Nightline 07/16-07/17 on Africa famine

Nightline (ABC)

[fowb]

Just finished watching Nightline for the second night in a row. What can I say, it's a slow week. At any rate, the subject for the last two nights has been the impending famine in Southern Africa. They concentrated on Malawi, but did mention that the same conditions are set for a disastrous year in South Africa and Zimbabwe. I was amazed that the AID people from CARE never once mentioned that this is probably directly a result of Zimbabwe's confiscation of farmland from productive farmer's to hand it over to functionaries loyal to Mugabe who have no idea of how to operate a farming operation. The question was never addressed by the show's host either.

[fowb]

This is a first post so I'll ask for your indulgence if I haven't properly formatted, etc.

[okie01]

"I'll ask for your indulgence if I haven't properly formatted, etc."

Properly formatted. And properly assessed, as well.

"...this is probably directly a result of Zimbabwe's confiscation of farmland ..."

[per loin]

Your post looks fine.

[PRND21]

Only naives believe this AIDS/famine propaganda.

This explains your irrational views on other topics.

[fowb]

Actually, I believe that the famine and the reported AIDS epidemic are true. However, I also believe that we are not responsible and should not be sucked into the wealth transfer that the UN and associated NGOs would like to see. I just wish that our national media would point out the truth that these problems are inflicted on the African populace by their own governments and should not warrant any assistance from us until they clean up their own act.

[SamAdams76]

You have it backwards. In impoverished, famine-prone countries like those in Africa, people are inclined to make more babies. Since survival rates are low, people figure they can increase the chances of having some children survive to childhood by cranking out as many as they can make.

In developed countries, where infant mortality rates are very low, the opposite takes place. People make less babies because they are relatively certain that all the children they have will survive to adulthood. Also, people who are well off tend to have less children anyway because they want to be able to better enjoy their material wealth. When you are living in a thatch hut with no hope for improving your situation, children are all you have. So you have as many of them as you can.

As for AIDS, it is a huge problem over there. The only thing you got right was that leftists want to transfer our wealth over to them.

[Age of Reason]

If both were true they would abstain from making more babies and lower the fertility rate. But this isn't happening, which tells me that Africans can afford to feed those babies.

You might start by telling that to the poor people in this country.

[PoisedWoman]

As for AIDS, it is a huge problem over there. The only thing you got right was that leftists want to transfer our wealth over to them.

And then you'll have AIDS "victims" with more money. Probably more people would get AIDS, too, thinking they can be cured.

[PoisedWoman]

Good post and good point about Nightline's FAILURE to report cause of food shortages. Few media sources ever tell the truth about the sinkhole African aid drops into. Dictators stash cash in numbered accounts while people starve. As much as we might like to help the people, there's no way to do so through government channels.

[Restorer]

I doubt the number of AIDS reported.

I'm skeptical, too. Huge numbers are reported, like 20% or more.

Does anybody know how long the average untreated AIDS patient lasts? This situation has been going on for several years, so there should have been a dramatic drop in population of some of these countries. That doesn't seem to happen, they're always "on the brink."

[Prodigal Son]

My wife worked in the Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto. She would, I believe, consider 20% a moderate number from what she saw. The thing is, Africans have pretty high birth rates I believe. They're still producing babies at a good clip. But according to the "experts" (LOL) the population dynamic should start showing soon- but even then I think Africa's population is still set to rise dramatically.

[backhoe]

You did fine... for "all the stuff the media just won't talk about- for fear you peons will start asking rude questions," look here:

AfricaWatch:

AfricaWatch: for AfricaWatch articles. 

Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thank you for the information. The LIBERAL media only sees evil if it's anti-American.