MONEY WILL NOT CURE GLOBAL POVERTY*Since the 1980s Africa has received over $450 billion

ncpa.org ^ | July 14, 2008

[InvisibleChurch]

Leaders of several underdeveloped African nations came to the Group of Eight summit in Japan last week and requested more financial aid from G8 countries, says Erin Wildermuth, a Koch Journalism Fellow at the American Spectator.

Thus far, only $3.9 billion of the promised $26.1 billion in aid to Africa has been dispersed, according to a report put together by the nonprofit ONE campaign.

But when countries receive more aid, the effectiveness of this money is heavily disputed, says Wildermuth:

Since the 1980s Africa has received over $450 billion in development assistance. In comparison, the Marshall Plan only designated $13 billion (about $110 billion to $140 billion adjusted for inflation) to rebuild a large percentage of Europe after World War II. While aid to Africa may not be useless, it certainly hasn't had the lasting, monumental effect everyone is hoping for, says Wildermuth. How could it when many developed nations are taking as much or more money from developing countries as they are handing out?

For example:

Burkina Faso received $10 million in development aid in 2002, according to the National Center for Policy Analysis. Burkina Faso lost $13.7 million in export earnings because of depressed cotton prices. Togo received $4 million in aid and lost $7.4 million, once again because of export earnings. The depressed prices and export losses are the fault of agricultural subsidy programs in first world nations, including the United States. Wildermuth proposes two solutions that will guarantee monumental accomplishments in Africa: fixing our current system to make it fairer and changing structures to encourage private aid from individuals and corporations to Africa.

Source: Erin Wildermuth, "Money Won't Cure Global Poverty," American Spectator, July 10, 2008.

For text:

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=13507

For more on Federal Spending & Budget Issues:

http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_Category=25

[RightWhale]

The cure for poverty is not money but private property.

[Spok]

“Since the 1980s Africa has received over $450 billion”

Used to fund bloody civil wars and retirement plans for dictators.

[Spok]

“Used to fund bloody civil wars and retirement plans for dictators.”

Come to think of it, an argument could be made that the infusion of so much money is partially responsible for the bloodshed and oppression.

[EyeGuy]

“Social engineering and wealth redistribution doesn’t work.”

Nope.

But Daddy staying home, certainly does.

[EyeGuy]

“Social engineering and wealth redistribution doesn’t work.”

Nope.

But Daddy staying home, certainly does.

[Exton1]

The following statement of Erin Wildermuth proves that this is doomed to fail “fixing our current system to make it fairer.” When you see the word FAIRER you know that they are talking about SOCIALISM. The reason these people are poor is because of socialist governments that prohibit capitalism and property rights. Socialism ALWAYS leads to starvation and poverty. Only unrestricted capitalism can save them. Our country will follow if Obama and the Dems get their health care and carbon tax.

[Abathar]

I completely agree with you, let the states choose to help people the way they think is right. My point is limited help, no matter who supplies it. Either help yourself after a hand up, or not, its up to the individual. The easier it is to survive off of what is just given to you the more who will.

[stylin19a]

Since the 1980s Africa has received over $450 billion

In the 50's the nuns had us collect change for the starving kids in Africa
50 some odd years later, here we are, in the same place.

The definition of insanity has, i think, finally been validated.

[Condor51]

....Since the 1980s Africa has received over $450 billion

Exsqueeze me but *BLANK* AFRICA.

The USA doesn't owe Africa diddle. Africa was carved up into nice little colonies of EUROPEAN EMPIRES. From Egypt to the Cape and Kenya to Morocco - European Empires ruled it, its their friggen problem, not ours.

The UK, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, etc should be shoveling out for their past deeds which created this mess, not the USA.

Screw em all!

/rant

[FlyVet]

There was a PBS documentary last year about a tribe in Africa that plants millett every spring, then pray to their gods for rain. If it rains, they eat. If it doesn't, they get hungry.

Their whole lives revolved around millet. There were seemingly no new ideas. For centuries.

[The Great RJ]

Many of these poverty ridden African states have vast natural resources including oil and could be as rich as the Arab Gulf states. What is keeping them in poverty is not the lack of outside aid, but dictatorships, crony-ism, corruption and failed socialist governments.

[Condor51]

whatever newbie

[Pagey]

bttt

[hdstmf]

I’ll take your word on the $450 billion and the $20 per person in Africa. I assume you are talking about our taxpayer money. No matter the source, there will never be enough. The $20 doesn’t go to individuals. Pretty much everything goes to corrupt government officials. I’ve seen this shell game going on for 77 years.

[hdstmf]

“The UK, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, etc should be shoveling out for their past deeds which created this mess, not the USA.”

I gotta call you on that one, Condor. The colonization generally brought order and properity to African nations. When they were forced out, those nations reverted to corrupt tribal leadership(savages) control.

[hdstmf]

They eat their seeds and have nothing left for the next planting. That leaves them weak and dying generation after generation. Humanitarian and technical assistance usually fail. The people just do not understand how to break the cycle.

I’m personally tired of being told we have to give them more and more money, medical care, sanitation technology, blah, blah, blah.