Mr Bush said "terrible want" still exists in Latin America Posted on 03/11/2007 7:38:16 PM PDT by NRA2BFree
Mr Bush said "terrible want" still exists in Latin America
US President George W Bush has unveiled a social aid programme to alleviate the plight of the region's poor, two days before a tour of Latin America.
Millions of dollars will be spent on education, housing and health care.
In a speech, Mr Bush described poverty in the region as "a scandal" that had caused some people to question the value of democracy.
The Bush administration has been criticised by opposition Democrats for neglecting Latin America.
Correspondents say Washington is adjusting to the election of increasing numbers of left-wing administrations in Latin America, including some that are openly critical of the US.
'Terrible want'
Speaking at the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Mr Bush vowed to boost aid to Latin America, saying "helping our neighbours build a better and productive life" was a US priority.
In an age of growing prosperity and abundance [the terrible want] is a scandal and it is a challenge
US President George W Bush
The region has "made great strides toward freedom and prosperity but despite the advances tens of millions in our hemisphere remain stuck in poverty," he said.
Despite the progress Mr Bush said "terrible want" still existed, adding that nearly one in four people in the region live on less than $2 a day.
"Many children never finish grade school, many mothers never see a doctor. In an age of growing prosperity and abundance, it's a scandal and it's a challenge," he said.
The president said the US initiatives include an additional $75m for Latin Americans to learn English in their countries or in the United States, $385m dollars for housing, and funding for medical assistance via military teams.
Mr Bush will start his trip in Brazil on Thursday. His week-long tour will also take in Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico.
Bump
Bush has ignored the smoke from the basement from years. Now he thinks a quick visit and a few bucks will put out the fire. A few of us have been bitching about this here for years.
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Where has W been while all this has been happening? Nowhere. This little handjob is too little, too late and won't save the marriage.
The money tap has been running down there for 60 years,has it done us any good?
We have sent like 4 Billion in "aid" already for drug enforcement. Is that correct?
read later bump
Billion here,Billion there,what the Hell?
What is it with Bush and his fixation on democracy? Is the word 'freedom' not in his vocabulary?
Latin America has historical reasons to resent the giant to the north. It is the last region where marxism still has a heart beat. It was faint and on life support but is now beating strong again.
This trip is a bandaid that won't stick.
I understand what you're saying,but how long do we have to hold their hand and we've got people at home that need the help and are hurting.
Unfortunately because Chavez can throw pesos around like confetti we need to play that game too. I of course agree that the money could be better spent here but we need to reverse the perception or face a real fire in our basement not too far down the road.
"You boys had better realize that communism "lite" is establishing itself in Central and South America."
padre35, you had better realize that communism "lite" is establishing itself in the good old USA.
Taking our money by force and giving it to others to make them more equal is not exactly the intent of our Constitution.
I wish I had a checking accountlike GW's, out of money, overdrawn and I can still write checks!
That's a great question. The persistent poverty in Central and South America is not due to a lack of participatory government, nor will all the foreign aid in the world make it disappear. The problem is a lack of political freedom and property rights, under which personal liberty can flourish and economic growth can occur. Right now, all you have is a bunch of nominally "democratic" governments down there plagued by corruption, patronage, rampant criminality and socialist pandering to envy and greed. Kind of like Massachusetts, but with rain forests.
I don't think Bush has the concept. I'm not sure that any of the current crop has the concept.
Leaving aside any particulars of Ron Paul, he at least knows what should be.
What is the difference between a drunken sailor and Bush?
A drunken sailor spends his own money.
If any of them really "get it", I'm not yet hearing it.
What is the point of us dispensing billions of dollars in foreign assistance, most of which never reaches its intended beneficiaries or has the intended result, only to have the citizens of those countries hate us anyway?
Just cut foreign aid (except for purely humanitarian assistance) and enforce immigration laws at our borders. I think a majority of Americans would support such a policy, and yet it seems impossible for a legitimate Presidential candidate to get behind it.
You're absolutely right. Their global agenda is destroying America and they're not done yet!! Shamnesty, with open borders is the ultimate goal for this President. IF you've been reading about the billion dollar profits that big corporations have been enjoying, then you'll know why it's happening.
The globalists could give a happy crappy about Americans, and because of that, they are destroying middle class America. The old man swore an oath of allegiance to the UN, so we know where GW gets his love of the UN from.
Unfortunately, they are going to cause terrible race riots at some point in the future because Americans already resent Mexicans. Once they are legal they will be the ones who WILL be taking American jobs! When the economy slows and people are laid off, the competition over the existing jobs will include millions of people who get this last shamnesty.
The same goes for me.
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