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Kasz216 on 02 February 2010
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mrstickball said:
NKAJ said:
The Ghost of RubangB said:
oldschoolfool said:
The Ghost of RubangB said:
Great rant. Your mom kicks ass.

We can afford to feed the entire planet healthy food and clean water. But we don't, because many people think there are principles more important than life. I think that's a crime.

I completly disagree with that. We can't afford to feed the entire world. the economy is bad enough as it is.

The United Nations estimates it would cost about $195 billion a year to end world hunger.

22 countries have pledged to donate 0.7% of national income to meet this goal, but only 5 countries have done it.  The U.S. hasn't.

Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy in Baghdad cost $592 billion to make over the last few years.  I think it's affordable.


Yeah for how long would the hunger come to an end? Its all about long term soloutions and enabling people to help themselves rather than just dumping aid on them.

That is the key.

Giving aid to people in the form of processed goods and services - food packages, doctors with health care, ect are very temporary fixes that do no good when the aid stops. Although it can be good in short bursts, it damages long-term solutions. Warlords may steal food and re-sell it, people may become too dependent on foreign aid and not introduce programs to increase crop yields, people may get their kids to not go to medical school due to doctors helping them currently, ect.

I can't remember who quoted it - if it was highwaystar or someone else - but theres a great quote from a Kenyan politician essentially stating that 'if you want to fix Africa, stop giving us aid' simply because it was doing more harm than good.

Yeah, Highwaystar had the antitheisis to this thread.

Basically the best way to help the world is to cut off all foreign aid.  Since all foreign aid like food was doing was making local populations grow and require more and more levels of foreign aid.


In effect like giving money to a gambling or drug addict.

Give someone with a gambling problem money to pay off their gambling debt... and the chances are in 2 weeks they're going to come to you for money with an even bigger gambling debt.  Stuff like that.


Who knows what way is right though.  Honestly though, tragedys in other areas are more likely to have me donate to LOCAL charities.


There are plenty of people in need, right outside your doorstep... and the more of your money is going to help the people here because it doesn't have to travel so far and there aren't as many administration fees etc.

 

I have no problem helping other nations... however it seems more practical to worry about people within the country first... just because it's easiest and most effective.  Fixing your neighors faucet before you fix your own is inefficent even if you treat the problem equally, since you have to walk to your neihbors house.