Clip 2: Africa is to development as Mars is to NASA (Templeton Foundation)

[godanddevilareone]

Dambisa Moyo is one of the few voices of common sense on the issue of African development. Go Dambisa!!

[thelex001]

What's not to like here? "Fund entrepreneurs and not (kleptocratic, dysfunctional) governments?" For the intrepid investor or entrepreneur, a fortune awaits in Africa, a market in which 900 million people need to eat, have potable water, be educated, enjoy reasonable diversions, and on and on. Good - or at least minimally effective - government can clear away the obstacles to a reasonable economic environment and turn loose the entrepreneurial spirit of African women and men.

[tigerone1970]

Question: what happens to presidents who do not just act as placeholders?

Do they get villified like the leftwing leaders in South America and have the CIA try to kill them?

Or do they just get killed like Patrice Lumumba, Laurent Kabila, Kwame Nkrumah, etc?

[sguardian870]

african presidents are glorified beggars

[tigerone1970]

African presidents are just part of a system that is extremely hierarchical, and rewards loyalty over competence. Whether it is loyalty to their own party, or loyalty to the west.

They are placeholders for western interests. That's the problem.