Foreign Aid

Postby Soul_Rebel » Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:33 am

In a globalized world, foreign aid is becoming more and more common. I guess you can't protect resources without applying some, and you can't let the developing nations with real problems alone. Eventually journalism will exemplify the inequality and the people paying taxes that fund such aid will begin demanding that it be applied. This is no longer a world one can be isolated in.
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Re: Foreign Aid

Postby Fesselfan » Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:55 pm

I don't share that trust in journalism, as most of the press only caters to the lower instincts instead of giving true information. If they deem something not important, they will not report about it. Example: iraq gets a lot of coverage for various reasons, especially if 20 people die there in a bombing (which is, of course, a tragedy). In africa, though, there are currently ethnic cleansings going on (and have been in the past) with literaly millions of deads. And no one in the western media seems to care...

Cheers

FF
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Those who understand binary numeral system, and those who don't.

Re: Foreign Aid

Postby Soul_Rebel » Thu Jul 30, 2009 6:55 pm

I wasn't affirming the flawlessness of journalism, I was simply commenting that it plays it's part in the balancing of things. However on the topic, foreign aid; it's true, it's not distributed ideally, but it does exist, and very much of it seeks to benefit many needy people. At least there is becoming some sense of a world wide community by some of us, I'd like to think we're evolving.
Whips and chains may break my bones, but ropes and gags excite me!

The image in my avatar is the work of Vonnart

"Duct tape makes you smart." - Michael Weston

Re: Foreign Aid

Postby zanev » Fri Jul 31, 2009 1:17 am

Foreign aid doesn't work because there is no repercussion for local governments to pocket the money themselves and not help the people.
I close my eyes, Inis Mona
And reminisce of those palmy days
I moon o'er you, Inis Mona
As long as I breathe
I'll call you my home

Re: Foreign Aid

Postby Soul_Rebel » Fri Jul 31, 2009 5:20 am

To an extent, he's right. A lot of the resources intended for the reconstruction of iraq have been disappearing into the hands of untrustworthy fundraisers and distributors. However, not all organizations should be distrusted. Not everyone is focused on the shake and take, and to find that out I believe you have to have some faith in people to begin with. Sure you'll be disappointed often, but not always.
Whips and chains may break my bones, but ropes and gags excite me!

The image in my avatar is the work of Vonnart

"Duct tape makes you smart." - Michael Weston

Re: Foreign Aid

Postby zanev » Fri Jul 31, 2009 12:55 pm

I was talking more about Africa. We have sent billions to them over the years, but since the governments pocket the money, or because their economy is past inflation it does little good. Sending aid doesn't necessarily mean the people will receive it. if the government wants to shelter its people from 'western influence' it will, even to the point of death.
I close my eyes, Inis Mona
And reminisce of those palmy days
I moon o'er you, Inis Mona
As long as I breathe
I'll call you my home

Re: Foreign Aid

Postby zanev » Sat Aug 01, 2009 7:06 am

amandalu wrote:
zanev wrote:I was talking more about Africa. We have sent billions to them over the years, but since the governments pocket the money, or because their economy is past inflation it does little good. Sending aid doesn't necessarily mean the people will receive it. if the government wants to shelter its people from 'western influence' it will, even to the point of death.


Firstly, not all African nations are corrupt. you have not specified a single case stuy to back your point.

Second, the We I assume is the US who has misued foreign aid.


Since you don't want to do your own research I'll bring it to you:

Most Africans live on $1 a day, the USA, UK and other nations send over 100 billion dollars a year to the whole country. This money is pocketed by local governments, such as Sudan. Foreign aid is also administered in other ways besides money but has also seem to fallen hopeless. Again using Sudan as a reference, they are in the mist of local Genocide perpetrated by their own government and the United Nation p[peace keeping forces have done nothing to stop it.

To step away from Sudan I bring in this quote :
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo estimated, "Corrupt African leaders have stolen at least $140 billion from their people in the [four] decades since independence
(source:http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=3920)

Want another example? Zimbabwe, an area that was once one of the richest African nations is now nothing more then a poor humanitarian cry due to corrupt leaders.

No, not all of Africans foreign aid is wasted but certainly what the world is giving them is not enough to bring most of the continent up to modern day living standards.

Not to get into detail as I think I've proven my point, but other nations outside Africa such as North Korea, Azerbaijan, Venezuela, Cambodia and Ecuador are also facing some of the same situations.


And for your second point, I used we to refer to the United Nations.
I close my eyes, Inis Mona
And reminisce of those palmy days
I moon o'er you, Inis Mona
As long as I breathe
I'll call you my home

Re: Foreign Aid

Postby Soul_Rebel » Sat Aug 01, 2009 10:12 am

Yeah but any long term authoritarian government is going to trickle down at least enough for what the people can call a "good life." It's the short-lived dictators who try to run a complete kleptocracy that get thrown out and executed. Stability stems from the people.
Whips and chains may break my bones, but ropes and gags excite me!

The image in my avatar is the work of Vonnart

"Duct tape makes you smart." - Michael Weston

Re: Foreign Aid

Postby zanev » Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:23 pm

Soul_Rebel wrote:Yeah but any long term authoritarian government is going to trickle down at least enough for what the people can call a "good life." It's the short-lived dictators who try to run a complete kleptocracy that get thrown out and executed. Stability stems from the people.


Not necessarily, look at Cuba (castro) North Korea (Kim) and Venezuela (Chavez).
I close my eyes, Inis Mona
And reminisce of those palmy days
I moon o'er you, Inis Mona
As long as I breathe
I'll call you my home

Re: Foreign Aid

Postby Soul_Rebel » Sun Aug 02, 2009 7:27 am

Yeah Hugo Chavez and Castro's govt. aren't necessarily the epitome of the conservative U.S. media's picture of such nations. Think about it, no democratic nation is going to be unbiased in their views of other forms of government. Some developing nations will not yet find stability or security democratically, they have to be weened into it; creating an educated class or majority which can actually run the wide branching network of programs that provide political balance and at the same time make decisions at a rate often impossible to be met by multi-party leadership. A country's form of leadership is chosen to fit the immediate needs of a people and nation, not to pretend to be an ideal nation.
Whips and chains may break my bones, but ropes and gags excite me!

The image in my avatar is the work of Vonnart

"Duct tape makes you smart." - Michael Weston