And The Winner Is…
Meet Bono and Bob Geldof, the two guys Africa should thank for lifting $60 Billion from the people of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.
Afterwards they demonstrated their appreciation by responding, “Getting the world’s richest nations to hand over promised aid for Africa is like getting blood out of a stone.”
Well, there you go. I personally am under-whelmed by their gratitude and can hardly wait for their next round of insults and demand for funds. You see $60 Billion just doesn’t go as far as it once did. Guns to buy, people to bribe, well you can see the problem. It should be mentioned that although both Geldof and Bono have extremely large bank accounts, neither choose to contribute to the fund.
For the kindness the people of the G8 nations are showing the people of African, I propose that Africans must at least meet the world half-way. We are talking $60 Billion here so a few minor suggestions should not be considered out of line. It must be stated that although these suggestions will work on any continent, today we are dealing with Africa because they just won the grand prize.
The first is that all Africans need to exercise a little personal restraint if for no other reason than to help halt the spread of the AIDS virus.
The second, which by coincidence directly relates to the first. How about keeping Little Willie zipped up in an effort to reduce poverty by not fathering children you are unable to support and care for.
Now I know this is asking a lot, but come on, work with us here.
Oh, one more thing. A “thank you” would be nice instead of a “it’s not enough,” but given the times that’s probably pushing it.
Lord Crimson 
Private property rights for people, leaders who don’t skim most of the charitable aid and rule of law would be welcomed as well!
I’m a big fan of helping Africa. But major $$ sent through governments is not the answer.
Neil
June 10, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Hi Neil
Your ideas are excellent. It’s just a crazy situation. The people that need the help never seem to get it and the ones causing the pain and suffering receive and control the aid. In a strange sort of way most of the money given does more harm than good.
Lord Crimson
Lord Crimson
June 10, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Great post! I think it’s great that people will give money to help other parts of the world but I honestly think more of the money needs to be spent educating these people on basic things like health, disease, nutrition, farming, and things like that. You know that saying, “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a life time.” I think that applies here.
By the way, I like your suggestions. 🙂
momlovesbeingathome
June 10, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Great post. Can anyone find evidence of any Africans that have personally been helped by foreign aid like this? Seriously, I would be very interested in what results when $60 billion is thrown in that direction.
wytammic
June 11, 2007 at 4:14 am
Hi m
People helping people in need brings out the best of humanity. We just have to implement incentives that breaks Africans from the cycle of dependency. Aid should be help not slavery. Your fishing analogy says it all.
Lord Crimson
Lord Crimson
June 11, 2007 at 10:34 am
Hi w
The harm of this latest fleecing of the world can be witnessed by the crushing of incentives for African leaders to open trade and markets to the rest of the world.
Until each African leader actually sets his country on the path to prosperity then the cycle of poverty will never be broken. I don’t see this happening so in a few years the $60 Billion will be gone then we can expect more of the same.
Lord Crimson
Lord Crimson
June 11, 2007 at 11:26 am
Hi LC,
I read an article on this, which I seem to recall mentioning in passing. I would have done more with it, but I couldn’t figure out who this Geldof character is. I don’t enjoy taunting people nearly as much without knowing at least a little about them.
Hi w,
Some African aid projects do work. The effort to give away mosquito nets in malaria afflicted areas has been very successful for the amount of money spent on it. Of course, An oil tanker full of DDT would be much, much more effective, but not nearly as politically correct. Shipments of school supplies also represent money well spent, as do medical supplies. Still, until they get their political act together, nothing will help much.
the Grit
the Grit
June 11, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Hi Grit
Bob Geldof sang for the Boomtown Rats, a juggernaut in the punk rock music business. I must admit I don’t know any of their music. In 1984 he was watching the famine that was happening in Ethiopian on TV and decided to get into the charity business. In 1985 he organized Live-Aid.
His most memorable statement of the event was, “People are dying NOW. Give us the money NOW.”
I’m not sure how many people this actually helped, but I feel he went about it the right way because he provided a service, music for donations.
Today, I can no longer approve of his methods as he expects the world to just open it’s coffers and let corrupt African leaders have at it.
Lord Crimson
Lord Crimson
June 11, 2007 at 9:00 pm
I saw bono speak in nashville. Me and 100 others in a dinner banquet setting. He said there that he thought of Americans as the most generous nation on earth. That he loved America. I’m not saying he didn’t B.S. – I don’t know his heart. BUT seems to severely contradict that statement. I’m curious about the context.
mommyzabs
June 12, 2007 at 1:24 am
Hi m
Bono is right, Americans are the most generous people that have ever existed. Unfortunately we are also the most naive and are easily hoodwinked.
We see the world as we wish it were rather than how it actually is. Still there is something refreshing and unique about that which until recently had been preserved with the help of two oceans.
Americans are like that uncle which gives you $100 at Christmas. For many years you get that $100 without fail then suddenly one year you get only $50. You feel cheated because you now take good old uncle’s gift for granted. You don’t care that old uncle is sick and has run against hard times. You only want your 100 bucks.
This is the way Africa and much of the world views the US. Give me my $100 without any thought of the sacrifice or what was involved in earning it. I see Bono and Geldof just asking for their 100 bucks.
Lord Crimson
Lord Crimson
June 12, 2007 at 1:12 pm
‘Tis what happens when you deal with corrupt despots.
totaltransformation
June 12, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Hi tt
If the world would allow these despots to fail by not propping them up with aid then perhaps their people would have a better chance to replace them with better leadership.
Lord Crimson
Lord Crimson
June 13, 2007 at 10:16 am
Hi mz,
Next time you are that close, give a thought to dropping in for a visit!
the Grit
the Grit
June 13, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Grit-
remember i used to live there 🙂 I am rarely there anymore, but will definitely let you know! I do think we will be driving through TN to go to Savannah but not sure where, I will have to ask my husband.
-mz
LC- yes there is truth in what you are saying there.
mommyzabs
June 14, 2007 at 3:43 am