The libertarian perspective on foreign aid is that it’s just a subsidy to foreign governments. Is that really going on here? Don’t we in the west have an obligation to the third world, and could programs like this be a good way of helping to alleviate their poverty?
Voluntary charity and wage-paying jobs are the only things which get rid of poverty.
Here’s a line from that article that will give everyone here a hearty chuckle:
The motivation…is purely altruistic.
Oh really? And the fact that the program wouldn’t be there if they weren’t there for mining purposes didn’t have anything to do with it. Riiiiiight.
All evidence proves that freer markets mean more charity. New Hampshire has the freest market of every state in AMerica and it has the highest amount of charitable giving. Poverty there is the lowest as well.
It’s not a subsidy to foreign governments, it’s a subsidy to domestic banks who have made loans to the foreign governments in question.
And, no, these “charitable” corporations don’t have altruistic motives. Even in Ancient Greece, the wealthy were expected to give alms to the poor and to perform public services (such as acting as a magistrate which was a position that required hearing people’s disputes but conferred no authority to the magistrate, making it a burden, not an opportunity for enrichment).
Clayton -
Bullshit.
Bullshit.
How is it bullshit? I gave you a statistic: New Hampshire has the highest amount of charitable giving AND it has the lowest poverty. It also has the freest market of every state. Explain.
I give you a statistic - The climate is warmer than it was 200 years ago and simultaneously the number of pirates has decreased. Explain. Solid evidence:
lol.
We need more pirates!
I’d like to read more on this. Any books/articles/links you might recommend?
@gotlucky: I read it in Martin van Creveld’s Rise and Decline of the State, I’ll try to get a cite for you later.
Clayton -