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July 6, 2005
Live Aid II
I cannot believe it.
When I wrote "Live Aid" below, it was in the usual morning hurry. I'd heard about Geldorf's comments on the radio yesterday, made a few notes, and then did some quick research this morning and wrote the post before hurrying off to work.
Then today I found out the details.
Live Aid, you see, does not raise one penny for people in Africa.
That's right. It's sole purpose is to "raise awareness" Jonah Goldberg has the scoop:
You may be wondering how much money this intercontinental jam session raised for the sick and dying of Africa. Alas, not a farthing. Sir Bob Geldof was very explicit about this point. Live8 was intended to raise consciousness and exert political pressure on the G8 summiteers. No one was allowed to actually raise money for the masses of starving people in Africa.
This morning I was willing to give Geldorf and his pals the benefit of the doubt. Now I'm disgusted.
What annoys me is when people like Geldorf tell, no, demand, that other people cough up vast sums of money because...he cares.
And let's just revisit what Geldorf demands that we do: fork over 25 billion dollars, and forgive billions in debt. This is money that you and I will pay for, friends. Will it do any good? We're not supposed to ask. For Geldorf further instructs us that
Something must be done, even if it doesn't work.
As Jonah points out, does anybody really think that all, or even many, of the people who watched or went to the concert (the number is disputed) care about the people in Africa? In other words, would they have watched or gone if it had just been a plain old concert? I think we know the answers.
If Geldorf and his entertainment pals feel guilty, which seems to be the case, then they can take personal action. If they personally go to Africa to help out, or at least give personal money, then God bless them.
But when rich hollywood types demand that governments spend tons of money and that "we will not applaud half measures, or politics as usual" well, he can go jump in a lake.
In brief, then what are the problems facing Africa that stand in the way of progress?
1) Lack of pluralism and democracy. Our administration has rejected the status quo foreign policy of the past with regard to the Middle East. Let's expand this to other parts of the world.
2) Lack of free market capitalism. Central planning has for too long been the way that African governments ran their economies. The Heritage Foundation has an Index of Economic Freedom that rates countries by their level of economic freedom. Sadly, most countries in Africa rank low.
3) Property Rights are not enforced and respected. Business will not go where contract law is not guaranteed.
4) Rule of Law is not ensured. By this we mean that the courts will rule on matters of law in a non-partisan manner.
5) Their is a culture of corruption that is beyond what most westerners believe. I've heard the stories from friends from that part of the world, and have read, and the corruption is so all-encompasing as to be almost unbelieveable.
6) Most importantly, we in the west have accepted these failures for far too long. We've done so for many and varied reasons; guilt over colonialism etc, foreign policy "realism", the dominance of the Cold War, and just plain old not caring. This is what must end for progress to be made.
Posted by Tom at July 6, 2005 9:13 PM
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Comments
I live a simple life and should probably be ashamed for not knowing who Bob Geldorf is until just now, but I am not.
I am, as I type, watching the Travel Channel production of Bob Geldorf in Africa and feel shame for him.
I attempted to contact his email address, to no avail, through his website with a seemingly simple question for him, in the event that I am mistaken.
"If, as he said, slavery was active some 800 years ago in Africa among Africans and that 60% of the African economy was based on brutal slavery; and if then it was Europeans that were the first participants in the export of slaves from Africa; why does he only refer to slavery as a horrific and unspeakable condition when the settlers of the North American continent took part in a practice that predated the American settlement by some 400 years. Rubbish.
He is cheapening his stature with the bleeding heart efforts imposed upon an ignorant population in the name of fattening his wallet.
Aid? He is not interested in aid. Money does not afford aid or assistance unless it can be put to eloquent use. Shame on his name, he is surely an embarassment to his ancestors.
I am blessed that I did not know of him before this moment and saddened that I know of him now.
Jami
Posted by: Anonymous at October 23, 2006 10:27 PM
