[Dialogue] Recommending Jim Wallis and Jeffery Sachs

[george]

Perkins' book is somewhat true.  Most all monies sent out from any 
foreign government is done to one level or another in its own self 
interest.  But it is also true whether one likes it or not that the 
monies passed on to 3rd World countries have to pass through the hands 
of those wealthy and powerful who own and operate the economic systems 
(it's their banks), who in many cases reinvest such funds or the result 
of such funds in the U.S. or Europe (that's where you can get the best 
returns).  They are also "in bed with" the corporations and governments 
who have the money.  Even the best intentioned gifts are subject to the 
same merry-go-round.  The UN used to try to protect its funding by 
insisting that funds be given to a combination of NGO's, government and 
sometimes private sources, but when you have to buy the irrigation 
pumps or whatever for the project it goes through those who own the 
businesses or run the government of that country.  There are good folks 
in the World Bank that have tried to set up ways to get around this, 
but so far without much success, it's a pretty complete system.  We in 
the U.S. have high minded morality, whether it be on the right or the 
left, but we've never possessed a very consistent and practical way of 
developing the poor of the world, we're much better at hand-wringing.

George Holcombe

On Apr 7, 2005, at 11:27 PM, Darrell Walker wrote:

> George Holcome said:
> " According to some sources 3
> Trillion dollars has been blown since the 1950's and there is more
> poverty number wise and percentage wise now than then."
>
> Darrell replies:
>    This book may have been mentioned on the list previously but I'll 
> reference it again since it deals directly with the above allegation.  
> John Perkins' book Confessions of an Economic Hit Man explains where 
> and why some of that money went.  It went to pay for facilities 
> intended to make developing countries beholden to the United States.  
> Much of it went into the pockets of American corporations or the Swiss 
> bank accounts of privileged families, thanks be to the World Bank over 
> which we now have a new  American "benevolent dictator."  The book is 
> worth a read assuming one is not subject to fits of depression.
>    Darrell Walker
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dialogue mailing list
> Dialogue at wedgeblade.net
> http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/dialogue_wedgeblade.net
>