DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - I see investment in Africa as great but The Guardian trashes it.

**BostonDoctorTTT** · 03-09-2010, 02:02 AM

Oerdin- do you really think you can produce US-equivalent levels of consumption across Africa? I don't.

Which means this talk of poverty is all relative. So how about improving the lot of the resident Africans by helping them support a growing population through pragmatic and sustainable local improvements that won't involve human rights abuses en route?

Sink some wells. Provide some agricultural training relevant to their local produce. Introduce them to other local farmers and point out the benefits of collectives, and the Fair Trade network. Give them some improved seed stock or a couple of good cows. Job done.

No, I don't think they can be brought up to American levels of development or consumption without decades of continious solid advancement. That said, I believe such continious solid advancement could happen with the right fundamentals just as it has happened in places like Japan, Chile, China, and South Korea. The hard part is getting the virtious cycle started. Yes, drilling some wells and giving them some improved agricultural techniques will improve their basic living standards but I'm aiming much higher with the kind of real long term development which only comes with real dedication to free market economic expansion.

The key is getting foreign investment and good governance so that the basic building blocks can be put into place. This thread deals with one half of that equation.

03-09-2010, 02:02 AM	#24
BostonDoctorTTT Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 434 Senior Member	Oerdin- do you really think you can produce US-equivalent levels of consumption across Africa? I don't. Which means this talk of poverty is all relative. So how about improving the lot of the resident Africans by helping them support a growing population through pragmatic and sustainable local improvements that won't involve human rights abuses en route? Sink some wells. Provide some agricultural training relevant to their local produce. Introduce them to other local farmers and point out the benefits of collectives, and the Fair Trade network. Give them some improved seed stock or a couple of good cows. Job done. No, I don't think they can be brought up to American levels of development or consumption without decades of continious solid advancement. That said, I believe such continious solid advancement could happen with the right fundamentals just as it has happened in places like Japan, Chile, China, and South Korea. The hard part is getting the virtious cycle started. Yes, drilling some wells and giving them some improved agricultural techniques will improve their basic living standards but I'm aiming much higher with the kind of real long term development which only comes with real dedication to free market economic expansion. The key is getting foreign investment and good governance so that the basic building blocks can be put into place. This thread deals with one half of that equation.
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