Ah, the evil drug companies. Perlstein, I recently finished up a systems contract at one of those big evil drug companies. They have a very large program to provide reduced-cost AIDS and antimalarial drugs to the developing world. I'd certainly hope that most of the money has been distributed to drug companies, because they're the only ones who can cure the existing patients (prevention is a whole 'nother story, but liberals would rather shout down the president of Uganda who speaks of abstinence and self-control and instead throw condoms at the problem).
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This is a very specific charge that I'm happy to make in more detail. The rest of the world besides the US funnels its AIDS funds through something called the Global Fund, the international coaltion dedicated to reducing the spread of aid. But plans to cut America's contributions by 65% in 2005, which will probably bankrupt it.
I prefer the money be given to the countries in need directly, rather than going through some middle agnecy, which no doubt is quite adept at siphoning a huge percentage in inflated overhead.
Fruedian slip there? That is the primary goal of these 'global funds' denying 'aid' to those who need it and managing to funnel it into their own pockets. Oil For Food, the big UN Hunger Meeting (gourmet feast) meeting while thousands went starving RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR. Send your money, dont use the force of government arms to steal and send mine, ok?...JFK