Comments on: Aid, Live 8 and all that http://clubtroppo.com.au/2005/06/28/aid-live-8-and-all-that/ Fearlessly dispensing political, legal and economic analysis (and some whimsy) since 2002 Tue, 22 May 2012 12:01:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Rafe http://clubtroppo.com.au/2005/06/28/aid-live-8-and-all-that/#comment-25250 Rafe Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.clubtroppo.com.au/?p=1612#comment-25250 I would have been more impressed if he had mentioned Peter Bauer and Stanislav Andreski who have both written cogently on the impediments to progress in the so-called Third World. I say the so-called Third World because one of Bauer's points is that the conceptual aggregation of so many disparate states and nations has helped to confuse the issues. Truly the road to hell is paved with good intentions, unless informed by a great deal of commonsense. I get the impression that the Sachs "top down, grand scheme" approach may well perpetuate the kind of bureaucratic disasters that spelt disaster from much of the previous multi-billion dollar outlay. My remarks should not be interpreted as pessimism or negativism. Given what we have learned from bitter experience and the immense fund of goodwill in the west to help, the people of Africa and South America should be able to do better, and maybe even rapidly. The same applies to our local problems with pockets of poverty and disadvantage. I would have been more impressed if he had mentioned Peter Bauer and Stanislav Andreski who have both written cogently on the impediments to progress in the so-called Third World. I say the so-called Third World because one of Bauer’s points is that the conceptual aggregation of so many disparate states and nations has helped to confuse the issues. Truly the road to hell is paved with good intentions, unless informed by a great deal of commonsense.
I get the impression that the Sachs “top down, grand scheme” approach may well perpetuate the kind of bureaucratic disasters that spelt disaster from much of the previous multi-billion dollar outlay.
My remarks should not be interpreted as pessimism or negativism. Given what we have learned from bitter experience and the immense fund of goodwill in the west to help, the people of Africa and South America should be able to do better, and maybe even rapidly.
The same applies to our local problems with pockets of poverty and disadvantage.

]]> By: blank http://clubtroppo.com.au/2005/06/28/aid-live-8-and-all-that/#comment-25251 blank Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.clubtroppo.com.au/?p=1612#comment-25251 Most of us have a pretty good idea of what aid could accomplish. It's just that we doubt that the money will reach those who need it. Back in December King Mswati of Swaziland bought himself a Mercedes Maybach car, costing over $500,000. In 2004 he got through more than $20 million on palaces, parties and cars. $15 million went building palaces for each of his 10 wives. Then in February he bought 10 new BMWs for his 10 wives. In 2002 he had hoped to spend $45 million for a royal jet, but backed down. At 40%, Swaziland has the world's highest HIV/AIDS infection rates; about one third of the population rely on food aid handouts. Seventy percent of the one million Swazis live on about $1 a day. According to the CIA World Fact Book, Swaziland has an external debt of $320 million. If that is cancelled, perhaps Mswati will then be able to buy two or three jets. Then there's Robert Mugabe, ... Most of us have a pretty good idea of what aid could accomplish. It’s just that we doubt that the money will reach those who need it.

Back in December King Mswati of Swaziland bought himself a Mercedes Maybach car, costing over $500,000. In 2004 he got through more than $20 million on palaces, parties and cars. $15 million went building palaces for each of his 10 wives. Then in February he bought 10 new BMWs for his 10 wives.

In 2002 he had hoped to spend $45 million for a royal jet, but backed down.

At 40%, Swaziland has the world’s highest HIV/AIDS infection rates; about one third of the population rely on food aid handouts. Seventy percent of the one million Swazis live on about $1 a day.

According to the CIA World Fact Book, Swaziland has an external debt of $320 million. If that is cancelled, perhaps Mswati will then be able to buy two or three jets.

Then there’s Robert Mugabe, …

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