Overseas economic aid... Does it ever work?
Discussion
I was reading the interview with David Cameron in the Telegraph earlier today. It talked about the need for cuts in government spending, but that some areas, such as health and overseas aid would be protected.
Health, OK, but why on earth overseas aid??? As far as I can see, the West has been pouring billions of dollars into Africa, year after year for decades, and it doesn't seem to have made the slightest bit of difference, so why do we bother?
Our economy is utterly shafted. We're going to be paying more taxes for less return for years to come to try and dig us out of the crap, and yet we're ring-fencing the pointless cash we throw into the black hole that is Africa.
Do governments not recognise the saying "there's no point throwing good money after bad"?
Has aid to Africa ever worked?
Health, OK, but why on earth overseas aid??? As far as I can see, the West has been pouring billions of dollars into Africa, year after year for decades, and it doesn't seem to have made the slightest bit of difference, so why do we bother?
Our economy is utterly shafted. We're going to be paying more taxes for less return for years to come to try and dig us out of the crap, and yet we're ring-fencing the pointless cash we throw into the black hole that is Africa.
Do governments not recognise the saying "there's no point throwing good money after bad"?
Has aid to Africa ever worked?
Kermit power said:
Has aid to Africa ever worked?
Well, I rather think when the slavers were buying, there were lots of very happy and getting richer Africans selling their countrymen. But I don't think that really counts as "aid".So then, NO. Never. Nor will it. Because humans are involved, and most humans are scum who will happily steal whatever they can - and I include in that the EU Gravy train scum who acquire the cash in the first place, then give it to 50 companies owned by themselves and their friends for a cut before passing it on (well, most of it on, those accounts don't get signed off for a reason).
Kermit power said:
black hole that is Africa.
Racialist!! 
Seriously though, it's white guilt, which having learnt about how we f
ked Africa up, I can see why we give it.However, my colleagues were told to STFU when they tried to get me to give money to an Indian school - "we give them 1 billion a year, and they can launch a space rocket? Then they can build a f
king school"Kermit power said:
Overseas economic aid... Does it ever work?
It works sometimes.IMO it won't work with any reasonable success unless those donating micro-manage how it's spent, but:
a) They're too busy governing their own country(s)
b) The recipients probably wouldn't want it if the cost was handing over (economic) control of their countries
I don't know what the answer is.
India has the fourth largest armed forces in the world. It has just gone on a multi-billion dollar modernisation, buying new ships, submarines, aircraft and armoured vehicles.
We give them £1 billion/year in aid.
I'm still trying to figure it out (without blowing steam out of my ears with rage).
We give them £1 billion/year in aid.
I'm still trying to figure it out (without blowing steam out of my ears with rage).
Battenburg Bob said:
India has the fourth largest armed forces in the world. It has just gone on a multi-billion dollar modernisation, buying new ships, submarines, aircraft and armoured vehicles.
We give them £1 billion/year in aid.
I'm still trying to figure it out (without blowing steam out of my ears with rage).
If your looking for sense from Winky, you'll be looking for a very very long time.We give them £1 billion/year in aid.
I'm still trying to figure it out (without blowing steam out of my ears with rage).
Whilst I feel sorry for the innocent people who are caught up in the problems in Africa, I'm also aware that the vast majority of financial aid doesnt go to the people who need it, the Bentley Turbo that the sone of the Ethopian ambassador was swanning around in whilst people in his country were dying in the late 80's was proof enough for me that no matter how well intentioned my donation would be, the dictators / tribal leaders in Africa should act first.
India & pakistan have enough money to build nuclear weapons and have huge and well equiped armed forces, it also has a large number of the most wealthy people on the planet!
Battenburg Bob said:
India has the fourth largest armed forces in the world. It has just gone on a multi-billion dollar modernisation, buying new ships, submarines, aircraft and armoured vehicles.
We give them £1 billion/year in aid.
I'm still trying to figure it out (without blowing steam out of my ears with rage).
UK-India trade is growing at over 15%/ annum and is currently around $20 billion. If a billion here or there in aid can help soften them up and increase trade even further then it's a small price to pay.We give them £1 billion/year in aid.
I'm still trying to figure it out (without blowing steam out of my ears with rage).
Moreover, they are already looking to Britian as a source for their arms - the quicker they get rich the sooner we can sell them weopons on a scale like we do with the Saudis.
The Balti Space Programme boils my wee too, but I think aid to NGO's should be maintained, the likes of Tear Fund that provide services out of the true sense of charity. After all, there are many people in the world who through an accident of birth have nothing, and no real chance of helping themselves.
By comparison, people in the wealthier countries can give over a bit of their wealth without starving (some more than others).
But it's all ultimately politics. The whole African farce with the leaders of the various states spending millions on private jets & yet they are welcomed by the leaders of our grubbyment because of trade, defence or some other bks.
I mean, look at Zimbabwe - corrupt monkey (can I say that?) takes a previously wealthy country to total collapse, then blames everyone else.
Do they deserve aid? The people definitely do but not to the leaders. The UN should have gone in, but that would have upset their neighbours who chose to do nothing because the ANC is equally as corrupt & wouldn't go down well.
I suppose some might say that government aid to other countries is a bit rich as we don't get a vote on it, and it might be considered as pissing money up the wall, but it's still the right thing to do. I mean, at least some will get some benefit out of it - unlike the vastly higher sums paid to bent MP's for chandeliers in the privy & feckless oxygen thieves to watch Jeremy Kyle whilst munching kettle chips on their DFS suite.
By comparison, people in the wealthier countries can give over a bit of their wealth without starving (some more than others).
But it's all ultimately politics. The whole African farce with the leaders of the various states spending millions on private jets & yet they are welcomed by the leaders of our grubbyment because of trade, defence or some other b
ks.I mean, look at Zimbabwe - corrupt monkey (can I say that?) takes a previously wealthy country to total collapse, then blames everyone else.
Do they deserve aid? The people definitely do but not to the leaders. The UN should have gone in, but that would have upset their neighbours who chose to do nothing because the ANC is equally as corrupt & wouldn't go down well.
I suppose some might say that government aid to other countries is a bit rich as we don't get a vote on it, and it might be considered as pissing money up the wall, but it's still the right thing to do. I mean, at least some will get some benefit out of it - unlike the vastly higher sums paid to bent MP's for chandeliers in the privy & feckless oxygen thieves to watch Jeremy Kyle whilst munching kettle chips on their DFS suite.
I'm sure there are exceptions, but I think that most foreign aid from the government is mainly about buying political influence rather than improving the quality of life in the country. I've never been directly involved, but I know people who've been responsible for spending this money and the waste and blatant corruption is quite shocking. Very little of it does any actual good, but that's not the reason for giving it.
Indian politician said:
I mean, look at Britain - corrupt monkey (can I say that?) takes a previously wealthy country to total collapse, then blames everyone else.
Do they deserve aid? The people definitely do but not to the leaders. The UN should have gone in, but that would have upset their neighbours who chose to do nothing because the SNP is equally as corrupt & wouldn't go down well.
Do they deserve aid? The people definitely do but not to the leaders. The UN should have gone in, but that would have upset their neighbours who chose to do nothing because the SNP is equally as corrupt & wouldn't go down well.
Kermit power said:
I was reading the interview with David Cameron in the Telegraph earlier today. It talked about the need for cuts in government spending, but that some areas, such as health and overseas aid would be protected.
Health, OK, but why on earth overseas aid??? As far as I can see, the West has been pouring billions of dollars into Africa, year after year for decades, and it doesn't seem to have made the slightest bit of difference, so why do we bother?
Our economy is utterly shafted. We're going to be paying more taxes for less return for years to come to try and dig us out of the crap, and yet we're ring-fencing the pointless cash we throw into the black hole that is Africa.
Do governments not recognise the saying "there's no point throwing good money after bad"?
Has aid to Africa ever worked?
no its never worked but it gives soir bob bloody geldof and bono something to whine about. Fact is like anything its a scamHealth, OK, but why on earth overseas aid??? As far as I can see, the West has been pouring billions of dollars into Africa, year after year for decades, and it doesn't seem to have made the slightest bit of difference, so why do we bother?
Our economy is utterly shafted. We're going to be paying more taxes for less return for years to come to try and dig us out of the crap, and yet we're ring-fencing the pointless cash we throw into the black hole that is Africa.
Do governments not recognise the saying "there's no point throwing good money after bad"?
Has aid to Africa ever worked?
1bn raised -> supplier -> sub contractor a -> sub contractor b -> sub contractor c -> sub contractor d -> sub contractor e -> sub contractor f -> sub contractor g -> sub contractor h -> sub contractor i -> 200k left
Best solution for Africa is to ship a load of contraceptives out there, if people stopped breeding familes of 30 kids there would be enough aid to go around and enough food which would allow the chance to build a stable & healthy society....as it is money is sent out, food and medical aid keeps the children alive and their parents just have more kids which sends it around in a viscous circle of there never been enough aid.
Harsh, I know.
Harsh, I know.
Kermit power said:
Has aid to Africa (read, anywhere) ever worked?
Simply NOAid to Africa is one of the bases of the continued tribalism etc see mugabe (and many other totalitarian dictators in Africa) as a perfect example.
the problems with Africa are following
1) goats (kill every friggin one and you'll have less deforestation and desertisation)
2) eliminate tribalism
3) remove all monetary help and all idiotic projects (like the german dam in the NFD of Kenya where it hasn't rained for 40 years!)
4) forbid all religionists access to Africa, they do nothing but cause more strife than there already is
The only ones who are doing soemthing positive in Africa are the Saudi's, who for example are paying the blacks to dig their own wells and the Saudi's buying locally the concrete and pumps necessary for the job.
Apart from that WTF are we doing giving India money, their economy is greater than ours... they should be giving us money FFS!!!
Monki said:
Best solution for Africa is to ship a load of contraceptives out there, if people stopped breeding familes of 30 kids there would be enough aid to go around and enough food which would allow the chance to build a stable & healthy society....as it is money is sent out, food and medical aid keeps the children alive and their parents just have more kids which sends it around in a viscous circle of there never been enough aid.
Harsh, I know.
Even harsher would be pointing out how utterly fHarsh, I know.
king stupid your argument is. People in Africa don't starve or die from disease because their land is unable to support the population, they die because their corrupt leaders steal the aid meant for their people.Send contraceptives, and those would be stolen and sold too.
Parrot of Doom said:
Monki said:
Best solution for Africa is to ship a load of contraceptives out there, if people stopped breeding familes of 30 kids there would be enough aid to go around and enough food which would allow the chance to build a stable & healthy society....as it is money is sent out, food and medical aid keeps the children alive and their parents just have more kids which sends it around in a viscous circle of there never been enough aid.
Harsh, I know.
Even harsher would be pointing out how utterly fHarsh, I know.
king stupid your argument is. People in Africa don't starve or die from disease because their land is unable to support the population, they die because their corrupt leaders steal the aid meant for their people.Send contraceptives, and those would be stolen and sold too.
GreenV8S said:
I'm sure there are exceptions, but I think that most foreign aid from the government is mainly about buying political influence rather than improving the quality of life in the country. I've never been directly involved, but I know people who've been responsible for spending this money and the waste and blatant corruption is quite shocking. Very little of it does any actual good, but that's not the reason for giving it.
That's my take on it. Plus a bit of being seen to do something and a healthy dose of protectionism. Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff