Those Greedy Americans

[Yao]

Those are fun...I've had them numerous times

[brakada]

To a certain extent you're right, and I wasn't denying the existence of corruption here. In fact, we had already taken that into account, a partial loss due to corruption. But that makes it even worse, the guy trying to wanr me for that, as if I haven't learnt anything at al in 5 yrs university and a trip to Ghana.
Like I was fucking retarded or something...!

My statement is: you gotta be in the system to fuck the system. So we will work through the government, and yes, we will lose a certain percentage to corruption. Our hopes are that despite that the larger part will come to the benefit of the people that need it. And I'm supposed to look after that. Fucking things up? No more money, byebye...and they WILL listen to the man with the green...and I'll try to use that against them this time.

The average NGO has an effectivity rate of 25% or less, so when you donate $100,- , $25,- will be effectively spent in Africa. If I can raise this number to, say, 50%...that is one big pile of money...even with the corruption. I'd rather have the latter one than then non-effective moral way of the NGO's.
I will not go into business with people I don't trust or those involved with arms dealings, or at least try as much as possible to avoid that shit, though it is virtually impossible I guess...

Well, that's the only way to do it, paying the "corruption tax"...
But tell me now, what are you planning? A business? Or charity? Or something combined?
Oh, and I don't think there are really that many people in Africa, that you can trust and can do business with. Most trustworthy ones are usually the poor ones or die...

[hoodednight]

Re: Those Greedy Americans

I think a lot of the arguments made in this thread have failed to consider
the historical events that have lead to the circumstances being
discussed. As mentioned, America does enjoy a high standard of
living, but so do a lot of other developed nations. Depending on
how you look at it....America has been fortuitous in that it is
geographically isolated from most of developing world. The seas
have provided the U.S. with a natural barrier to politically volitile
situations as well as culturally diversity. I don't think the "ignorance"
of Americans can be discussed without considering this. I'm
certainly not justifying the situation. . . I'm only sayin'.....

With regard to Africa, who do you think is responsible for the
ubiquitous existence of dictatorships and continuing starvation.
If you live in in England, France, or the Netherlands, just remember...
the colonization and plundering of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.
I'm pretty sure that has had something to due with current state of
affairs...

[Yao]

To both previous posters:

Brakada: I'm well aware of the fact that people will call themselves my friends just to get some money out of it. I'm not doing it for them, but if I can use them to improve circumstances for those who really need it: so be it. They are intruments. Just like I am an intrument to them.

It's not charity, and I don't think I should tell more about it untill we have actually made it happen. I first wanna see for myself if it works...

Hoodednight: Welcome, I see your new here! First of all: keep in mind that I'm an African Studies student...I know what we're talking about here. :wink:

Nobody here is accusing the US for the situation in Africa: that would be hypocrisy at it's best. Europe, the Middle East and Asia are the ones to blame, and despite all the initiatives to improve the situation there, I still believe they act mostly in their own interest, not that of Africa. But the latter goes for all aiding countries.

I'll try and look something up on NEPAD, the latest debt relief initiative founded by Thabo Mbeki, who is also the spiritual father of the African Renaissance: African solutions for African problems.

Looking forward to some good posts from ya!

[gokada]

I think ignorant goes for more people than just Americans...

I'm sure it does. But man, are there alot of ignorant simple minded people here who have no idea what the hell is going on. Who simply just don't care.

this is true for evey country..

thank you fishingnut...how in the world can anyone single out Americans for being stupid or ignorant or arrogant? Every country on the planet has people that are any one of those three...I have friends from the U.K., France, Japan, Brazil, and Spain that don't pay attention to anything that's going on in the world, and they don't really care anyway...I'm a news junkie and I'm American....I have many friends here in the U.S. that are well informed of the events that go on....I think calling people as a whole from any country arrogant, ignorant, or stupid shows ignorance, stupidity, and arrogance on the accuser's part....

[Yao]

Spot on gokada...

[fishingnut]

[/quote]

thank you fishingnut...how in the world can anyone single out Americans for being stupid or ignorant or arrogant? Every country on the planet has people that are any one of those three...I have friends from the U.K., France, Japan, Brazil, and Spain that don't pay attention to anything that's going on in the world, and they don't really care anyway...I'm a news junkie and I'm American....I have many friends here in the U.S. that are well informed of the events that go on....I think calling people as a whole from any country arrogant, ignorant, or stupid shows ignorance, stupidity, and arrogance on the accuser's part....[/quote]

that's what i'm talking about

[lefty]

every country has its greed...it's naive and ignorant to say it's an american thing.

[Yao]

It's mostly stupid Europeans or crazy extremists saying that. And Michael Moore.