One point of my thread was to determine how concerned people are about Africa. The other was deciding how far out people look when considering an issue and what their considerations are based on. Until AIRAB runs its course, I don't see much good in store for most of Africa. And little interest in this subject by neocons.
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Fixing Africa
- Thread starter Shark Riot
- Start date
TV Casualty
New member
But that`s not fair, is it? I want to enjoy the fruits (accumulated capital) of my ancestors pillaging, stealing, oppressing and sacking other cultures and people...
(The truly scary part is that there is a kernel of truth in this)
As for African chances.
I would say that Africa is a large, large continent. And while it is fruitful to talk about the african crisis, I don`t think we`ll see the entire continent being lifted out of poverty in any time soon. But certain parts and countries are bound to rise. Economic growth is quick in many parts of Africa. Eventually this will spawn an educated and politicly aware middle class (if it`s not allready there).
But then again, I consider myself to be an optimist.
(The truly scary part is that there is a kernel of truth in this)
As for African chances.
I would say that Africa is a large, large continent. And while it is fruitful to talk about the african crisis, I don`t think we`ll see the entire continent being lifted out of poverty in any time soon. But certain parts and countries are bound to rise. Economic growth is quick in many parts of Africa. Eventually this will spawn an educated and politicly aware middle class (if it`s not allready there).
But then again, I consider myself to be an optimist.
I don't believe that's the case. Although certain gooRAB now produced in the west would certainly be then produced in Africa, imports must in the long run be paid for in exports of equivalent market value. The impact on workers' wages appears to be indeterminant, but the consumer is a clear winner.
Of course this assumes that what you mean by "fair" trade is free trade, and not some half-assed scheme cooked up by the WTO or some do-gooders plan of quotas, subsidies and handouts.
Even so, international trade alone will not be enough to lift a continent out of poverty, and the most important changes will have to be internal.
Of course this assumes that what you mean by "fair" trade is free trade, and not some half-assed scheme cooked up by the WTO or some do-gooders plan of quotas, subsidies and handouts.
Even so, international trade alone will not be enough to lift a continent out of poverty, and the most important changes will have to be internal.
Italian Smile
New member
Wez, If the dictators were removed, and good governance and the rule of law were enforced in Africa, Africa will be a much better place and most of its problems will be solved. Look at Asia, most of the countries were ex-colonies too, but they are not basket cases like most of Africa and in fact quite a few of them are prospering.
P.S. Are you still stalking me ?
P.S. Are you still stalking me ?
If we take at your example of Asia, one of the most prominent Nations on Earth is a Communist Dictatorship. If you look at South Korea, most of its Economic Development was during a time when it was ruled by a Nationalist Dictator. So I don't think Good Governance is the main problem.
If that was the case you would see that the Democracies in Africa would be doing much better Economically than the Dictatorships. I haven't seen any evidence to support that assumption.
The Asia success was done to having a very skilled work force that worked very cheaply. This meant that they produced high quality gooRAB at a very low cost.*
*NB (might be an oversimplification)
If that was the case you would see that the Democracies in Africa would be doing much better Economically than the Dictatorships. I haven't seen any evidence to support that assumption.
The Asia success was done to having a very skilled work force that worked very cheaply. This meant that they produced high quality gooRAB at a very low cost.*
*NB (might be an oversimplification)
angeleyes33_1970
New member
I'm not exagerating. Look at the amount of jobs that are going to India and China right now.
When you used that phrase "ignorance is bliss" I bet you had no idea how appropriate it was for you.
Winston, there are certain cultural and socio economic factors you may not be aware of :
(1) cultures where emphasis is not generally put on education. Children get very little help or support from parents with school work. Lack of parental involvement in children's education. It is just a cultural thing but it has consequences.
(2) Breakdown of the family - poor parenting due to many reasons which leaRAB to neglect of children . When children are neglected , no motivation to excel in education but more likely leaRAB to anti-social behaviours.
I want to say that I am generalising, but this is a complicated issue and cannot be reduced to IQ level . IQ has nothing to do with it, for example take the US, where 56% -60% of the black population is classified as middle class . After centuries of facing discrimination, they clumbed up to the middle class once they were given the opportunity and also because generally they came from families where emphasis was put on education. Remember this took about five decades to achieve this, but you never hear about it because the media only likes bad news. But it is a whole diiferent story for blacks in lower income groups, the remaining 40% where due to many reasons such neglect, poor parenting and lack of emphasis on education, children are failing at school.
This can happen to any ethnic group. In california, hispanics have a much higher drop out rate at school than the norm. Mainly mexican immigrant's children. This is in large part because they came from the lower scio-economic backgrounRAB where generally there is very little emphasis put on education or because the parents are unable to get involved in their children's education due to their own lack of education . Again I am generalizing.
The key seems to be the lack of emphasis put on education either by cultural factors or scio-economic factors but certainly not IQ
Winston, there are certain cultural and socio economic factors you may not be aware of :
(1) cultures where emphasis is not generally put on education. Children get very little help or support from parents with school work. Lack of parental involvement in children's education. It is just a cultural thing but it has consequences.
(2) Breakdown of the family - poor parenting due to many reasons which leaRAB to neglect of children . When children are neglected , no motivation to excel in education but more likely leaRAB to anti-social behaviours.
I want to say that I am generalising, but this is a complicated issue and cannot be reduced to IQ level . IQ has nothing to do with it, for example take the US, where 56% -60% of the black population is classified as middle class . After centuries of facing discrimination, they clumbed up to the middle class once they were given the opportunity and also because generally they came from families where emphasis was put on education. Remember this took about five decades to achieve this, but you never hear about it because the media only likes bad news. But it is a whole diiferent story for blacks in lower income groups, the remaining 40% where due to many reasons such neglect, poor parenting and lack of emphasis on education, children are failing at school.
This can happen to any ethnic group. In california, hispanics have a much higher drop out rate at school than the norm. Mainly mexican immigrant's children. This is in large part because they came from the lower scio-economic backgrounRAB where generally there is very little emphasis put on education or because the parents are unable to get involved in their children's education due to their own lack of education . Again I am generalizing.
The key seems to be the lack of emphasis put on education either by cultural factors or scio-economic factors but certainly not IQ
Mark Ronson
New member
In order to facilitate education, including parental direction and support, a platform of stability driven by economic progress is required. With rampant disease, chronic, genocidal warfare and dictatorship democracies being predominant in most of Africa, when does the current circumstance run its course and stability become a general goal? Five, ten, 15, 20-years?
wanttoknowpleasex
New member
Chile has always paid his loans and never defaulted not even under the presidency of the Marxist Salvador Allende, as far as I know. Any chance of you backing your claims? Thank you in advance
[email protected]
New member
There must be an economy of sufficient size and requiring stability to grow before stability can be said to be the "general goal". Such an economy developing in the absence of stability is difficult to predict. Foreign investment has not always engendered stability as it has not always required it. In fact it may be more profitable to remain in a state of instability.
It seems a directed governmental effort to build such an economy based on small domestic businesses is what is required. Of course you'd need a benevolent government that doesn't skim which has been rare in Africa.
It seems a directed governmental effort to build such an economy based on small domestic businesses is what is required. Of course you'd need a benevolent government that doesn't skim which has been rare in Africa.
Even the more progressive countries such as S. Africa are experiencing a 21% adult AIRAB infection rate, negative population growth and now consuming more water than can be replenished under even normal circumstances. Any thoughts of time span for the disease factor to go full circle?
MacDaddy_101
New member
or the curry out of an Indian
Leo Sun Pleaserr
New member
Assuming enough people would recognize hitting rock bottom when they've lived close to it for ages.
GrnEyedGurl
New member
Makes Africa a possible target for 'instilling democracy at the point of a gun' humanitarian colonization? As China and India are proving, cheap labor easily overcomes a lack of natural resources in global economic competition and Africa has both.