Korean Job Discussion Forums

[thepeel]

So, you two know eachother?

[JMO]

[caniff]

Naw, we just had it out on a couple of other threads. From my perspective, arguing with him is like shooting fish in a barrel. He doesn't really seem like a bad guy, though.

Sorry to take the thread off topic. We were talking about Bono's sunglasses, right?

[butlerian]

[thepeel]

That is fine. You like people to look like they give a damn. That isn't a problem in any way.

What can be a problem is when misguided entertainers use their fame to push bad policy. And this is what Bono often does. When this happens, the fact that they care so much results in very real consequences.

I would rather the Bono's of the world sing and the William Easterly's of the world work in development policy. That is what each does best.

Or, would you buy a rock cd from a development economist simply because he is famous?

[butlerian]

[caniff]

I've heard figures of around 10% reaching the targeted recipients, and 90% feeding the 'charitable' organization.

[thepeel]

In Africa, the charities are referred to by the locals as the "new colonisers". They are run by people, almost always, who are hostile to markets, private property and real development. For them, a school is more important than a factory, because they like the idea of building a school (educating people for the sake of education) more than they like the idea of building a port/road/industrial infrastructure that would give the people are reason to study something other than subsistence farming. In short, they are idealists who essentialise the poor, noble African and like the idea of them staying that way (poverty as a looking glass to humanity before the "fall"). These types of people have no business doing anything other than esl in Korea.

Development is an industry like any other.

[butlerian]

[riverboy]

BJWD, You are making me feel guilty for sponsoring a child. I agree 100 percent that charity is not the sloution to the whole problem, but at the same time, I know that I may be helping one child achieve a better life. Kind of putting your finger in the damn. I'm not Bono, or a major corporate entity. Just one guy.

[thepeel]

[thepeel]

[butlerian]

[quote="BJWD"]

[thepeel]

I would say that giving Africa fully free access to our markets while letting them protect theirs would be a much better situation than the present situation which has them on a sort of multinational welfare. The international dole, as it were.

Give a man a fish...teach a man to fish...

[caniff]

So what have we learned? Is Bono truly a douchebag, or is he being improperly 'pap'-smeared as the douchebag that he isn't, and never was?