Why Foreign Aid Is Hurting Africa

obvious Child said:

Well, if a country doesn't have formal schooling for their kids, it's hard to produce the educated stock to develop. It doesn't need to go beyond 6 grade equivalent.

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That is true.

Basic math and reading combined with relevant technical skills should be sufficient.

Later after they have developed past the basics they could go further themselves.

obvious Child said:

I think that depends where they are. If they are 20 miles out of Nairobi, it's probably fine for a truck. If you're in the boonies well away from any city, then an animal is a better choice.

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Your right. It really depends on the local.

I like goats though, most people don't think of them as a beast of burden but they are pretty utilitarian.

obvious Child said:

Speaking of which, I think the charities which provide livestock are excellent ideas. $10 for a pair of Geese which find their own food and reproduce quickly into a flock. Good idea. $500 for a cow which produces milk and can breed more cows? Good idea. Charity cash and food never help development. Livestock can form a basis for agricultural development.

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Guineas are native to Africa and they have been used in the states and Europe as a sort of free range meat animal.

There are also more robust breeds of chickens that rival even the most vicious goose.

McMurray Hatchery - Guineas

obvious Child said:

I suppose, but restoring the agricultural market will cause a lot more people go back into farming which solves that problem. And it's not just exports, but a farmer taking his crop and selling it in the cities. Communication like a village cell phone is great for this as it maximizes their profits by selling when prices are high.

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It wouldn't be a bad start. I get disappointed when I see charities wasting money on one brick building when they could be doing things such as this to improve quality of life.

Using readily available materials to help construct buildings or introducing bamboo would help more than anything else while focusing the monetary efforts on long lasting changes every one can benefit from.

Bamboo is a utilitarian species of plant eat it, build with it, and more.

Harry Guerrilla said:

I think I'd start slowly, instead opting for the basics before we got to formal education. Of course that is only working with one village at a time.

In place of a truck which requires maintenance to, I think I'd opt for draft animals.

Goats and cows can do the same thing albeit slower. Plus they provide the benefit of food and milk.

I'm into primitive skills as a personal hobby, so as much as it is a benefit to their survival it would just be fun to me.



They have to really start with some sort of internal sufficiency before they should think of exports, that would bring in money but you want to make sure that the money is going to the people actually doing the work.

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Already been done. [with some sucess]. We,ve had this thing in the UK for a while called "Present Aid" where instead of buying someone a present for christmas, mothers day or whatever you buy a card representing a goat, a cow, a bicyle or something else useful and the money you pay towards that card goes towards sending the item in question to a family in the third world.

Present Aid - Buy an ethical gift

Harry Guerrilla said:

Why Foreign Aid Is Hurting Africa - WSJ.com
MARCH 21, 2009I have been thinking this for quite some time although I think most charity should also be removed to help reign in the populations of Africa.

What do you think?

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I think President Obama set the example with his half-bro in Kenya.
A buck a month ought to be enough.
Zero coming from The President himself.

Seriously, I had a friend who spent three decades working all over the African continent for the UN, and I suggested he write a book about his experiences... He said he'd end up dead if he did, and I could clearly see he wasn't making a lighthearted statement.

After listening to him for hours speak about his experiences, the first thing that that comes to mind is to get rid of the rampant corruption. A monumental task that will take generations if they are lucky.

Then there is education, also a challenge that will take generations.
Culture: some parts need to be civilized, there no other way to put it.

It's not a money problem, it's a matter of wholesale change.

Part of the solution is to get the masses working in agriculture where possible, and this is where genetically altered crops are brilliant.
For that the US and EU have to realize Africa could and should be a major competitor.
Time to slash subsidies on both sides of the Atlantic.

Such a continent of riches, such a long way to go.

I haven't been there but it looks like I'll be on my way there shortly.

Should prove interesting, especially the region I'm heading to.

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Then it comes to Africas problem you also have to recognize the responsibility that EU and USA have. That EU and USA gives massive aid to their own agricultural sector. That at the same time they protect their own markets with tarrifs and quotas. So making international trade fairer would do a lot to increase international trade and development. That at the same time aid becomes more efficient and focused.

I'd cut all aid to Africa tbh, as long as the West gives them aid for nothing then they will grow dependent on it and will not be pushed to become self reliant.
Everything else will fall into place, yes i'm sure people will suffer but in the long run ... You have to be cruel to be kind

I'd also quit giving aid to Somalia, all it does is fund more guns for the warlords. Rarely does aid actually get to those who need it. I recall times where US and UN food had to be brought by the Somalis when it was meant to be for free just so some warlords could get money

Bergslagstroll said:

Then it comes to Africas problem you also have to recognize the responsibility that EU and USA have. That EU and USA gives massive aid to their own agricultural sector. That at the same time they protect their own markets with tarrifs and quotas. So making international trade fairer would do a lot to increase international trade and development. That at the same time aid becomes more efficient and focused.

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Not only that but you have the EU hostile to genetically altered crops, which is a Godsend to the African continent.

They've been so brainwashed against it, they have basically nixed this as an opportunity for Africa.

Gentec crops are much like the US beef industry.
Everyone I know that comes to the US and has steak just cannot believe how great it is.
It makes EU beef seem like shoe leather.
The EU prohibits US beef because we use hormones.
The real reason is if US beef hit the EU market shelves, they'd kill the EU beef industry.

Africa wouldn't have an immediate impact like this, but eventually they would be significant players and that would be fantastic.

They could lift themselves out of their hole using the age old method... mastering agriculture first.

From there all manner of industry and knowledge are necessary, and this launches them forward.

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Red_Dave said:

Already been done. [with some sucess]. We,ve had this thing in the UK for a while called "Present Aid" where instead of buying someone a present for christmas, mothers day or whatever you buy a card representing a goat, a cow, a bicyle or something else useful and the money you pay towards that card goes towards sending the item in question to a family in the third world.

Present Aid - Buy an ethical gift

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I was personally thinking that If I were to do some sort of aid organization I would teach them the basics to survive and procure their own food and clean water to start.

Not necessarily just giving them a goat and saying adios, they would probably kill it and eat it immediately afterward.

Slow development seems to be the only way to stabilize a region, town, etc.

Harry Guerrilla said:

I was personally thinking that If I were to do some sort of aid organization I would teach them the basics to survive and procure their own food and clean water to start.

Not necessarily just giving them a goat and saying adios, they would probably kill it and eat it immediately afterward.

Slow development seems to be the only way to stabilize a region, town, etc.

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Agriculture is the first step forward.
It will help them sustain the population and export for profit.

That way foreign aid would be moot.
They would be able to sustain themselves.
This could be done even with corrupt governments.

The next step would be to have them expunge corruption and have honest brokers in government exploit their plentiful natural resources in a Western manner.

I don't mean to be provocative but why haven't the Brothers and Sisters, the descendants of American slaves done more to assist their ancestors?

I think it is a fair question to ask.

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zimmer said:

Agriculture is the first step forward.
It will help them sustain the population and export for profit.

That way foreign aid would be moot.
They would be able to sustain themselves.
This could be done even with corrupt governments.

The next step would be to have them expunge corruption and have honest brokers in government exploit their plentiful natural resources in a Western manner.

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That is what I was getting to.

If they are no longer reliant on imported aid and can sustain themselves the government would be a moot point, unless it started raiding the citizens and destroyed their self sufficiency.

If I had the time I'd seriously consider working with a charity until I could form one of my own. It would be a great way to provide long term help to multiple somebodies and it would just be fun.

Foreign Aid, and especially private charity, is not a bad thing. The problem is we're giving them fish instead of teaching them how to fish.

zimmer said:

-- the first thing that that comes to mind is to get rid of the rampant corruption. A monumental task that will take generations if they are lucky--

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Good point, however it's not only African presidents who benefit from corruption. It's also some of the people involved in aid-related business deals - both in Africa and in Europe, there's also problems with dumping cheap goods that have ridiculous subsidies on them so local industry can't compete.

I worked in different parts of Africa, saw aid good being designed specifically for Western markets shipped to Africa and then sitting useless when spare parts weren't available. Luckily many of the better Aid Agencies realised it was better to look at local technology and local expertise rather than developing expensive kit.

It's not so easy - some aid is still tied to the idea that country "A" gives aid to country "B" which can be only accessed by buying from country "A." That means aid is another form of subsidy on country "A's" local industry. Those products aren't always useful or really designed for such a hostile climate.

When I worked in Nigeria, I met US Peace Corps volunteers whose aid contributions were always based on "projects" i.e. digging a well / putting in some resource - but not always where it was needed or wanted. A lot of Aid is top-down and the locals may be awed by the fabulous foreigners who come , do some project and leave and that is about it.

Some countries are developing - Ghana, Tunisia, Egypt, Botswana for example but others are sinking horribly. I don't think there's any real answer to Africa's problem. The huge mineral resources are an answer but also the problem - in Botswana the diamonds and gold resources are being used to develop the country (despite crippling Aids problems) and there is a relatively high standard of living however in Nigeria and Congo, western countries are heavily involved in exploiting mineral resources and corruption is rife - both by African leaders and local heads as well as many of the Westerners and Easterners (you'd be surprised at the numbers of Palestinians / Filipinoes and Koreans working there) working with them on huge contracts.

Infinite Chaos said:

Good point, however it's not only African presidents who benefit from corruption. It's also some of the people involved in aid-related business deals - both in Africa and in Europe, there's also problems with dumping cheap goods that have ridiculous subsidies on them so local industry can't compete.

I worked in different parts of Africa, saw aid good being designed specifically for Western markets shipped to Africa and then sitting useless when spare parts weren't available. Luckily many of the better Aid Agencies realised it was better to look at local technology and local expertise rather than developing expensive kit.

It's not so easy - some aid is still tied to the idea that country "A" gives aid to country "B" which can be only accessed by buying from country "A." That means aid is another form of subsidy on country "A's" local industry. Those products aren't always useful or really designed for such a hostile climate.

When I worked in Nigeria, I met US Peace Corps volunteers whose aid contributions were always based on "projects" i.e. digging a well / putting in some resource - but not always where it was needed or wanted. A lot of Aid is top-down and the locals may be awed by the fabulous foreigners who come , do some project and leave and that is about it.

Some countries are developing - Ghana, Tunisia, Egypt, Botswana for example but others are sinking horribly. I don't think there's any real answer to Africa's problem. The huge mineral resources are an answer but also the problem - in Botswana the diamonds and gold resources are being used to develop the country (despite crippling Aids problems) and there is a relatively high standard of living however in Nigeria and Congo, western countries are heavily involved in exploiting mineral resources and corruption is rife - both by African leaders and local heads as well as many of the Westerners and Easterners (you'd be surprised at the numbers of Palestinians / Filipinoes and Koreans working there) working with them on huge contracts.

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Would you agree then that teaching the locals how to survive with what they have on hand is better than just handing out food and high technology?

How about basic agriculture techniques (raising animals, crops)?

How does one go to Africa to help and what group would you go with to get the best results for the locals?

Harry Guerrilla said:

Would you agree then that teaching the locals how to survive with what they have on hand is better than just handing out food and high technology?

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There are already agencies doing this - local technology based on local resources being developed by locals. I watched a brilliant program about pouch rats in Mozambique being trained to sniff out mines - and now there is a technology we could benefit from because these rats can sniff out all sorts of things - including disease.

YouTube - Rats detecting landmines

Harry Guerrilla said:

--How does one go to Africa to help and what group would you go with to get the best results for the locals?

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That's one of the hardest questions there is - depends on your skillset and your tolerance to the local conditions where you go. Some places are just murderously humid while in others you will bake dry - and that was just in one country.

Oxfam / VSO / UNICEF / Médecins Sans Frontières are just a few of the reputable agencies.

I know VSO have recruiting offices in Holland and even in Canada now as well as the original one in London. I did VSO in 1992 - 1995, you get amazing healthcare cover (including emergency medical evacuation) free but you only get the equivalent salary to the people you work with. I went from £1000 a week in London to £50 a month in Nigeria but never regretted it.

It's like most things - do your research first. Never go alone - the proper agencies know the ground, know the risks and more importantly, can get you out within hours if things go bad.

Infinite Chaos said:

There are already agencies doing this - local technology based on local resources being developed by locals. I watched a brilliant program about pouch rats in Mozambique being trained to sniff out mines - and now there is a technology we could benefit from because these rats can sniff out all sorts of things - including disease.

YouTube - Rats detecting landmines

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That is a great way to do things in my opinion.

I do think that building a pyramid starting at the base is the best way to go. :2razz:

I think they could make a lot better improvements if they would just stick with local skill building and reinforcement.

Infinite Chaos said:

That's one of the hardest questions there is - depends on your skillset and your tolerance to the local conditions where you go. Some places are just murderously humid while in others you will bake dry - and that was just in one country.

Oxfam / VSO / UNICEF / Médecins Sans Frontières are just a few of the reputable agencies.

I know VSO have recruiting offices in Holland and even in Canada now as well as the original one in London. I did VSO in 1992 - 1995, you get amazing healthcare cover (including emergency medical evacuation) free but you only get the equivalent salary to the people you work with. I went from £1000 a week in London to £50 a month in Nigeria but never regretted it.

It's like most things - do your research first. Never go alone - the proper agencies know the ground, know the risks and more importantly, can get you out within hours if things go bad.

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I'm in the south east U.S. so I'm not sure if there is anything here, do they provide the plane tickets?

I can adapt to any climate I'm sure of that.

I have a wide array of skills from primitive living (although I haven't practiced much) to light construction.

I wouldn't mind getting a view of what in my eye's is the real world.

How did the locals you worked with treat you?

Harry Guerrilla said:

That is a great way to do things in my opinion.

I do think that building a pyramid starting at the base is the best way to go. :2razz:

I think they could make a lot better improvements if they would just stick with local skill building and reinforcement.

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You'd be surprised just how widespread the use of local technology is.

I was originally born in Kenya - we moved to Zambia when I was 4 and the local kids made amazing metal wireframe cars that you pushed and steered in front of you. I've never seen such amazing but cheap toys. When I worked in Nigeria there were other VSOs from a construction background teaching locals how to make bricks with mud and straw.

The locals loved being taught independence.

Harry Guerrilla said:

-- I'm in the south east U.S. so I'm not sure if there is anything here, do they provide the plane tickets?

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Yes, but you would have to go to training events first - probably in Canada and then be flown from there to the country you get stationed in.

Harry Guerrilla said:

-- I have a wide array of skills from primitive living (although I haven't practiced much) to light construction.

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You'd go down well, do you get BBC programmes in the US? You might want to watch out for a guy called Bruce Parry (ex Royal Marine) - he does primitive living programmes. Another is Ray Mears - both do survival based on indigenous lifestyles and techniques.

Harry Guerrilla said:

--How did the locals you worked with treat you?

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Amazingly well, they could never do enough to show how much they appreciated your being there. People really put themselves out for you but it's also charmingly naive and they are vulnerable to exploitation for it.

It's all so fragile though - that's the sad thing. I've lived in many parts of Africa and one thing that was common was the one thing that renders Africa vulnerable yet noble at the same time - absolute respect for elders. It's why people like Mugabe will get away with what he's done - by age alone but also by position an elder is "always right" never to be questioned. It's why so many leaders become corrupt and dictators, the position of trust is like absolute power and you know the old saying aboute absolute power.

Put the wrong person in charge in Ghana or Botswana and it will all go backwards so quickly - it's how Mugabe reduced Zimbabwe to absolute poverty within 25 years: and it could happen anywhere else so easily.

Infinite Chaos said:

You'd be surprised just how widespread the use of local technology is.

I was originally born in Kenya - we moved to Zambia when I was 4 and the local kids made amazing metal wireframe cars that you pushed and steered in front of you. I've never seen such amazing but cheap toys. When I worked in Nigeria there were other VSOs from a construction background teaching locals how to make bricks with mud and straw.

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Thats pretty freakin cool.

I always wondered though why primitive building skills aren't more widely known.

Considering that a lot of the people haven't been exposed to modern things as much as we have.

Infinite Chaos said:

The locals loved being taught independence.

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That is the one thing that makes it worth while.

It is a stark contrast to people who beg for aid inside developed countries.

Infinite Chaos said:

Yes, but you would have to go to training events first - probably in Canada and then be flown from there to the country you get stationed in.

You'd go down well, do you get BBC programmes in the US? You might want to watch out for a guy called Bruce Parry (ex Royal Marine) - he does primitive living programmes. Another is Ray Mears - both do survival based on indigenous lifestyles and techniques.

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I've been thinking about it for some time, it would be easier to go to South America but I'd rather experience a people and culture I haven't had much exposure to.

We get BBC America (I don't have it ) and the public broadcasting channels play BBC stuff all the time.

I've got lots of magazines and books on primitive living though.

Infinite Chaos said:

Amazingly well, they could never do enough to show how much they appreciated your being there. People really put themselves out for you but it's also charmingly naive and they are vulnerable to exploitation for it.

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That is something to enjoy, making new friends with people not anywhere near the same as you.

Infinite Chaos said:

It's all so fragile though - that's the sad thing. I've lived in many parts of Africa and one thing that was common was the one thing that renders Africa vulnerable yet noble at the same time - absolute respect for elders. It's why people like Mugabe will get away with what he's done - by age alone but also by position an elder is "always right" never to be questioned. It's why so many leaders become corrupt and dictators, the position of trust is like absolute power and you know the old saying aboute absolute power.

Put the wrong person in charge in Ghana or Botswana and it will all go backwards so quickly - it's how Mugabe reduced Zimbabwe to absolute poverty within 25 years: and it could happen anywhere else so easily.

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The local communities need to start stepping away from old timers.

Seeing as how they haven't done much to provide positive growth.

Harry Guerrilla said:

Thats pretty freakin cool.

I always wondered though why primitive building skills aren't more widely known.

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Those wire cars are still being made - (Making Wire Cars - Science Stories - HighlightsKids.com) - seems to be a thing mainly with Zambia and Malawi. The innovation skills are great - sometimes it's just a lack of awareness of how to exploit those skills further to make a living from it.

I'd guess loads of kids in Zambia made wire cars - it's odd looking back that only one guy kept those skills going and developed them - here's a page on BBC of what he does as an adult - having moved from Malawi to South Africa with his skills.
I never saw those cars anywhere else in Africa, interesting that the kids now re-sue cotton bobbins for the wheels - when I bought one from a local (years ago) everything was wire, including the wheels.

Harry Guerrilla said:

-- That is the one thing that makes it worth while.

It is a stark contrast to people who beg for aid inside developed countries.

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Most VSO's I ever met found it really hard to leave actually, you sign up for two years voluntary service and then you can extend if you wish - up to a maximum of 5 years. You're not allowed to stay longer unless you leave VSO and support yourself. One guy I met trained here in the UK as a furniture maker but he worked in Nigeria for a construction company building banks and major residences after his 5 years. He was having too good a life to ever want to come back.

Harry Guerrilla said:

-- I've been thinking about it for some time, it would be easier to go to South America but I'd rather experience a people and culture I haven't had much exposure to.

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VSO Canada web-page here - they will have people you can talk to about where you could go. My experience is years ago - you'll find people who have more current experience there - but VSO also work in South America as well as the Caribbean and Eastern Europe.

Harry Guerrilla said:

--We get BBC America (I don't have it ) and the public broadcasting channels play BBC stuff all the time.

I've got lots of magazines and books on primitive living though.

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One thing - you won't always find real primitive living - depends on what country requests a volunteer (the requests are always based on local demand, not what VSO wants) so sometimes some people who need help have no way of getting requests in. Always something to think about.

Harry Guerrilla said:

-- The local communities need to start stepping away from old timers.

Seeing as how they haven't done much to provide positive growth.

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That's the one big thing that needs to change (IMO) - but changing 1000's of years of culture isn't easy.

Mind you - I was shocked when I first discovered Morgan Tsvangirai was the same tribe as Robert Mugabe - for him to go against a major "Elder" of his own tribe was a hell of a step by an African: but it will take more people like him to really change that culture and to create a real "cross-tribal" government.

You don't end poverty by giving people handouts, you end poverty by giving people the tools for success.

Find a way to make Africans more sustainable continent and you have solved the problem, that would be cheaper than 50 billion in aid. You might even be able to make money out of it.

China has learned this, creating ways for Africa to have industry for itself. That is what they need, the rest of the bull**** like malaria and that parasite that everyone is so worried about will eventually work itself out if African countries can learn to become more sustainable.

thabigred said:

You don't end poverty by giving people handouts, you end poverty by giving people the tools for success.

Find a way to make Africans more sustainable continent and you have solved the problem, that would be cheaper than 50 billion in aid. You might even be able to make money out of it.

China has learned this, creating ways for Africa to have industry for itself. That is what they need, the rest of the bull**** like malaria and that parasite that everyone is so worried about will eventually work itself out if African countries can learn to become more sustainable.

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I agree...partly. Economic development is absolutely essential, and in this regard, China is leaps and bounds ahead of the Western world when it comes to helping Africa.

However, fighting infectious diseases is very important too...as long as the money is being spent well, and is being spent in places that actually need it. $10 can prevent a case of malaria; $50 can prevent a case of AIDS.

Kandahar said:

I agree...partly. Economic development is absolutely essential, and in this regard, China is leaps and bounds ahead of the Western world when it comes to helping Africa.

However, fighting infectious diseases is very important too...as long as the money is being spent well, and is being spent in places that actually need it. $10 can prevent a case of malaria; $50 can prevent a case of AIDS.

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The reason why Malaria and other infectious diseases spread so rapidly is mainly there living conditions and the lack of a mutation that most Europeans and many asians have that they received during plagues over the years. Because Africa was more sparsely populated with relatively small cities, they never developed mutations.

Right now one of the most researched subjects is genomist are creating a way to give africans that mutation in a cost effective way.

As for the cost you bring up, is that really sustainable, Africa has over a billion people spread across the largest continent on the earth. It cost more than those bloated figures they give you on those commercials to prevent malaria or aids.

Even with those treatments, will the people use them. Americans have all the tools and resources at hand to prevent STD's but they still spread, what makes you think uneducated africans will do any better. I am not trying to damn all africans as uneducated either, I am just pointing out throwing billions at this problem just to prevent the problem in the ways we have now will not solve the problem.

If they were efficient at solving the problem, it would had been solved years ago.

Attack the source of the problem, not just the problem, because research will show solving the problem only allows the problem to perpetuate. Improve living conditions with industry, and the problem will lessen a lot more than throwing some condoms out of an airplane and a few syringes with malaria cures in it.

thabigred said:

The reason why Malaria and other infectious diseases spread so rapidly is mainly there living conditions and the lack of a mutation that most Europeans and many asians have that they received during plagues over the years. Because Africa was more sparsely populated with relatively small cities, they never developed mutations.

Right now one of the most researched subjects is genomist are creating a way to give africans that mutation in a cost effective way.

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That is a noble cause too...but mosquito nets are a lot more cost-effective.

thabigred said:

As for the cost you bring up, is that really sustainable, Africa has over a billion people spread across the largest continent on the earth. It cost more than those bloated figures they give you on those commercials to prevent malaria or aids.

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Those are economic estimates, not infomercials.

thabigred said:

Even with those treatments, will the people use them. Americans have all the tools and resources at hand to prevent STD's but they still spread, what makes you think uneducated africans will do any better.

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Diminishing returns. In the US, condoms and already commonplace and knowledge about HIV is already widespread. Only a small percentage of people choose to engage in high-risk behavior...and it's much less cost-effective to In Africa, this is not the case. A few dollars can teach sex education, or buy condoms, or implement clean needle exchange programs, etc.

thabigred said:

I am not trying to damn all africans as uneducated either, I am just pointing out throwing billions at this problem just to prevent the problem in the ways we have now will not solve the problem.

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It will go a long way toward solving the problem. Mosquito nets are incredibly cheap and incredibly effective at preventing malaria, for example.

thabigred said:

If they were efficient at solving the problem, it would had been solved years ago.

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How do you figure? Africa doesn't have any money.

thabigred said:

Attack the source of the problem, not just the problem, because research will show solving the problem only allows the problem to perpetuate. Improve living conditions with industry, and the problem will lessen a lot more than throwing some condoms out of an airplane and a few syringes with malaria cures in it.

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There's no reason we can't do both.

Foreign aid is just a euphemism for international welfare. American tax dollars should stay in America, period.

Moreover, Africa's problems aren't due to a lack of funding; it's the absence of sound philosophy and governance. Africa needs to adopt Western ideals or perish, and let's not complicate the issue with modesty or self-loathing. Western-style governance and economics are the best and countries that refuse or fail to implement them aren't going to be successful. End of story.

Ethereal said:

Moreover, Africa's problems aren't due to a lack of funding; it's the absence of sound philosophy and governance.

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There is quite a bit of both. You can't establish capital markets if your workers are dying like flies from easily preventable diseases, and you can't establish a true democracy if your citizens don't know how to read and have no reliable communication outside of their villages.

Establishing a functioning economy is indeed essential...but that's going to require massive infusions of cash aimed at solving other problems as well.

Ethereal said:

Africa needs to adopt Western ideals or perish, and let's not complicate the issue with modesty or self-loathing. Western-style governance and economics are the best and countries that refuse or fail to implement them aren't going to be successful. End of story.

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I think it's more accurate to say that Africa needs functional capitalism than "Western ideals." The Chinese model will suffice for many parts of Africa; in fact, it may work better in some places. But regardless, just saying "they need to adopt Western ideals" is meaningless, because it doesn't address HOW they get from here to there.

obvious Child said:

The aid organizations to me always seem like they are merely there to stop the current hemorrhaging, not fix the problem to prevent future hemorrhaging. Dafur for example. The aid organizations there are to help prevent or slow disease and starvation. They aren't seriously actively trying stop the fundamental reason why people are suffering from diease and starvation: the civil war. True they are lobbying governments, but they aren't toppling the government.

To be accurate those, some organizations are providing water filtration through new technologies like simple UV sanitation.

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To be most specific....charities focused on band-aiding the problems in Africa aren't going to fix them for one obvious reason. If the "Let's End Starvation In Africa" Organization actually ended starvation in Africa...they'd be out of a job.

That's bald, but it's real. Now, I'm not talking the rank and file worker who actually meets the starving, I'm talking about the non-profit CEO who would have to find a new job if he finishes that one. He's got no incentive to finish that problem and move one to the next one.

Ethereal said:

Foreign aid is just a euphemism for international welfare. American tax dollars should stay in America, period.

Moreover, Africa's problems aren't due to a lack of funding; it's the absence of sound philosophy and governance. Africa needs to adopt Western ideals or perish, and let's not complicate the issue with modesty or self-loathing. Western-style governance and economics are the best and countries that refuse or fail to implement them aren't going to be successful. End of story.

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Well....you see...most of Africa HAS adopted "Western ideals". Socialism is a product of the West, one of our culture's most disastrous exports ever, even worse than smallpox, perhaps.

What those countries need to do is regain their self-sufficiency so they can estabish rational trade policies. They can't do that with a trillion dollars of goods and services flooding their markets and swamping domestic capabilities. Their biggest question has to be "how do I get this OPM needle out of my aorta before it kills me?"