Saturday, June 16, 2012

AN EDITORIAL ADVOCATES A NEW MODEL FOR FOREIGN AID: PAY UPON COMPLETION - A NAIVE VIEW - WHAT FOREIGN AID IS REALLY ABOUT


POSTED RESPONSE TO AN EDITORIAL IN TORONTO'S GLOBE AND MAIL

The person writing this editorial is naive and foolish.

Foreign aid is not given for the reasons that generally are advertised, although donor governments like to be able to pat themselves on the back for doing worthy things.

Foreign aid is given for influence in international affairs.

It buys loyalties and votes in various international institutions.

It buys favoritism for doing business with the donor country's business establishment.

In the case of an imperial power like the United States, it supplies great leverage - through quiet threats of its removal - for votes in the United Nations supporting American policy.

Foreign aid in the real world differs not greatly from the bribes great multinational firms use to get foreign governments to buy their planes or tanks or telephones.

No power on earth is going to change that reality.