[End Times Sentinel]

The fact is, much of Africa is kept in a state of permanent subsidence by the richest countries. The EU and America flood third world markets with low priced commodities designed to depress world prices and effectively crush local economies.

 

Yeah, that's what it is.  It's America flooding the Niamey street markets with our low-priced cow peas, millet and casava.  It couldn't possibly have anything to do with the total lack of stability in the country, with it's frequent coups and tribal wars. 

 

If we'd just quit depressing their prices, then the vaunted Nigerien automotive industry could then flourish. 

 

This is clearly everybody's fault but their own.

Owl_Eagle

(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,

 it was probably sarcasm)

[beandog]

Okay, then lets just sending them food and other help nad see what happens.

[Mr. K]

I know a guy named Barrister James Ontooga who has $25 million he wants to smuggle out of the country and share with me- maybe they can go after his money to help feed some of them

[jrd]

Don't you thing we need some dufis from the State Dept to tell us we need to give several million to the local head man to be put into his Swiss account...then every thing will be OK!

[clee1]

They need to look to themselves for a beter life!

America is here for Americans: it is not our job to save the world.

If the peoples of Africa would adopt/encourage a more scientifically-aware society and would rise up against the thousands of "tribal chieftans", dictators, and "strongmen", they would have a better life.

You can feed a man for a day by giving him a fish; you can feed him for a lifetime by teaching him how to fish.

[agere_contra]

low priced commodities designed to depress world prices and effectively crush local economies.

Well, I doubt they're designed to do that, but local farmers having to compete with heavily subsidised, or even free, crops can't help. Africa in general needs stability, laws of property, equality under the law, reduction of regulation/taxation and THEN democracy - but no more food "aid"!

[Alberta's Child]

Actually, he's got a point. I heard a very interesting radio news report last week that gave some detailed information about how foreign aid to Africa has resulted in the devastation of many local industries. The textile industry was an example they used. Local clothing manufacturers in one country they studied were all driven out of business because they (obviously) could not compete with second-hand clothing from the U.S. that was being given away. It's hard to stay in business when your "competitor" is "selling" his product for $0.

[AmishDude]

I thought it was the third world that was flooding our markets with low-priced commodities.

Can't we buy our own Made-in-the-USA low-priced commodities?

[WillMalven]

Problem is Owl, he's essentially right about our farm subsidies. I do not believe in artificially supporting or depressing our farm prices. It should be left up to the market and nature to determine prices.

Like all corporate welfare it should eliminated. I don't believe in taxing corporations, but by the same token I don't believe in giving them money either.

I have no problem giving them food for the short term and the necessaries to sustain themselves in the long term. It's when we just send food and none of the other that we embark on a fool's errand.