Todd,
I appreciate the compliments, and you're right, I'm not too up on this topic, so I'm not really going to go into alot of detail here. I'm tossing a few notes up, citing my source and passing out for the evening.
- Over the past decade the % of poor in Egypt has remained the same, despite receiving billions of $$$ in US aid.
- Between 1964 when Zambia became independent, and 2000, it's annual per-capita income dropped from $540 to $300, despite over $6 billion in foreign aid.
- The World Bank has concluded that foreign aid likely slows the progress of economic reform, and that "reform is more likely to be preceded by a decline in aid than an increase in aid"
- Humanitarian aid disrupts and in some cases destroys local economies as who can compete with free?
- A study of UN World Food Programs showed that in 84 emergencies, it took 196 days to respond, and what was sent was too late to help relieve hunger, but in time to depress local prices for local farmers.
- Governments receiving the aid tend to hoard it, or distribute it to their supporters, shoring up regimes, and rarely making it to the people most in need.
I could go on, but I need some sleep.
Also, I've seen many references that the $100 Million that USA for Africa raised in the 80's pretty much was a waste, mostly going into dictators coffers and really fed little more than warehouse rats.
*shrug*, either way, it makes no sence to me to keep sending Trillions of dollars out of the country when we have our own poor, hungry and sick here in need.
Reference:
Pg 222-232 - 33 Questions about American History You're Not Supposed to Ask
--Thomas E. Woods Jr.
