----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Schmidt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2005 6:45 PM Subject: Re: Br!n: Re: more neocons
> > Would you be interesting in an African's economists perspective on just > > wanting riches and morality in the EU? (Not me, but my Zambian daughters) > > > > Dan M. > > Actually, yes. I would like to believe that Germany or the EU are either > helpful or at least fair to poor nations, but I've read enough to see it's > not really like that. But I don't know exactly how close to or far from the > truth that belief actually is. Within 10 minutes of us being in the car home from the airport, Neli started to talk about the European agriculture policy. She said that it was simply a "subsidy for lazy farmers" who wanted to make money while not being able to do the job. This net subsidy of agriculture keeps Africa from having a market. It seems paradoxical, if Africa has starvation, why sell food. But, the hard currency made this way can lift up the poorest families....let them use more efficient techniques, etc. Many parts of sub-Sahara Africa have very little foreign exchange. This food subsidy has been called the single greatest impediment to African development. Protectionism and subsidies by rich nations helps no one but those getting the payments and those able to charge high prices in the absence of competition. As far a globalization goes; she's generally for it. A comment from her was "it would be awesome if a Nike shoe factory would come to Zambia." It would be awesome because what would be considered slave wages here would be an enormous boon to Zambia. Saying that this is exploitation, when the alternative is worse is self-serving. The last thing is she has become disgusted with the UN over their acceptance of genocide in Sudan. She is far from a Bush fan, "he is an idiot" is one comment, but she said "I have to admit it; Bush did far more than anyone else to address the conflict in Sudan. With her best friends extended family at high risk, its an important issue to her. She agrees with the comment that most of the world would prefer genocide to angering Arabs with all their oil.\ Dan M. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
