A different take on helping Africa

[BigMusky]

The problem in Africa is not the AID itself, but the government receiving it. They are almost all corrupt and do not use the money for what it is intended. Dont give me crap that people cant make a living because all the Africans are buying hand me down clothes and dont tell me that foreign corn is driving the farmers out of business. The US exports crops to almost every country in the world...just because they are getting theirs free instead of buying it like everyone else does not mean they cant farm too.
If there is an excess amount of crops then maybe they should be subsidized like they are in the US.


As far as welfare... it is not intended to eliminate the poor but support them because there will always be poor worthless people. The whole idea that everyone is equal is such crap.

[RugbyD]

So you end up with some African biochemist driving an aid worker around, distributing European food, and forcing local farmers out of their jobs. That's just crazy!


sums it all up nicely ...

Great Read ..

Thanks.

Yeah, that was my favorite line. Any situation that converts biochemists to chauffers has something wrong with it.

I guess the moral of the story would be that Trading Places is just a movie, not reality. People don't magically prosper if given wealth; there needs to be a base.

[RugbyD]

PLEASE LIMIT THE DISCUSSION TO INTERNATIONAL AID AND THE PARTICULARS OF THE AFRICAN SITUATION.

SAVE THE GENERAL WELFARE DEBATE FOR A DIFFERENT THREAD SO THAT ONE CAN GET CLOSED AND NOT THIS ONE.

thanks

[RugbyD]

...just because they are getting theirs free instead of buying it like everyone else does not mean they cant farm too.

sure they could farm, but why bother if you're competing with free food? doesn't make good business sense.

[Fireball Express]

Yes, you need to stand on your own 2 feet before you can go foward.

[PlayingWithFire]

Thank you for not aiding China too much




Wait, isn't that because we are commies?


This article definitely got a point.

[BigMusky]

...just because they are getting theirs free instead of buying it like everyone else does not mean they cant farm too.

sure they could farm, but why bother if you're competing with free food? doesn't make good business sense.

why do american farmers bother when the market value of their crops could not sustain their business?

[BigMusky]

I can not believe you guys dont see this as just another way for them to blaim someone else for their problems.

[wrveres]

I can not believe you guys dont see this as just another way for them to blaim someone else for their problems.

on the contrary ...

He is saying Africans need to step up and assume responibilties for their problems, and that throwing money at the problem, doesn't work, much like the american ******* system.

[RugbyD]

...just because they are getting theirs free instead of buying it like everyone else does not mean they cant farm too.

sure they could farm, but why bother if you're competing with free food? doesn't make good business sense.

why do american farmers bother when the market value of their crops could not sustain their business?

While the American and European systems are counterproductive and inefficient, they survive b/c there is a tax base to support it. Africa barely has a tax base and certainly not enough to put their farmers near the subsidy scale of ours.

If fairness to you is everyone erecting equally market-distorting trade barriers, then fine, but Africa can't do this until they have some money of their own to do it with, which requires that they make profits, which requires that they charge more than zero, which requires that they don't have to "compete" with free stuff.

Musky, I don't think I've heard anyone whine so much when asked not to help.