Quote:
Originally posted by Link:
Did you get a chance to best poverty because of the institutions available, or because of you and your ancestors working their asses off?
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Um.... both, of course. I had no better institutions available than any American, worse than most, but better than most Africans (meaning: in Africa), I suspect.
Regarding trade laws, while Europe is still pretty vehemently protectionist, we in the US are suffering under the world's most open trade policy. It's taking our jobs, but our bankers and companies don't care because their business in Asia is booming. Their investments give them a return, wherever the investments are located, so they don't give 2 farts about the job losses "in Peoria" afflicting most US communities. So, African companies benefit much more than they suffer based on trade. Asian companies benefit, benefit, and benefit some more.
Now, there can be little doubt laziness alone is not the reason for starvation in Africa. That's why I didn't speak in terms of universals. But, with our open trade policy, and with our foreign aid, we are doing something to help there -- as are most 1st world countries. Is it enough? You may say "no." I say, well, since there is no affirmative obligation to do anything to begin with, then it's a subjective question at best. It depends on your morality, and the degree of morality (meaning: not only the question of whether to give charity, but also the question of how much charity to give). But, what is sure is that trade modernization has Asia on the rise, and Africa will inevitably follow, though it is frustrating how hard it has been for it to do so thus far.
But, with Africa, it's not like there are no rich people. Africa's starvation and other problems are more attributable to the continuing cycle of revolutions and dictatorships than to our failure to send over boats of grain, wouldn't you think?