[Polycarp IV]

with more emphasis on the "rich-vs-poor" issue is a clear slap at the rich Western nations.

And the problem with a clear slap as selfish rich western nations is...what is it again?

[sinkspur]

And the problem with a clear slap as selfish rich western nations is...what is it again?

It's stupid, as the United States is not a selfish Western nation, as is evidenced by the aid we're pouring into the earthquake region in Iran, a country whose rulers despise us.

[Torie]

Other than bemoaning that some nations have a higher per capita income than others, what should the rich nations be doing, as a policy matter, to help the low per capita income nations increase their per capita income numbers? I assume it isn't birth control programs, so what is it? Free food, that destroys the market incentives for local farmers? Building up local infrastructure, that is destroyed by lawless environments (the showcase hospital in the Congo's capital was stripped down to its bones, including the copper plumbing). What, other than free trade, about which I have not heard much from the Pope as a key issue?

Just complaining without a clear program that is empiracally likely to do some long term good, is just the null set. Actually, it is worse, it is a negative, and immoral. It is immoral because it allows one to feel that they care, without actually doing anything in reality other than being a useful idiot. That is a recipe for continued entropy, and I denounce it.

That is how I see it, and call it.