The Daily Demarche
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Live 8
By now I am sure that everyone has heard of Live 8- the concert series being staged around the world on July 2 in order to convince the leaders of the G8 countries to "erase poverty." As the Live 8 website puts it:

8 world leaders, gathered in Scotland for the G8 summit, will be presented with a workable plan to double aid, drop the debt and make the trade laws fair. If these 8 men agree, then we will become the generation that made poverty history.

But they'll only do it if enough people tell them to.

That's why we're staging Live 8. 10 concerts, 100 artists, a million spectators, 2 billion viewers, and 1 message... To get those 8 men, in that 1 room, to stop 30,000 children dying every single day of extreme poverty.

We don't want your money - we want you!

The contradiction that is the first clause of the last sentence in that quote sums up the entire liberal, socialist ideal. We don't want your money- we want your government's money. The idea that governments, at least in democratic societies, have no money of their own is completely foreign to this mind set. The idea that financial aid is merely a panacea, that having the rich throw money at the poor solves nothing is practically sedition to these folks. There is no talk of economic reform, of establishing a system under which these nations can become self sustaining, there is only this:

"By doubling aid, fully canceling debt, and delivering trade justice for Africa, the G8 could change the future for millions of men, women and children."

Trade justice sounds like a good thing- until you stop to ask what, exactly, are these countries going to trade? Education systems are in shambles, infectious diseases run rampant and manufacturing or agriculture sufficient to trade are almost non-existent. Men like Mugabe remain in power and starve their nation as the left screams shrilly at the U.S. for having the temerity to send genetically modified corn as food aid. But I am certain that Paul McCartney dressed as a member of Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club will convince the Mugabes of the world to put an end to their evil ways.

I am not opposed to the idea of the concerts- I might even watch some of them on TV if I can catch the right acts. It is simply the temerity of the folks involved that peeves. How much money are the cities that host these concerts having to spend in order to create a safe environment? Police overtime, sanitation, construction of the stages, etc. Who is paying for all of this? We don't want your money. Double the amount of aid given? We don't want your money. Well, why not? Why don't you just come right out and say you want my money? Why are the tickets free? People pay $75 dollars and up to see a top performer- and these concerts include some stellar names. 2 billion viewers- where is the pledge drive? Maybe I am just cynical, but I am not impressed by this event.

Poverty, hunger, lack of economic opportunity and the associated societal ills that stem from them are all real issues. We have addressed on this site before, several times, why simply providing monetary aid is not the answer. The left simply refuses to hear the truth. Oh, well. Enough ranting and raving for today. Thanks for reading!
|

<< Home


dé·marche 1) A course of action; a maneuver. 2) A diplomatic representation or protest 3) A statement or protest addressed by citizens to public authorities.

Name:

Proud to be counted among the members of the State Department Republican Underground, we are Foreign Service Officers and Specialists (and a few expats) who tend to be conservative. We believe that America is being misrepresented abroad by our mass media, and that the same mass media is in turn failing to report what the world thinks about us, and why. This site is dedicated to combing the news around the world, providing the stories and giving our interpretation, or "spin" if you prefer. Send me a good news story: dr.demarche AT gmail.com

A blog by members of the State Department Republican Underground- conservative Foreign Service Officers serving overseas commenting on foreign policy and global reactions to America.
Send us mail: Dr.Demarche (or) Smiley.George AT gmail.com

Recent Posts

Live 8

Blogroll


Non-Blog Links

10 Myths About Islam
American Future Resources
FaithFreedom.Org
Ask Imam
MEMRI
Secularizing Islam
Women's Forum Against Fundamentalism in Iran

Archives
November 2004 / December 2004 / January 2005 / February 2005 / March 2005 / April 2005 / May 2005 / June 2005 / July 2005 / August 2005 / September 2005 / October 2005 / November 2005 / April 2008 /

Link to us:

Blogroll Me!
Listed on Blogwise Weblog Commenting and Trackback by HaloScan.com Powered by Blogger

Under Politics