West is told to pay poor now

The Guardian ^ | September 26, 2002 | Charlotte Denny

[Tailgunner Joe]

Rich countries face "a moment of truth" over their plan to halve global poverty, which is endangered by turmoil in global stock markets and the threat of war against Iraq, the World Bank warned yesterday.

James Wolfensohn, the Bank's president, said the west must "put its money where its mouth is" and stump up the cash to meet the agreed target of halving the number of people living on less than a dollar a day by 2015.

"The time has come to move from words to action to implement this new deal between rich countries and poor countries," he said.

Speaking to the Guardian, ahead of this week's IMF and World Bank annual meetings, Mr Wolfensohn said he feared that worries about the global outlook would distract attention from the plight of developing countries.

"If you find countries that are dirt poor, they are the places that extremists flourish. I personally believe that if we don't get rid of poverty we are not going to have peace."

Rich countries must open their highly protected markets to textiles and agricultural goods from the developing world, and stop subsidising its farmers, according to the Bank. Western countries pay out $350bn a year supporting agriculture, seven times what they spend on aid.

Mr Wolfensohn called on the west to come up with the extra money it promised for debt relief at a summit in Canada this year.

[Mark Felton]

""The time has come to move from words to action to implement this new deal between rich countries and poor countries," he said.... "

Marxism must die. If the US was prepared to destroy the Soviet Union to stop the spread of Marxism, why on earth does it endorse and support the new wave Marxism?

[SamAdams76]

And exactly how is throwing money to these dirt-poor people going to help? There sure are a lot of clueless people out there who have no idea how a capitalist economy works.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

The money of "rich countries" is that of its citizens. This is nothing but attempted robbery of working people who pay taxes.

[Asclepius]

... Rich countries face "a moment of truth" over their plan to halve global poverty, which is endangered by turmoil in global stock markets and the threat of war against Iraq, the World Bank warned yesterday ...

I do not remember this plan. I do not remember ever agreeing to this plan.

[DoughtyOne]

What we are witnessing is the development of the foundation for redistribution of wealth on a scale we've never seen before. The facilitation of national bankruptcy, for third world nations means that you and I will be paying for loans to other nations, on many occassions the interest built up while servicing those loans, then the replacement funding after those loans are declared forgiven. Sure Europe will chip in like usual, but we'll pay out tens if not hundreds of billions of dollars any time the World Bank feels like it. In actuality we'll probably be paying in all the time, with large sum payouts being managed by them when the circumstances warrant.

I've been against this. Third world nations are so poor they cannot service debt. The World Bank continues to loan it anyway. Thus it amounts to nothing more than gifting of the funds to the third world. What this government signs on to, is simply astounding. Hold on to your wallet. Oh I forgot, they get yours before you get yours.

[dalebert]

thought we paid the highest price on 911. Money does not stop extremists.

[Defender2]

West to Poor, Get A Job!!!!

[uncbob]

If you find countries that are dirt poor, they are the places that extremists flourish. I personally believe that if we don't get rid of poverty we are not going to have peace."

Pure BS
Those living in poverty only have enough energy to try to exist
They don't revolt

[SamAdams76]

You have it backwards. It's not a redistribution of wealth going on here but a redistribution of poverty. The globalist socialists don't care about elevating those in poverty - they just want to knock us "rich Westerners" down a peg or two.

[brewcrew]

And exactly how is throwing money to these dirt-poor people going to help? There sure are a lot of clueless people out there who have no idea how a capitalist economy works.

You got that right, Sammy. Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach him to fish, and he eats for a lifetime.

[Renegade]

Let them eat flys!

[DWPittelli]

I agree that we should open our markets to free trade, perhaps especially including sugar and textiles. Given that free market capitalism made us rich, and socialism keeps much of the rest of the world poor, those who oppose such moves have a strong burden of proof to pass in making their mercantilist/protectionist arguments. That said, and for the same reason, it's absurd for these pinkos who "care" about the third world to claim that more socialism -- more country-to-country welfare socialism -- is what's needed to help the poor.

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

This is how it goes: First World countries send money to help Third World countries. Third World country leaders send money back to First World (Switzerland). To their own bank accounts.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

"If you find countries that are dirt poor, they are the places that extremists flourish. I personally believe that if we don't get rid of poverty we are not going to have peace."

And just who in these countries receives the $$ after we hand them over? Some dictator who skims most of it off, builds a few palaces, and then demands more of the selfish rich Americans.

[Pee_Oui]

So glad I'm not oneof those "dirt poor" people trying to "live" on a dollar a day.

What has happened to compassion for those with less.

Am I having a "spiritual" moment?? Possibly.

[terilyn]

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[justlurking]

And exactly how is throwing money to these dirt-poor people going to help?

Very little of the money will make it to the people, dirt-poor or otherwise. The dictators and their cronies will siphon off as much as possible and stash it in their retirement fund outside the country.

[DCPatriot]

And, just how is this money going to get into the hands that "need" it?

[Lokibob]

Send me 3 of them. I could use a gardiner, a maid and a cook. I'd double their $1/day. Course, I have to charge them for the room and board.