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That's foolish. In order to start the gears of capitalism turning in a country you have to start somewhere. As the standard economic development model goes, agr

That's foolish. In order to start the gears of capitalism turning in a country you have to start somewhere. As the standard economic development model goes, agriculture -> industry -> services. In Ethiopia they are starting with advanced agriculture, and the World Bank is critical in jump starting that process. Foreign companies need to participate in a local economy when there are no local alternatives. The people don't get the food produced on their farms because they can't afford the food. They can't afford it because the Ethiopian economy is in its infancy. Sure it doesn't feel right when the food is being shipped out of the country, but that's how capitalism works. If Ethiopia plays by the rules of the game for the next few decades then their economy will grow the problems we see in today's Ethiopia will be diminished. Starting this process is the purpose of the World Bank.

darpa_escapee 8y ago
If Ethiopians starve for a generation or two, maybe those who got rich by taking their land will employ their grandkids for minimum wage. Maybe there's a better way without inherent suffering?
alexbeloi 8y ago
>The people don't get the food produced on their farms because they can't afford the food. They can't afford it because the Ethiopian economy is in its infancy. Sure it doesn't feel right when the food is being shipped out of the country, but that's how capitalism works. >If Ethiopia plays by the rules of the game for the next few decades then their economy will grow the problems we see in today's Ethiopia will be diminished. If someone came to you with this proposition, that your region would grow in a few decades (maybe in time for your grandchildren to benefit) while you watch your neighbors starve and the profits and food from your countries land is shipped overseas for the majority of your adult life, I hope you would do the sane thing and tell that person to fuck off. The "rules of the game" are "get yours, and get it now by whatever means capable", which is what countries with capability do and will continue to do. If their actions result in any benefit to the world outside their borders, it is incidental.
konschubert 8y ago
> The people don't get the food produced on their farms because they can't afford the food. They can't afford it because the Ethiopian economy is in its infancy. Sure it doesn't feel right when the food is being shipped out of the country, but that's how capitalism works. So people starve because they cannot afford to eat the food that they farm. If that's how capitalism works then maybe capitalism needs some adjustments.
- ardent_uno 8y ago
  It's working out pretty well for China, which started out with essentially nothing in terms of a capital base. Law, order and prudent fiscal/monetary policy are all it takes. If Ethiopia can guarantee these things then the international community of capitalism will reward it and its citizens will reap the rewards.

darpa_escapee 8y ago

If Ethiopians starve for a generation or two, maybe those who got rich by taking their land will employ their grandkids for minimum wage. Maybe there's a better way without inherent suffering?

alexbeloi 8y ago

>The people don't get the food produced on their farms because they can't afford the food. They can't afford it because the Ethiopian economy is in its infancy. Sure it doesn't feel right when the food is being shipped out of the country, but that's how capitalism works. >If Ethiopia plays by the rules of the game for the next few decades then their economy will grow the problems we see in today's Ethiopia will be diminished. If someone came to you with this proposition, that your region would grow in a few decades (maybe in time for your grandchildren to benefit) while you watch your neighbors starve and the profits and food from your countries land is shipped overseas for the majority of your adult life, I hope you would do the sane thing and tell that person to fuck off. The "rules of the game" are "get yours, and get it now by whatever means capable", which is what countries with capability do and will continue to do. If their actions result in any benefit to the world outside their borders, it is incidental.

konschubert 8y ago

ardent_uno 8y ago
It's working out pretty well for China, which started out with essentially nothing in terms of a capital base. Law, order and prudent fiscal/monetary policy are all it takes. If Ethiopia can guarantee these things then the international community of capitalism will reward it and its citizens will reap the rewards.