The Opposite of Iraq

[Boojatta]

Instead of choosing to have an adventure in Iraq, shouldn't the Bush administration have started a program of focused peaceful assistance for a small number of countries where significant improvements in the near future are feasible?

There are many places where the cost of living is low. If conditions in those countries were appropriate, then increasing numbers of retired Americans might choose to emigrated to some of those countries. Economic theory suggests that people in those countries would tend to have more employment opportunities as a result. Retired people spend, but don't compete much in labor markets.

For example, some governments could be persuaded to actually accept all parts of international law rather than merely paying lip service to some aspects of (or to the general idea of) international law. For example, they could refrain from persecuting their own citizens based on the religious, political, or philosophical beliefs of those citizens.

Corruption in their government agencies could be reduced. Also, law enforcement, health care systems, and immigration law in those countries could be modified and improved.

Should we believe propaganda from the 1960s and 1970s that suggested that the whole world outside of the United States is starving simply because of a scarcity of tools, land, and other resources or because the total world population is too high?

Aren't rule of law and employment opportunities a more important part of the solution to world poverty than increasing America's federal debt to finance cash aid to corrupt governments?

[Metta]

1. Hello! Eliminating the causes of sufferring will go a long way to winning us friends.

And defusing tension and violence. The point is * doesn't care. Everything he does is a smokescreen to get more of our money for his friends. If someone suffers or dies, that's the price of doing business. I'm surprised more people don't get it.

[madokie]

3. I agree, the secret to winning their hearts and minds is through their stomachs

and helping them to carry the heavy load they have to bear and by not adding to their burden will aid in winning their friendship and loyalty.

[Metta]

4. Reallly. Then they'd be more friendly and you don't war on your friends.

Seems like a no brainer. Where * goes wrong is that he'll do anything to get more of our money for his friends. Any fall out is just the cause of doing business.

[dollie300]

2. There are people in this world you dislike anyone who tries to be kind, reasonable, fair etc.

Please don't try to be or do good or truthful. These people will hate you and try to undermine you in anyway. Yes, there is such a thing as "evil" and the people currently in charge of our government are the henchmen and women of that "evil." Make no mistake about it.