Originally posted by agrysonNothing's free in this REAL world. Get real. and try doing something laudable yourself. Buck up, BIG MOUTH. I'm now working 5 jobs so the US can do at least one good thing! YOU?
Funny how there has to be reason for it other than it being a good thing.
But you're probably right, I'm pretty sure it's an attempt to increase local support in the area since the increase in US supported military operations nearby a few months ago. I only wish it could've been for more laudable reasons.
Originally posted by shavixmirWhy do we have a world bank anyway? Mostley US money i would assume. Why would they loan money to a poor country they know can't pay it back? No loan like that would be given to me in the US. Do away with the World bank. Or, maybe,we should just give it away for free. NAH!
Well, it would be if the US led World Bank and IMF weren't doing exactly the opposite to the local populations at the same time.
Originally posted by agrysonGiving handouts to non-American religious organizations is not inherently a good thing for the US government to be doing.
Funny how there has to be reason for it other than it being a good thing.
But you're probably right, I'm pretty sure it's an attempt to increase local support in the area since the increase in US supported military operations nearby a few months ago. I only wish it could've been for more laudable reasons.
Originally posted by smw6869Of course there are ulterior motives for this. That's politics, that's the real world, I'm not a retard. But that does not stop it from being a positive way to achieve the same aims. As for you wanting to pull your military out of all foreign soil and spending your tax dollars at home, that's fine too.
Do the expression: Hook, line and sinker mean anything to you? So, you do suggest that maybe we are there for military reasons in that region? You have proven my point, sir!
I,sir, am for the US pulling our military out of all foreign soil. Let the rest of the world help the poor and starving. And let my tax money go to helping our own poor.
We don't n ...[text shortened]... you will, take your atomic absorption spectrophotometer, stick it,and turn the switch to Ream.
My point is that there is a happy middle ground in most cases where a nations foreign policy can be exercised through methods such as this rather than through the barrel of a gun... everyone wins that way.
Military action, when absolutely necessary is not a bad thing, by definition, but it is often used when it is not the last resort. I also am not condescending my approval to the US for this, I am saying that it is a good thing to see regardless of which nation is building the public work, and is an example to other nations to become more active in such a role to use their militaries in a more positive way.
If I am an idiot to think that way, please educate me, if you'd be so kind.
Originally posted by AThousandYoungNot inherently, but then this is not a handout. It is an improvement in infrastructure. It bypasses potential siphoning of funds by less than ideal governments. It gives the good to the people and fosters grass roots support, in that way, the people AND the politicians win.
Giving handouts to non-American religious organizations is not inherently a good thing for the US government to be doing.
By building bridges, hospitals, schools, etc. a cost effective way of "winning over hearts and minds" without the bloodshed.
Also it does not necessarily need to be given to religious groups. This method was used effectively by the Romans to keep peace and I think there are lessons to be learned from history in that respect which this news report demonstrates are being learned and better yet applied.
Originally posted by agryson" winning your hearts and minds" by building bridges, hospitals, schools etc" So we give you freebees and then you will condesend to give us your hearts and minds. I said that the other day when i bought a can of beans at the local grogery store. I told the manager i would love him if i could only have the beans for free. He didn't go for it. He called it extortion. You don't get it! The US gov't doesn't pick money off trees.We don't go out in the street and chip off a chunk of gold so you can have freebees. Are you crazy? Build your crap for yourselves. OH! Thank you soooo much for your hearts and minds. What a great trade off. Rubber hose, up your nose!
Not inherently, but then this is not a handout. It is an improvement in infrastructure. It bypasses potential siphoning of funds by less than ideal governments. It gives the good to the people and fosters grass roots support, in that way, the people AND the politicians win.
By building bridges, hospitals, schools, etc. a cost effective way of "winning over ...[text shortened]... in that respect which this news report demonstrates are being learned and better yet applied.
Originally posted by smw6869It is more than just hearts and minds.
" winning your hearts and minds" by building bridges, hospitals, schools etc" So we give you freebees and then you will condesend to give us your hearts and minds. I said that the other day when i bought a can of beans at the local grogery store. I told the manager i would love him if i could only have the beans for free. He didn't go for it. He called it ex ...[text shortened]... soooo much for your hearts and minds. What a great trade off. Rubber hose, up your nose!
Ever since Malthus, we have known that population growth triggers revolution.
Poor countries reproduce at higher rates than developed countries. With limited resources this causes huge problems. In the past this has always resulted in migration, war or starvation.
You can build walls, create apatheid policies etc etc etc but history always has shown that the poor multiply until the walls break.
Originally posted by petrosianpupilOK, but when you say "YOU" does that mean me, the US? You're talking about the rest of the world pulling it's weight also, right?
It is more than just hearts and minds.
Ever since Malthus, we have known that population growth triggers revolution.
Poor countries reproduce at higher rates than developed countries. With limited resources this causes huge problems. In the past this has always resulted in migration, war or starvation.
You can build walls, create apatheid policies etc etc etc but history always has shown that the poor multiply until the walls break.
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Originally posted by AThousandYoungWhy can't these people build their own latrines and fix their own roofs? Pretty small projects, I'd say. Are they retarded, or just too worthless to do it for themselves?
The America I am proud to be a citizen of:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20070622/wl_csm/oafricom
Originally posted by smw6869Read the post just above your one that I've quoted above. See the bit where I say that it's not about the US? That regardless of which nation is doing it it's a good thing? Stop thinking it's all about you and the US, any country choosing to exercise its foreign policy in this way will be doing a good thing.
" winning your hearts and minds" by building bridges, hospitals, schools etc" So we give you freebees and then you will condesend to give us your hearts and minds. I said that the other day when i bought a can of beans at the local grogery store. I told the manager i would love him if i could only have the beans for free. He didn't go for it. He called it ex ...[text shortened]... soooo much for your hearts and minds. What a great trade off. Rubber hose, up your nose!
My whole point is that militaries can be used in more than just aggressive actions. Ooh, read that last sentence again, notice how I didn't mention a country? I don't give a stink what countries military is doing it, it doesn't detract from the benefits for everyone.
Get over yourself. It's not all about you.
Originally posted by Sam The ShamThese may be small projects for you, you've a roof, food, clean water, tools etc. Try digging a latrine and walk twenty miles a day for water at the same time. Try fixing your roof on an empty stomach when you should be doing your best to stop drought from killing next years crop.
Why can't these people build their own latrines and fix their own roofs? Pretty small projects, I'd say. Are they retarded, or just too worthless to do it for themselves?
Originally posted by Sam The ShamWell... where to start.
Why can't these people build their own latrines and fix their own roofs? Pretty small projects, I'd say. Are they retarded, or just too worthless to do it for themselves?
Nomadic tribes generally moved from region to region, following seasons and such things.
Then the British, French, Belgiums and Germans (would you believe) it, decided to... oh wait... I forgot the Dutch, the Spanish and the Portugese... decided to devide the regions into territories. And put borders in place.
Then folk were forced to do jobs they weren't inclined to. Then they couldn't cross borders. Then large companies decided it was better for them to grow coffee instead of crops, to sell on the Western market...
Then the nations divided into poverty traps, where the poverty was so severe that even Bob Geldof noticed it (thanks to BBC journalism). And the world grew a conscience.
Enter the World bank and the IMF (International Monetary Fund). They make deals with these countries that they have to privatise everything and grow what the IMF wants (which is run...by large capitalists in the West)...and the poverty grows ever larger.
And chuck a good dosis of global warming (proven to be man's fault or not...) on top of that...
And voila. That's why the US army is there trying to combat that which their government so supports.
Originally posted by shavixmirThe number of logic blocks that you leap in a single bound is truly amazing.
Well... where to start.
Nomadic tribes generally moved from region to region, following seasons and such things.
Then the British, French, Belgiums and Germans (would you believe) it, decided to... oh wait... I forgot the Dutch, the Spanish and the Portugese... decided to devide the regions into territories. And put borders in place.
Then folk ...[text shortened]... a. That's why the US army is there trying to combat that which their government so supports.