.

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RE: Ending famine by ignoring the experts - 12/3/2007 7:59:27 AM

popeye1250

Posts: 18104
Joined: 1/27/2006
From: New Hampshire
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Michael, thanks, you're making my argument for me.
If we stopped "foreign aid" tommorrow morning the ones making the most noise about it would be the *lawyers and lobbyists* in Washington.
Oh, and the Mercedes Benz dealers in those countries.
If you do something for 50 years and it doesn't work should you keep doing it?
The people in Washington are supposed to be running our govt, not a charity for foreign countries. And most of that money gets stolen by big business. They're ripping off the Taxpayers as usual.
Just like we have a separation of church and state in this country we need to have a separation of big business and state as well.
Anytime we hear the phrase, "business partnering with government" check your wallet because we're about to be ripped off!
Michael, I'm very well aware of the facts and how our govt. works and is supposed to work.
That being said I don't accept any responsability for what goes on in third world countries, where are *their* governments?
I guess I just don't respond well to guilt induction by people who want to steal my money.
Anytime there's a "problem" in congress getting more "foreign aid" money the Lobbyists just run some "starving children ads" on t.v.
Ten years ago we gave $12B in "foreign aid", a month ago they voted for $34.6B an increase of 190%?
You want to know where the money goes? Get a list of property owners on the French Riviera and other wealthy areas.
Get a list of Mercedes Benz owners in third world countries.
I'm sorry but it's not my responsibility as a U.S. Taxpayer to "end famine" in Milawai or anywhere else!
It's their "responsibility" to do it, or not.
The U.S. government needs to get out of the "foreign aid" business.
If individuals want to donate their own money fine, I don't have any problem with that and that's the way it should be done. Just stay away from my tax dollars!
"A Liberal will give you the shirt off of someone ELSE'S back."

< Message edited by popeye1250 -- 12/3/2007 8:20:46 AM >

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RE: Ending famine by ignoring the experts - 12/4/2007 6:17:07 PM

FangsNfeet

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quote:

ORIGINAL: joanus

Heres a better idea forget about Africa, and try fixing the problems in this fucked up country first.

I more ways than one, we need Africa as a means to fix problems in the USA.

Africa helps our economy with oil, gold, diamonds, and various imported goods. It's Rain Forest is said to help our environment with oxygen and healthy air. We also have military bases around Africa ready to rush near by countries that attack us. We don't get all this without making deals with African countries. These deals are also apart of perserving endangered species. On a last note, there are certain herbs, plants, and various life that only live in Africa. Some of these life forms are in the process of being used for cures. Unfortunatly, Africa has been blamed for the outbreak of various diseases. If there are more viruses and bacteria hidden within the deep jungles, it would be nice to find it first before the disease can contaminate populations.

Either way, ignoring Africa would hurt the US both economy and forign policy wise.

On a last note, if we don't nip certain problems in the bud, some of Africas problems can become problems of our own. Needless to say, we're all humans. A homeless person in Africa means as much to me as seeing a homeless person down the road. Regardless where they were born, a child is a child and a life is a life.

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Post #: 25