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Path: utzoo!linus!wivax!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!cires!nbires!ut-ngp!werner
From: werner@ut-ngp.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.misc
Subject: RFC: Software as Foreign Aid ?
Message-ID: <353@ut-ngp.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 19-Jun-83 08:00:21 EDT
Article-I.D.: ut-ngp.353
Posted: Sun Jun 19 08:00:21 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 20-Jun-83 09:29:26 EDT
Lines: 36

Being a member of the fortunate few hundred millions of this planet,
whose life of plenty, somehow (I am quite certain) is made possible by the
less fortunate few billions, I catch my mind wandering off trying to come up
with ideas to lessen the thoughts of uneasy guilt which interrupt my hard work
or play.  What follows is an oldie-but-goodie idea, about which I can't make
up my mind; are there more arguments for than against?  So here it is, your
critical thoughts are invited:

	SOFTWARE  AS  FOREIGN  AID

The main problem of giving something to someone else is that I am left with
less than before, and where do I draw the line to giving?

Does this describe the reason, why there is no more AID to others, foreign
and otherwise?   So what could be better than giving something without being
left with less than before?  Yes, I put software in that category.  Putting
aside the argument of "lost profits" of a potential sale, giving software
sounds like a sure-fire thing.  The question is, of course, would/could it
be useful?
  Yes, of course, some hardware must come with it, and some training, ah yes,
and maintenance of hard/software, the most(?) important part for prolonged
usefulness of such a package.

Now, assuming that every banana republic (I do LIKE bananas and the people
and countries growing them) is already getting hardware for "defensive"
and other progress-inspiring purposes, I take the liberty to ignore all but
the software aspect.  Can we help generate some progress to make people
happier, healthier, better fed, clothed, housed, and educated by giving them
software?

I keep my thoughts of pros and cons to myself (for the moment) to keep this
message short and to give you a wide-open space for ideas.

Also, let your comments guide the discussion to home either in net.misc
or net.politics or net.followup  -- personally, I have no preference and
try to follow all three.