As I was watching Live 8 this weekend, I was pretty much convinced of the cause that we need to forgive the loans to Africa and end trade restrictions on their Agricultural output. Great ideas. However, Bush, I think is going to try and do anything to stop this from happening on the level people are wishing for. His friends in the business community, I feel, couldn't see anything right in not forcing Africans to pay debts that they never were going to be able to pay in the first place. So, what are your thoughts on this?
This administration's existing aid (already given) to African nations rivals any other prior administration. There is nothing wrong in delaying subsequent aid pending an analysis of such things as a nation's committment to anti-terrorism (so we don't end up funding terror) or cancelling existing debts that were legally made to commerical/industrial concerns. Further, since many nations in Africa pay little heed to such things as human rights, that too should factor in who gets our money!
how about a third option? "will promise tons of money and then let the sum quietly be quartered by a republican controlled appropriations committee"
This is not a poll question. It is an outright troll? If Bush decides not to send money to Robert Mugabe, is that a "derailment?" Or a human rights statement? Go adjust your filter. The US has sent more money, with the upfront recognition that it will likely never be repaid, than any other nation on the planet. Forgiving debt is a fairy tale as long as the Mugabes are allowed to continue their acts of genocide. The best Live 8 can hope for is that the increased focus on the suffering in Africa will motivate nations to force these creeps out of power. *not holding breath*
You came to this conclusion by watching a rock concert? Damn, Motley Crue and Will Smith must have rocked!
Yeah, probably. If for no other reason that he's a mean-hearted no-good son of a bitch that would rather see somebody's kids die than his buddies' portfolios have a down quarter. Other than that though, I don't see any reason why he would.
It is true that president Bush has done more to aid Africa than any previous US administration, regardless of what his detractors may think about him. Bono himself said so, and so did Geldof, and they are informed about the matter. Still, both Bono and Geldof argue that it is not enough because the bar was set so low to begin with. The question is not that Africa needs aid, but what is the smartest way to help. Certainly just giving money to the leaders of African nations is not an efficient way to help, unless the idea is to help Swiss bankers and the like, who will end up getting the money. At least on Africa, Bush has been an activist. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-07-03-bush-africa_x.htm?csp=34
I don't see how forgiving loans for a few really bad off countries is going to help. Then again, I didnt' see how a few folks playing guitars and generating hype for their bands was goign to help either.
Bush has been a little bit Jeckyl and Hyde when it comes to Africa, but overall he compares very favorably to other US Presidents. Even if the bar is low, he should get full credit for proactive stances of the administration. The fact that he has shown any concern is frankly one of the more pleasant surprises of the last five years. It is too much of a generalization to say "Africa" has to get its house in order, but it is true that you can't simply throw money at the problem. Having said that, money will have to be thrown at the problems eventually. One of the first orders of business is to make better progress on AIDS, and that can only be done through a massive education effort including contraception.
Reducing debt makes an economy and a currency a better risk in international markets, and makes a country more attractive as a place for investment. Playing guitars generates awareness to a problem which has a great value. How much have we heard in the last two weeks about Africa that we would not have heard without Live 8?
Exactly right...it's a shame the liberal moonbat leftists around here refuse to accept that, understand that, and applaud that about the current administration... GWB has done more for Africa than any other President but still it is not enough for the leftist liberals... Pursuing an agenda to help those less fortunate -- in African and in Iraq -- has been a hallmark of this Administration yet the propaganda merchants of slime in the liberal camp look to Durbin, Pelosi, and kennedy to deny reality and condemn real progress toward helping the world's poor!
Um, just with a quick glance at this thread I count two people who you group into the leftist liberal camp as understanding that Bush's administration has done more to help Africa than previous administrations/isn't looking to derail help for Africa. And now I will make it three. The Bush administration has made a far more concerted effort than the Clinton administration to aid Africa. But that's no reason not to push him to do more, and to do it intelligently. Forgiving their debts is an excellent economic step, and promoting condom use as a means of stopping the spread of AIDS would be an excellent health/social step (and it's tied to economics, too). Not lowering any of the goals he has set forth and tncouraging Congress not to lower the amount of aid Bush has proposed would be fantastic as well. I hope he's as successful with Congress on this initiative as he's been in getting them to do his bidding on others (pharmaceutical drugs, tax cuts, etc.).
You don't give a man fish to eat, you teach him how to fish. Giving them the easy way out won't help them. If everything is spoon fed to them, what value will they have for their better living? None, because they didn't do it. The rich government officials over there won't lose a dime, but the US will. The reason why this country stives is because of the value and respect we give to the men and women who helped the US become an independent nation back in 1776. Plus, people would only favor this idea because right now, Live 8 is a trendy thing. Everybody is going around saying, "Hey, let's stop poverty." It's just like the LiveStrong wristbands. If Bush sent $30 million two months ago and sent it to Congo, I'm sure that there would be many Live 8 advocates pissed off. It's just like the war in Iraq. In 2001, everyone would be for it, but because Bush wanted to see first who was doing what, time went by, and the patriotism of 2001 cooled off.
Who would most likely derail the African issue: 1) World leaders other then Bush. 2) African leaders themselves.