The root-mean cause of poverty: corrupt governments.
And, just where can these third world nation's leaders get the money necessary to pad their personal bank accounts and pacify more people so as to exert stronger control? From the wealthy nations, of course. They cannot, after all, be expected to set up programs at home to actually "earn" the coveted wealth. That would take effort.
We see a great opportunity for both governments and activists here: Take all those environmental whackos out to the jungle they so want to preserve and drop them off.
Powell took along a $5-billion aid package that uses partnerships to set "results-oriented goals," rather than artificial time frames for achieving changes. Which means, every American taxpayer will pony up an average of about $40 to feed people who already live in what should be the world's most productive breadbasket -- and is rich in minerals like diamonds, gold and silver, among other things. From where we sit, giving them aid seems a lot like suborning corruption.
Some people just cannot stand prosperity. Especially prosperity that is widespread, and tends to dilute the perks of elite living. This has been the principle that has made America the magnet, the shining city on the hill, to all the rest of the world, but through willful ignorance, certain jealous and impotent personalities have made it their business to not understand the correlation between adapting resources to needs, and the rising standard of living that results.
As one resource is used up, or becomes too expensive, the edge of technology turns to other resources. But even research into new development is denied, as the Luddites try, by one avenue or another, to muster opinion against spreading benefits of investment and free-ranging thinking to the entire world. You try to do what is best, and perform good deeds, and what do you get in return? A kick in the teeth. Most discouraging.
Yes ---exactly like the Clintons and the Kennedys. You never hear of them actually giving up their huge wealth to the programs they propose. They mean to take the wealth of middle class hard working Americans to promote their Socialist/Communist causes.