Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 (Tek) 9/12/84; site tektronix.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!ihnp4!zehntel!tektronix!larryk
From: larryk@tektronix.UUCP (Larry Kohn)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: poor starving people
Message-ID: <4284@tektronix.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 27-Nov-84 17:03:07 EST
Article-I.D.: tektroni.4284
Posted: Tue Nov 27 17:03:07 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 29-Nov-84 03:34:36 EST
References: <642@amd.UUCP>
Reply-To: larryk@tektronix.UUCP (Larry Kohn)
Distribution: net
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 69
Summary: 

In article <642@amd.UUCP> phil@amd.UUCP (Phil Ngai) writes:
>I feel like starting a flame here.
>
>BACKGROUND
>Many people are starving in Ethiopia. Many countries are giving food aid
>and this cause has made even the USA and the USSR temporarily forget their
>differences and work together to help get food to the needy.

Of course, the USSR has a vested interest in one of its satellites.  I can't
help wonder what they'd be doing for the starving Ethiopians if the USA and
other countries weren't trying to help.


>                                                             It still isn't
>enough, Ethiopia says it has only half of what it needs to prevent a
>famine. Meanwhile the US government pays farmers not to produce to keep
>prices up.

So to meet this crisis, the USA dips into its food surpluses.  The increased
demand for food will cause food prices to rise which, of course, means that
farmers will produce more in the future; unless the government raises their
non-production payments.  In any case we'll get to pay more for our food and
the Ethiopians will have put off starvation a bit longer.  So, everyone wins?


>
>But that's not what I want to flame about. Are the United States and other
>countries expected to continually bail out countries which can't feed
>themselves? I think there must be too many people living in Ethiopia.
>I think there probably isn't any birth control there.

Maybe.  Might not there be other factors that caused the problem (e.g., crop
failures, unusual climatic conditions, poor farming practices, ignorance,
stupid government policies, etc.)?


>
>PROPOSAL
>The United States should send more food to Ethiopia, but all recipients
>must consent to sterilization.
>

Do they get sterilized before or after they get fed?

Even in its simplicity, this proposal merits consideration.  Mainly because
it hinges vaguely upon that old proverb about being fed a fish versus being
taught to fish.

So, what's a rich country like us supposed to do - continue to be charitable
as we have?

Or should we be more charitable?  Some would say yes. We should go the limit.
That being when the population of the world is reduced to a common denominator
of misery.

Or should we put some strings on our charity?  Not this simplistic proposal!
No, but something that would really help.  Is such a thing possible?  Are
there real solutions to such problems?  And in finding solutions to them,
might we not find solutions to other problems?

U.S. companies such as IH, Catapillar, etc. are hurting.  They can't sell
their equipment in a depressed world economy.  Farmers in many parts of the
world would benefit from some mechanization.  However, they can't afford what
we're selling, nor will our stuff meet their needs, everything considered.
So, what's the solution?  You tell me.

COUNTER-PROPOSAL
The United States should shift its emphasis from helping others to helping
others help themselves.