Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - Aid Money

Magness · 11-26-2001, 03:57 PM

quote:

Originally posted by Silver Cheetah:

So, whilst it's great that America gave this aid, personally, I think it is the least they can do. As far as I know, the US just pulled out of Afghanistan, leaving fundamentalists in power and a god awful mess. A helping hand is kind of what you'd expect from the richest nation on earth, which also happens to be a democracy that believes in freedom for its people, even if that freedom does often come at other people's expense......

I'll agree with you that the US pull out from Afghanistan in the late 80's was a mistake. The best reason to send "aid" to Afghanistan is for American self-interest. A more moderate and modern Afghanistan that is at least fairly friendly to the West is certainly more in the US's self-interest than a Taliban-led Afghanistan.

Next, as a citizen of "the richest nation on earth", I do not feel any particular responsibility to help the people of Afghanistan. This sounds a lot like noblesse oblige or some sort of progressive altruism (i.e. the more you have, the more you should give) BS. True altruism is not related to the size of your (or your nation's) wallet.

11-26-2001, 03:57 PM	#35
Magness Quintesson Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Manchester, NH, USA Posts: 1,025	quote: Originally posted by Silver Cheetah: So, whilst it's great that America gave this aid, personally, I think it is the least they can do. As far as I know, the US just pulled out of Afghanistan, leaving fundamentalists in power and a god awful mess. A helping hand is kind of what you'd expect from the richest nation on earth, which also happens to be a democracy that believes in freedom for its people, even if that freedom does often come at other people's expense...... I'll agree with you that the US pull out from Afghanistan in the late 80's was a mistake. The best reason to send "aid" to Afghanistan is for American self-interest. A more moderate and modern Afghanistan that is at least fairly friendly to the West is certainly more in the US's self-interest than a Taliban-led Afghanistan. Next, as a citizen of "the richest nation on earth", I do not feel any particular responsibility to help the people of Afghanistan. This sounds a lot like noblesse oblige or some sort of progressive altruism (i.e. the more you have, the more you should give) BS. True altruism is not related to the size of your (or your nation's) wallet.