Posted on 07/11/2005 5:55:16 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
The first time Bono and Madonna got together to save Africa, the unintended consequence was the death of perhaps as many as 100,000 people. That's aid expert David Rieff's conclusion in the July 2005 issue of the resolutely liberal American Prospect magazine regarding the end result of Live Aid in 1985.
Billed as "The Greatest Show on Earth," Live Aid was a multivenue rock concert held on July 13, l985, in London and Philadelphia in order to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. With an estimated 1.5 billion viewers watching the live broadcast in 100 countries, the event reportedly raised $250 million.
The money was supposed to go toward relieving hunger. In reality, argues Rieff, the rock stars and well-intentioned donors became unwilling participants in a civil war and unwitting supporters of a Soviet-style resettlement project that vastly increased the severity of the famine.
(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...
Why can't these idiots see the truth? To pour money into Africa while it is still under the rule of oppressive dictators will only arm militaries, not feed innocents.
Its in their DNA!
Why can't these idiots see the truth?"
Because they ARE idiots.
Because these idiots are basically very narcissistic. They think the only thing the only thing that matters is the deed borne out of their good intentions. If they feel good about themselves after doing something like Live Aid, they feel like it's mission accomplished, even if it's terribly wrong. All that matters is how it makes them feel.
Can't argue with that..
"Make poverty history" might as well say "Make arms shortages history" the way these wankers are running around encouraging other small-minded twits to write cheques to Mugabe and others.
All people will be able to lead healthy lives? Gates needs a reality check.
Exactly right! It's me. If I feel good, a wonderful thing has happened.
"Some day in the future all people, no matter where they are born, will be able to lead a healthy life
Or maybe a few will have a healthy Swiss bank account
Nail. Head. Hammer.
Like I said, all that will come from this are a few shiny new weapons in the hands of dictatorial Death Squads.
But...but...Bono said that only countries that "exhibit movements towards democracy" will get the money.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
The best we can do is shame these people into ending their African Despot/Rich Rock Star Enrichment programs. How many of these Beautiful People do you think "donated" their time? Zero. Their performance fees and expenses are written off, which means you and I get to pay for their Day of Mutual Admiration.
I think you're on to something.
For liberals, a "movement towards democracy" means shooting the breeze with a few treasonous Democratic congressmen for a couple of hours, and posing for pictures.
Bump.
" The same is true for the poor in America. They sit around in the most dangerous ghettos in the US and wait for the next handout while their children are murdered in the streets and at the local school. No one is making them live in these areas, America is a HUGE country, they could live ANYWHERE, segregation is long gone, no one is forcing them to live in those crime ridden wards, with jokes for schools. They could move their families to some nice apartment in the suburbs and pay next to nothing for rent, and could send their kids to the same schools are the millionaires who own homes all around them send their kids."
Same in Britain, but why would Government advertize an idea like this when the poor are kept perfectly under control as they are?
From their reaction lately, I think they are starting to understand it.
Their recent comments are slightly more grounded in the real world, but they still have a long way to go.
Reformers are really playing God. It never works. It doesn't occur to them that they aren't quite as bright as God and they are going to screw things up. It also doesn't occur to them that a future generation of reformers will come along and reform the mess they are making of things now -- and screw things up even more the next time around.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.