Aid to Africa Debate: John McArthur (5 of 14)

The motion: "Aid to Africa is doing more harm than good"

Moderator: Brian Lehrer
Speaking for the motion: George Ayittey, William Easterly and David Rieff
Speaking against the motion: C. Payne Lucas, John McArthur and Gayle Smith

IQ2US marks the launch of Oxford-style debating -- one motion, one moderator, three advocates for the motion, three against -- in New York City. Each evening begins at 6:00P with a complimentary cocktail period. As you enter the theater before the debate starts at 6:45P, you cast your vote for or against the evening's motion. Those results are displayed midway through the debate as each side makes its statements. After all six panelists speak, the audience has a chance to ask the speakers questions and vote again. The debate finishes with brief summations from the panelists, the votes are tallied and a winning side is declared.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• intelligence
• squared
• u.s.
• iq2
• debate
• africa
• foreign
• aid
• development
• corruption
• poverty

[TorBarstad]

@oakmeal53 We probably wont end up agreeng, but here is my answer ;)

My great grandparents did actually recieve aid through the marshall plan (I'm from Norway). That's not relevant though. Sure, Africa eventually get out of poverty also with no aid. But with the right types of aid they can get get out of povery faster.

Life isn't fair, but that's not an argument for not taking the needs of others into account. "Thats just how it is" doesn't mean that it should be - or that we should accept it.

[agawefda425]

Interesting that he asks why all the Asian countries are doing better than African countries with better governance. Isn't a perfectly fitting conclusion that it's because the Asian countries don't take aid money?

[randomdude5640]

Africa's wealthy in natural resources. We don't want them to develop. Same goes for South America.

[oakmeal53]

Your right we likely well never agree! Would you argue that Aid is NOT hurting Africa? They are the cradle of civilization if they have not figured things out by now will they ever, especially with BILLIONS in aid? Use "feeding the stray cat" example. Yea you can feed it and feel good about yourself, but it will come to rely on you and become worthless. It is a little idealistic to want to change things that have always been and will always be, you might as well devote your life to world peace.

[oakmeal53]

@TorBarstad True. But life is not fair, thats just how it is. No-one gave our great-grandparents aid or a handout. And they made this country the greatest that has ever been.

[TorBarstad]

@oakmeal53 Because nobody chooses where they are born.

[oakmeal53]

what results is this monkey talking about? africa is a cess-pool, end of argument.

why does a bad government not squander aid again?

oh an 600 Billion dollars is "all the money" that is being wasted? good thing thats only pocket change....

and even with any achievments accomplished, why is it our concern again what happens in africa?

[OTVF]

No.