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I don't really consider this "dirty money". Not as long as nobody is being hurt by it. I'm not worried about people willing to humiliate themselves for money (a

I don't really consider this "dirty money". Not as long as nobody is being hurt by it. I'm not worried about people willing to humiliate themselves for money (assuming that they're even bothered by what others would find humiliating). It's the people willing to hurt others for money that bother me most. The ones knowingly selling poisoned or unsafe products because they'll save a fraction of a cent per unit sold. That's "dirty money" to me. It's usually being done by people who already have obscene amounts of wealth too, but even in cases where someone is struggling to feed themselves or their children it doesn't give them the right to hurt others. That's a choice. People who scam and exploit others for profit are just evil.

nine_k 3y ago
"Dirty" here is subjective: something I personally find off-putting, disgusting, and even morally wrong, but have to do anyway to avoid starving my children, or similar.
- analognoise 3y ago
  We have so much food we waste 50% of it and we have two individuals with effectively private space companies. Maybe it shouldn't be ok, and we should level the field a bit instead?
  - nine_k 3y ago
    The problem is not in "us" having too much. Also at least one of the private space companies definitely makes a positive difference in the world. It's "them" not being able to have enough. Mostly it's not even a supply-side problem: huge amounts of humanitarian aid go to e.g. certain parts of Africa. It's the local power structures that want to stay on top and subdue or crush any competition, and / or advance some religious cause. They don't care about their population starving. They directly forbid and resist e.g. handing out too much food, etc, because it undermines positions of their power, their chokehold on resources. This can't be realistically solved by sending even more aid (it will convert into even more corruption, yachts, and houses in Toronto and London). It can't even be solved with bombs, bullets, and removal of the current crop of corrupt petty dictators: a new crop would appear instantly. This likely can be healed by relatively slow education, information, economic nudges, and providing examples of well-functioning societies.
    - newaccount74 3y ago
      Another problem with sending surplus food to developing countries is that it just destroys the little local economy they have. I think education is one thing, but some form of financial or economic aid is probably also needed, but how to do it in a way that sustainably improves the economy is hard.

nine_k 3y ago

"Dirty" here is subjective: something I personally find off-putting, disgusting, and even morally wrong, but have to do anyway to avoid starving my children, or similar.

analognoise 3y ago
We have so much food we waste 50% of it and we have two individuals with effectively private space companies. Maybe it shouldn't be ok, and we should level the field a bit instead?
- nine_k 3y ago
  The problem is not in "us" having too much. Also at least one of the private space companies definitely makes a positive difference in the world. It's "them" not being able to have enough. Mostly it's not even a supply-side problem: huge amounts of humanitarian aid go to e.g. certain parts of Africa. It's the local power structures that want to stay on top and subdue or crush any competition, and / or advance some religious cause. They don't care about their population starving. They directly forbid and resist e.g. handing out too much food, etc, because it undermines positions of their power, their chokehold on resources. This can't be realistically solved by sending even more aid (it will convert into even more corruption, yachts, and houses in Toronto and London). It can't even be solved with bombs, bullets, and removal of the current crop of corrupt petty dictators: a new crop would appear instantly. This likely can be healed by relatively slow education, information, economic nudges, and providing examples of well-functioning societies.
  - newaccount74 3y ago
    Another problem with sending surplus food to developing countries is that it just destroys the little local economy they have. I think education is one thing, but some form of financial or economic aid is probably also needed, but how to do it in a way that sustainably improves the economy is hard.