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June 09, 2005
MAKING POVERTY HISTORY, OR JUST MAKING POVERTY? PART II; LIVE 8; ALSO; YAY
To believe that any government, if given more money, would spend it in the most enlightened way possible to the benefits of its own citizens, is more than a little naive. One that believes that despotic third world dictatorships would do the same...well, would that I could have that kind of faith.
That third-world governments might not necessarily have the best interests of their own people at heart should be obvious. Yet the demand of the "Make Poverty History" types ignore this. In many ways, giving such governments more control over the distribution of aid in their own countries can be harmful, rather than just a waste of money. The biggest problem in the third world is that governments have too much control over their citizens. But according to Make Poverty History:
Poverty will not be eradicated without an immediate and major increase in international aid.
As if, say, America has gotten to its current economic hyperpower status because of foreign aid. As if any other country has never gotten out of poverty by free market and free trade policies.
As if, in fact, the whole of economic history from Adam Smith onwards never happened.
It's all very well to say that you don't like poverty and that something should be done about it. I am entirely inclined to agree with that. It is a long, long logical leap from there to "give third world governments more money". Other than a few isolated correlative examples, they have given no reasons to think that would actually work -- and common sense shows that there are plenty of reasons to think that it won't.
I think that the campaign actually has little to do with ending world poverty. The ways and means of doing that have been clearly shown by empirical examples time and time again: free trade, free markets, and property rights. Of those who support this campaign and are not ignorant or naive, one can only conclude that this campaign is more a show of the righteousness of the supporters than it is about making poverty history.
LIVE 8: Since I wrote part one of the above, Bob Geldof announced the Live 8 concert later this year, primarily to put pressure on the G8 nations to increase foreign aid. The Make Poverty History types are, apparently, working closely with the Live 8 organisers. Sigh. Here's to another few centuries of poverty brought about by economically ignorant busybodies!
ALSO: A more thorough smiting of the Live 8 types by Anthony Daniels. An excellent read, especially since I've been so short on time to write about this subject.
YAY: So this was a little more delayed than expected, because things shiny have distracted me. Literally too; I'm rebuilding my electric guitar and have plenty of pretty shiny things to go on it. More on this when it's re-assembled (hopefully by the end of the week).
And, my scanner still hasn't arrived. It's a month overdue and I'm starting to get itchy.
Posted by Lewis at June 9, 2005 12:19 AM