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It might still make economical sense to hire a gunship to protect the "droneships" while passing high-risk areas. Besides, take some of the money saved on sala

by a1a 13y ago

It might still make economical sense to hire a gunship to protect the "droneships" while passing high-risk areas. Besides, take some of the money saved on salaries and use it for foreign aid to countries such as Somalia and you'd have stopped piracy before you know it.

lutusp 13y ago
> take some of the money saved on salaries and use it for foreign aid to countries such as Somalia and you'd have stopped piracy before you know it. No, that certainly won't work. With all respect, it's naive to think that foreign aid can solve the problem of poverty. In many cases it makes the problem worse. Consider the Diem regime in the early 1960s, South Vietnam. Copious American aid made the prior situation much worse, led to large amounts of corruption, and in part contributed to the eventual fall of South Vietnam. Look at foreign aid programs that don't also address political and social issues like basic human rights and reproductive choice for women. They always fail, and many make the original problems worse.
- TeMPOraL 13y ago
  Bill Gates seems to disagree with you on this one: http://annualletter.gatesfoundation.org/#section=myth-two http://annualletter.gatesfoundation.org/#section=myth-two
  - nitrogen 13y ago
    Among some circles, disagreement with Bill Gates is a positive signal. In seriousness though, I don't think your link disagrees with lutusp's comment. The Gates Foundation seems to care about human rights and reproductive choice, the lack of which causes aid to fail (as claimed by the parent comment). In other words, I think lutusp is saying that dumping money into an impoverished environment will lead to corruption and more poverty, but more involved approaches that directly liberate the people can work.
  - brc 13y ago
    Bill Gates is pitching to have foreign aid directed through his charities. It certainly would make more sense for the aid to be directed through organizations with runs on the board and a capable organization. I think the parent should probably have said 'direct government-to-government foreign aid usually makes things worse'. Part of the thing Bill Gates is fighting against with his 'myth busting' is the bad reputation foreign aid has got because it goes directly from politician to politician, and not necessarily distributed or managed in accordance with what people know to work.
- a1a 13y ago
  Your entire argument is based on the false assumption that foreign aid cannot be executed correctly. I would assume we have learned a thing or two since that 50 year old example took place.

by a1a 13y ago

lutusp 13y ago

> take some of the money saved on salaries and use it for foreign aid to countries such as Somalia and you'd have stopped piracy before you know it. No, that certainly won't work. With all respect, it's naive to think that foreign aid can solve the problem of poverty. In many cases it makes the problem worse. Consider the Diem regime in the early 1960s, South Vietnam. Copious American aid made the prior situation much worse, led to large amounts of corruption, and in part contributed to the eventual fall of South Vietnam. Look at foreign aid programs that don't also address political and social issues like basic human rights and reproductive choice for women. They always fail, and many make the original problems worse.

TeMPOraL 13y ago
Bill Gates seems to disagree with you on this one: http://annualletter.gatesfoundation.org/#section=myth-two http://annualletter.gatesfoundation.org/#section=myth-two
- nitrogen 13y ago
  Among some circles, disagreement with Bill Gates is a positive signal. In seriousness though, I don't think your link disagrees with lutusp's comment. The Gates Foundation seems to care about human rights and reproductive choice, the lack of which causes aid to fail (as claimed by the parent comment). In other words, I think lutusp is saying that dumping money into an impoverished environment will lead to corruption and more poverty, but more involved approaches that directly liberate the people can work.
- brc 13y ago
  Bill Gates is pitching to have foreign aid directed through his charities. It certainly would make more sense for the aid to be directed through organizations with runs on the board and a capable organization. I think the parent should probably have said 'direct government-to-government foreign aid usually makes things worse'. Part of the thing Bill Gates is fighting against with his 'myth busting' is the bad reputation foreign aid has got because it goes directly from politician to politician, and not necessarily distributed or managed in accordance with what people know to work.
a1a 13y ago
Your entire argument is based on the false assumption that foreign aid cannot be executed correctly. I would assume we have learned a thing or two since that 50 year old example took place.