The story of aid in Africa is not new, aid in the sort run
may provide some relief, but in the
long run it destroys any chase for economic growth.
This is the point that economists have tried to make again
and again to the masses, but as the article stated, “Bono, in his awkward
defense of his ‘Africa credo,’ also represents our fundamental failure to
listen.” This is the greatest problem Africa faces, Americans and other western
countries are stuck in an old paradigm of imperialistic superiority complex. If
Africa is to have any hope of receiving real aid from the west it must change
this fundamental way of thinking.
Unfortunately the western citizen is moved by their willing ignorance
and the tune of their heart strings. The second one hears the word “heat
strings” a little red flag should shoot up in one’s mind as flying in the exact
opposite direction of economic logic. Economics is a cold rational science, to
be able to look at data objectively and unbiasedly requires one to be detached,
the further the better.
The general ignorance about Africa is also a contributing
factor, who, if anyone can say they know what is going on in Africa today-and
be honest about it. Newspapers are not the best source of information, often
bias and misleading. Has anyone here ever read the book Persepolis? –I enter it
as a good example of a cultural peek at Iran.
Another thing, rock stars should stick to specializing in
their music and stay out of economic offers in which they know nothing about. As
Bono stated: “Africans are the ‘most regal people on earth’ and music is their DNA.”
This quote serves well to show how Bono flaunts his ignorance for the world to
see.
The solution to this problem is simple. It just requires an
unemotional, unfeeling, monster to enforce it and see it through.
Cut all aid to Africa. ALL of it. Immediately.
Yes, there will be cries of outrage and pictures of babies
that look like skeletons, but in actuality, Africa has been like this for
years. It is the unseen face that people need to know about- primarily the
dictators in power. (Sure we can call them presidents if that makes people feel
better.) Aid in whatever form seldom trickles down to the people in these
situations, for example the recent famine in Korea, the food sent to the people
was given to the soldiers instead, and who didn’t see THAT coming?
The chines are at least doing something right. It is too bad
that America and the rest are still pretty clueless.
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