"What do you think has held Africans back?"

O.k. I'm smitten. Not by Dambis Moyo's beauty, but by her ideas! I linked to this article in my last post but it deserves to stand alone. As you read it, ask yourself this question:
Has the same thing that held Africans back be holding Americans of African descent back?

I think yes.

Liberalism has made American of African descent dependant and disfuctionional. The only way back is to cut off support. Something that the dependent and those who thrive on their support (Democrats) will never do.

The Anti-Bono Interview by DEBORAH SOLOMON, New York Times

Q: As a native of Zambia with advanced degrees in public policy and economics from Harvard and Oxford, you are about to publish an attack on Western aid to Africa and its recent glamorization by celebrities. ‘‘Dead Aid,’’ as your book is called, is particularly hard on rock stars. Have you met Bono?
I have, yes, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last year. It was at a party to raise money for Africans, and there were no Africans in the room, except for me.

What do you think of him?
I’ll make a general comment about this whole dependence on “celebrities.” I object to this situation as it is right now where they have inadvertently or manipulatively become the spokespeople for the African continent.

You argue in your book that Western aid to Africa has not only perpetuated poverty but also worsened it, and you are perhaps the first African to request in book form that all development aid be halted within five years.
Think about it this way — China has 1.3 billion people, only 300 million of whom live like us, if you will, with Western living standards. There are a billion Chinese who are living in substandard conditions. Do you know anybody who feels sorry for China? Nobody.

Maybe that’s because they have so much money that we here in the U.S. are begging the Chinese for loans.
Forty years ago, China was poorer than many African countries. Yes, they have money today, but where did that money come from? They built that, they worked very hard to create a situation where they are not dependent on aid.

What do you think has held back Africans?
I believe it’s largely aid. You get the corruption — historically, leaders have stolen the money without penalty — and you get the dependency, which kills entrepreneurship. You also disenfranchise African citizens, because the government is beholden to foreign donors and not accountable to its people.

If people want to help out, what do you think they should do with their money if not make donations?
Microfinance. Give people jobs.

But what if you just want to donate, say, $25?
Go to the Internet and type in Kiva.org, where you can make a loan to an African entrepreneur.

Do you have a financial interest in Kiva?
No, except that I’ve made loans through the system. I don’t own a share of Kiva.

You just left your longtime job as a banker for Goldman Sachs in London, where you live. What did you do there, exactly?
I worked in the capital markets, helping mostly emerging countries to issue bonds. That’s why I know that that works.

Which countries sought your help?
Israel, Turkey and South Africa, primarily.

Why didn’t you get a bond issue going in your native Zambia or other African countries?
Many politicians seem to have a lazy muscle. Issuing a bond would require that the president and the cabinet ministers go out and market their country. Why would they do that when they can just call up the World Bank and say, “Can I please have some money?”

I keep reading about a new crop of African presidents who are supposedly free-market guys, including Rupiah Banda, the president of Zambia.
There are lots who are nominally free market, but they haven’t been aggressive about implementing those policies.

What do your parents do?
My mother is chairman of a bank called the Indo-Zambia Bank. It’s a joint venture between Zambia and India. My father runs Integrity Foundation, an anticorruption organization.

For all your belief in the potential of capitalism, the free market is now in free fall and everyone is questioning the supposed wonders of the unregulated market.
I wish we questioned the aid model as much as we are questioning the capitalism model. Sometimes the most generous thing you can do is just say no.

INTERVIEW CONDUCTED, CONDENSED AND EDITED BY DEBORAH SOLOMON

Comments

[Derek]

I stand corrected, I'm guessing she DIDNT like what she used to do for the world bank. She even brings up China as an example. I guess me and her are more alike than I thought. I still find the aid issue one of BS. Aid didn't hold back japan or korea or germany. It's nothing to do with liberalism, it's always policy.

I'm the marxist but you guys seem to be the ones so willing to paint the world in ideological strokes.

[Derek]

And let me guess, this is the first time you've ever heard of micro financing.

(BTW, I name checked Muhammad Yunus on this blog a while ago... don't know who he is, look it up)

[nosredna2]

==I guess me and her are more alike than I thought.==

me and her?
you mean "she and I..."

[Derek]

I mean what I write. Why would she go first? Lingual tradition does not trump self importance.

[nosredna2]

Okay, if you insist on making yourself more important, at least say

"I and she..." (not me and her--where did you learn that???).

Is it really that painful to put another person first?

[Lauren]

I heard about her on the radio. Thanks for posting her name, as I had forgotten and wanted to attribute her a bit on my blog soon. I tend to agree with her, but I also believe we do need a safety net as well. Cutting people off completely also does not work. Balance is the key.

[Patrick Austin]

I wasn't familiar with her, but I've just viewed a few youtube clips of her. She's very impressive and makes a good argument. I may check out her book.

"Liberalism has made American of African descent dependant and disfuctionional. The only way back is to cut off support. Something that the dependent and those who thrive on their support (Democrats) will never do."

One reason she makes such a good argument is because she focuses her criticism on policy, not individuals or political parties (James).

[James T.]

One reason I make such good arguments is because I focus my criticism on the root cause of the problem and the individuals and ideology behind them, not programs or policies (Patrick).

[maddypie2]

Wow James what a concept!
Do you imagine that kind of
"thinking" could ever catch on our with our re-named acorn poster's?
coi=Community Organizations International
Nah coi=community oppressing individualism

[Constructive Feedback]

[quote]Liberalism has made American of African descent dependant and disfuctionional. [/quote]

While I agree with your statements I think you need more specificity as to "WHY" this dependency and dysfunctionality has come to bear.

I don't think that it is "liberalism" per se. Instead it is the lack of comprehensive awareness of the fact that now that they run their own nations - the entirety of their policies ultimately dictate their outcomes.

Consider Robert Mugabe. He was able to convince the aggrieved masses that it was the "White farmers" who remained that were the key threat to the nation's interests. He was able to shift the people focus upon the purge of these Whites and the glories that will result upon their exodus. The people were able to be exploited because of their resentments of the past. Few of them bothered to step back and make clear note about what would be required of them once they were required to step in and run the entire economy.

Just as with Idi Amin - once the "enemy" was purged (Amin forced all Asian business owners to leave Uganda) the resulting government was unable to address the key economic needs for the country and thus chaos broke out.

This is why I say that it was not just "liberalism" but instead the propensity to manipulate grievances into a way forward.

I personally believe that a significant portion of the crowd that Moyo it talking about see these Black Africans as inferiors who would starve absent this external largesse.

I am more angered, however, when the greedy, selfish leaders and operatives within these nations PROVE THEM CORRECT.

[maddypie2]

liberalism,socialism, communism,fascism,marxism.
The label doesn't matter. The intent, the agenda, and the end game result of those who wish to control all aspects of other peoples live is the bottom line.
A name or party doesn't matter if their ultimate goal is to oppress people as we are now experiencing here in America.

[Derek]

You vote for people that engage in stupid wars and lock people up indefinitely. Laughing at videos of guys like Arthur Laffer being proved wrong all the while shilling for the guy Laffer was advising. Worship the history of a country that actually enslaved people. Still working the same stupidity on gay people. Don't lecture about oppression. Don't lecture about anything actually, your movement certainly has no credibility with me.

[Constructive Feedback]

[quote]You vote for people that engage in stupid wars[/quote]

You are correct Derek. The Obama administration's war efforts are quite puzzling.

I am more concerned about the lack of Anti-War Protests since January 20th. This DESPITE the fact that the 2 wars continue.

When was the last time you heard about the present body count in these wars? Its like the media has CHANGED or something.

[quote] and lock people up indefinitely.[/quote]

Indeed - when they are released they are still alive to talk about the TORTURE that they suffered. Unlike those others who had their heads chopped off.

[quote] Laughing at videos of guys like Arthur Laffer being proved wrong all the while shilling for the guy Laffer was advising.[/quote]

You are saying the "Laffer Curve"? I am more concerned today about the "Debt Stimulus-Stimulus Package". What about you?

[quote]Worship the history of a country that actually enslaved people.[/quote]

Actually I am more puzzled over the people who talk about "stolen Indian land" and yet they believe that the land that THEY OWN has been dutifully laundered....now that they hold title. As long as no Native American comes to their front door and demands his land back - no more Indian blood will be shed....from a punch in the nose that causes it to bleed.

[quote]
Still working the same stupidity on gay people. Don't lecture about oppression. Don't lecture about anything actually, your movement certainly has no credibility with me.
[/quote]

Derek - for the record - I am OPPOSED TO THE ENSLAVEMENT OF GAY PEOPLE. What are you talking about?

[LegioNofZioN]

Derek you just got spanked, let me know if you need some cream, cause that ass must hurt.

[Derek]

Right, because i'm so hurt by accusations against the media.

[LegioNofZioN]

No because Constructive Feedback just fed you, and you don't have much to say.

the funny thing about Ms Moyo is, two of my cousins have volunteered in Africa. One spent a year in Tanzania, the other 3 months in Tanzania and 6 months in Kenya. Both have come back saying the same thing. this is the common sense of most of the people on the ground in Africa. this is what they heard from the peoploe there they met. they both share Dambisa's attitude, and neither one of them are conservative. so until an actual African can dispute why Dambisa's position on aid is foolish, I will err on the side of caution and trust the word of people who have actually spent time in Africa, making a difference.

[nosredna2]

A (black American) missionary friend of mine (in Kenya) said, after watching part 1 of Moyo's "Uncommon Knowledge" interview:

==="I loved what she had to say ("positive harm") and everything she shared reminded me of Kenya.

In my nutshell (based on my 7-8 months here), too much Aid money leads to dependency, inflated governments, corruption, the disenfranchisement of the common people and the expectation of more (and continued) aid.

In Kenya the corruption is so rampant amongst those in government that, as an American, [I am] speechless. This not only affects the government but those organizations who should be assisting in the protection of the common people. (During the election clashes, the police did as much killing and raping as did any individuals. Can you imagine there being an outbreak of violence in America and the police actually joining in?!) And this, in turn, leads to the common people victimizing one another.

I have spoken aloud about the lack of action against the government. (If no one gets punished for anything how can lawlessness stop.) It only leads to silence...

Moyo is right. In my opinion, AID to Africa will NEVER CHANGE Africa. It may change and line the pockets of a small minority, but it will never cause those in government to positively change anything about the way government is handled and/or improve the lot of the everyday person.

You see... it would not be in the best interest of most African countries to be successful in this endeavor. If they did, they might really HAVE to work hard. Why work hard when you can be dependent upon the taxpayers of other nations? (Being serious, not cynical.)

When Bush decided to give Africa one billion dollars for AIDS assistance (right before the end of his second term), I wanted to whip off his head. (And I am/was not someone who hated him. I thought those people were ridiculous!) Most of that money will never have any impact on the people who really need it. (My friend Aljas's brothers-in-law and two of his sisters died from AIDS. This is the third one who will die and she does not have money for AIDS medicine. Isn't that the reason why our tax dollars were given? So that a person who cannot get the money for the drugs will be given them freely?)

It is my opinion that Aid for Africa will be as successful as welfare was for most blacks. Anything that takes away a person's desire to strive and make a better life for themselves may, ultimately, do them more harm than good.

Does any part of it work? Yes. I am the product of aid to minorities (grants, college loans, special reading programs in elementary school - I had a problem reading...) and I thank God for it. However, some of my drive is also a product of my upbringing, and the rest (more than likely) because I am a believer.

Without some basis (other than the providing of funds), we are throwing money down the drain.===

[maddypie2]

nosredna2, you are not only helpful in correcting spelling and grammatical errors, but you have hit the nail on the head with your above comments. Thank you for the great post.

Constructive Feedback, I am also enjoying reading your posts. It is great when fresh points of view are brought into the conversation.
It truly helps to drown out the same inaccurate double talk that some people like to post.