There is a common myth that compassion and force can occur simultaneously. I am talking about the misguided concept that forcing American citizens to provide tax dollars toward foreign aid makes America compassionate. In reality, the percentage of GNP that a government commits toward foreign aid is a factor demonstrating how much power the government exerts over its citizens. Conversely, compassion only comes from voluntary action, not from coercion.
Admirably, American citizens donate more of their own money toward foreign aid voluntarily than any other Country in the world; we just choose that the money does not come from tax dollars. For some reason, however, the liberal elites think that the only type of aid that matters is money that a government forces its citizens to give. To them, no matter how much charity citizens contribute, the government should still force its people to give more without their consent.
This liberal lunacy is exemplified by the great humanitarian, Bono. He recently expressed his outrage that the G8 did not contribute more to Africa. Bono clearly is misinformed. First, governments do not contribute money; they steal it from their citizens. After they steal it from their citizens, politicians write their names on the checks so Angelina Jolie and Matt Damon will think they are compassionate. Second, even if the G8 contributed trillions of dollars to Africa it would not do a thing.
In reality, the only real way to help other countries is to invest in them, not throw “Government Aid” at the problem. The problem is that there are too many ignorant people who prevent companies from investing in developing nations. Imagine the outrage that would occur, for example, if Nike, Halliburton, or Exxon invested in the Sudan and provided a private security force to protect its economic interests; Laurie David’s head would explode. We would hear the UN condemning Big Corporations from exploiting Africa. Ironically, through this “exploitation” Africa would finally achieve the prosperity it has been working for, for hundreds of years.
If Big Corporations invested in Africa, they could utilize the cheap labor market to sell inexpensive goods to poor people around the world. Moreover, the small investment in Africa would create an exponential spike in further investment in the war torn Continent. The African people would feel safe at their jobs with the private security force. There would be new wealth generated within each African Nation. The mortality rates would decrease. The people could afford western medicine. Finally, the African Dream could be achieved through this development.
This will never happen, however. At least it is fair to say that it will not happen while the UN controls Africa as a little pet project. Moreover, it will not happen while the environmentalist crazies prevent Africa from building working power plants, and using DDT. The African Dream can only occur from voluntary action by individuals, not from coercive measures by government oppression masked in the blanket of compassion.
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