Bono: Friend of Poverty, not the Poor
Charles Johnson
Last Updated: 5/1/08 Section: News
(If anything, aid aids dictators. The money, otherwise spent on social services, usually goes to protect instable regimes via militarism. In turn, the military's growth allows the possibility of coups, which further isolate the people from their government and encourage war.)
Skikwati's sentiments echo those of NYU professor William Easterly, author of The White Man's Burden. Easterly, an economist dedicated to examining poverty, wonders to what effect our aid has gone. Out of the 2.3 trillion dollars we've invested in foreign aid to Africa, we've still achieved pitiful results: a zero growth rate and a rising infant mortality rate, for instance. What makes us any more certain that more money is the answer?
The arguments against Bono continue, but perhaps the most damning is one written by Paul Theroux, a writer famous for his books about Africa and former Peace Corps worker in Malawi. He writes in the appropriately titled, The Rock Star's Burden, about Bono's master plan:
"When Malawi's minister of education was accused of stealing millions of dollars from the education budget in 2000, and the Zambian president was charged with stealing from the treasury, and Nigeria squandered its oil wealth, what happened? The simplifiers of Africa's problems kept calling for debt relief and more aid. …Donors enable embezzlement by turning a blind eye to bad governance, rigged elections and the deeper reasons these countries are failing."
In a December 14, 2005 New York Times op-ed, Theroux writes,
"Africa has no real shortage of capable people - or even of money. The patronizing attention of donors has done violence to Africa's belief in itself, but even in the absence of responsible leadership, Africans themselves have proven how resilient they can be - something they never get credit for. Again, Ireland may be the model for an answer. After centuries of wishing themselves onto other countries, the Irish found that education, rational government, people staying put, and simple diligence could turn Ireland from an economic basket case into a prosperous nation. In a word - are you listening, Mr. Hewson? - the Irish have proved that there is something to be said for staying home."
Skikwati's sentiments echo those of NYU professor William Easterly, author of The White Man's Burden. Easterly, an economist dedicated to examining poverty, wonders to what effect our aid has gone. Out of the 2.3 trillion dollars we've invested in foreign aid to Africa, we've still achieved pitiful results: a zero growth rate and a rising infant mortality rate, for instance. What makes us any more certain that more money is the answer?
The arguments against Bono continue, but perhaps the most damning is one written by Paul Theroux, a writer famous for his books about Africa and former Peace Corps worker in Malawi. He writes in the appropriately titled, The Rock Star's Burden, about Bono's master plan:
"When Malawi's minister of education was accused of stealing millions of dollars from the education budget in 2000, and the Zambian president was charged with stealing from the treasury, and Nigeria squandered its oil wealth, what happened? The simplifiers of Africa's problems kept calling for debt relief and more aid. …Donors enable embezzlement by turning a blind eye to bad governance, rigged elections and the deeper reasons these countries are failing."
In a December 14, 2005 New York Times op-ed, Theroux writes,
"Africa has no real shortage of capable people - or even of money. The patronizing attention of donors has done violence to Africa's belief in itself, but even in the absence of responsible leadership, Africans themselves have proven how resilient they can be - something they never get credit for. Again, Ireland may be the model for an answer. After centuries of wishing themselves onto other countries, the Irish found that education, rational government, people staying put, and simple diligence could turn Ireland from an economic basket case into a prosperous nation. In a word - are you listening, Mr. Hewson? - the Irish have proved that there is something to be said for staying home."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 12
chromeplatedmachine
allan pearson
posted 11/07/07 @ 12:30 AM PST
biased, venomous, and absolutely terrible
this writer ought to be banned if the newsmag wants to retain its integrity
Aditya Bindal
posted 11/08/07 @ 8:19 AM PST
Well, I wonder who is biased: the author who presents a logical and clear flow of arguments based on solid evidence, or the post which shouts out without any backing, purely acting on emotional basis (like our Irish friend, perhaps?)
Also, keep in mind that the author has not touched upon several other criticisms of Bono. (Continued…)
Charles Johnson
posted 11/08/07 @ 1:21 PM PST
Typical. Ban a writer? Shame on you, Mr. Pearson. Shame on you. Address the substance, if you can.
Simon Ruf
posted 12/02/07 @ 7:40 AM PST
This article is horribly bad researched. While you state that "Ireland [is] one of the poorest developed nations in the world" quite the opposite is true. (Continued…)
Charles Johnson
posted 12/06/07 @ 4:46 PM PST
Thank you, Mr. Ruf. You are quite right. After years of flawed, Socialist taxation policies, Ireland has made the right decision and moved towards fair and flat taxation. (Continued…)
Muhammad
posted 2/14/08 @ 9:03 PM PST
Why cannot someone, like Bono, choose to exercise his efforts however he sees fit. You argue that the Red Campaign has brought in less money than Bono spent developing it, but maybe the campaign is about more than money. (Continued…)
Debt relief
posted 4/15/08 @ 12:54 PM PST
Well he is a great man and he also has reasons to be considered that way. I appreciate all the efforts, there are many people who should learn for him. (Continued…)
jake Richardson
posted 5/12/08 @ 2:56 PM PST
While I agree wholeheartedly that the plans Bono makes may not be quite as economically sound as we at CMC may wish, why on earth would you criticize a man who steps out of the mold of self involved rock frontman to become, at worst, a self involved large scale philanthropist? I sat next to you all semester in Economics while you spoke with your holier-than-thou tone about what you knew to be economic truth. (Continued…)
Charles Johnson
posted 5/13/08 @ 8:49 PM PST
Mr. Richardson,
I think the person you wanted to send this is Charles Sprague. I am that inhuman "red head" who he debated.
I wonder if you actually read the article as I never made some of the points you are making. (Continued…)
Storm
posted 5/26/08 @ 8:05 AM PST
Maybe his plans aren't the most concrete, but he's able to raise awareness - he's motivated a bunch of high-schoolers (me included) to take a look at ourselves and how we spend our money - and I for one, think that's a good thing. (Continued…)
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