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S A T U R D A Y , J U N E 1 1 , 2 0 0 5Debt Relief For Africa: $40 Billion AndCountingby Michael in New York on
6/11/2005 11:30:00 AMThe Group of 8 major industrialized countries have agreed tocancel debt for 18 of the world's poorest countries -- at a totalof $40 billion -- with more than 20 other countries likelyeligible if they can beat down corruption and prove the moneywon't be wasted. The more governments involved, the harder itwill be for the US to weasel out or change the rules midstreamas it did with the flase promise to fight AIDS with $15 billion inmoney. (Actually, what Bush did there was HURT the fightagainst AIDS by defunding groups that were already in placeand making progress, politicize the money being sent, simplydrag its feet on sending money, etc.) Now we have to makesure Bush keeps his word.Some major points:The money won't be wasted -- Any time you try to feedstarving children in Africa, Bush and the far right insist themoney will be wasted by corrupt governments and militarydictatorships. (They never make this argument when sendingaid to the corrupt government of Saudi Arabia or the militarydictatorship of Pakistan, of course.) Now Bush hasacknowledged that there are dozens of countries that meet HISstandards for responsible governance. Plus, there are manyforms of aid (like funding vaccination programs) that can beadministered by international groups rather than localgovernments.Bush wasn't able to play games -- This is real debt relief,though Bush's empty proposal was initially to take moneyalready targeted for aid and simply divert it to debt relief. (Inother words, if you were sending $1 billion in aid, instead offeeding the hungry, you'd pay off debt and leave thegovernment to catch the shortfall, making it a zero sum game.)Bush will be WASTING OUR MONEY if he doesn't followthrough on the rest of Blair's plan -- This is an importantdeal, but it will be an empty gesture if we don't tackle Africa onevery level by doubling aid and lowering trade barriers. If youpay off someone's credit card but refuse to let them get a job,they'll just sink right back into crippling debt.
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6/11/2005 11:30:00 AMThe Group of 8 major industrialized countries have agreed tocancel debt for 18 of the world's poorest countries -- at a totalof $40 billion -- with more than 20 other countries likelyeligible if they can beat down corruption and prove the moneywon't be wasted. The more governments involved, the harder itwill be for the US to weasel out or change the rules midstreamas it did with the flase promise to fight AIDS with $15 billion inmoney. (Actually, what Bush did there was HURT the fightagainst AIDS by defunding groups that were already in placeand making progress, politicize the money being sent, simplydrag its feet on sending money, etc.) Now we have to makesure Bush keeps his word.Some major points:The money won't be wasted -- Any time you try to feedstarving children in Africa, Bush and the far right insist themoney will be wasted by corrupt governments and militarydictatorships. (They never make this argument when sendingaid to the corrupt government of Saudi Arabia or the militarydictatorship of Pakistan, of course.) Now Bush hasacknowledged that there are dozens of countries that meet HISstandards for responsible governance. Plus, there are manyforms of aid (like funding vaccination programs) that can beadministered by international groups rather than localgovernments.Bush wasn't able to play games -- This is real debt relief,though Bush's empty proposal was initially to take moneyalready targeted for aid and simply divert it to debt relief. (Inother words, if you were sending $1 billion in aid, instead offeeding the hungry, you'd pay off debt and leave thegovernment to catch the shortfall, making it a zero sum game.)Bush will be WASTING OUR MONEY if he doesn't followthrough on the rest of Blair's plan -- This is an importantdeal, but it will be an empty gesture if we don't tackle Africa onevery level by doubling aid and lowering trade barriers. If youpay off someone's credit card but refuse to let them get a job,they'll just sink right back into crippling debt.
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Daily KosOpen Thread and Diary Rescue - *Today, srkp23(pulling a double shift), ybruti, taylormattd,ItsJessMe and vcmvo2 combed through hundredsof diaries to find this powerful list. Today's...7 minutes ago
EschatonOvernight - Folk On. Newish.24 minutes ago
HuffPost PoliticsMichael Likosky: Ed Rendell: Hardest Working Manin Infrastructure - At this year's National GovernorsAssociation (NGA) meeting, Governor Ed Rendell'stenure as Chair fittingly came to a close with aplenary session on infras...26 minutes ago
Crooks and LiarsOpen Thread - Open Thread below...53 minutes ago
FiredoglakeLate Night: Livin’ the Dolce Vita with TheLovernator - Who's got time to govern? Certainlynot Mark Sanford.1 hour agoJ O H N ' S P H OT O S
Show AllA M E R I C A B L O G T VNo More Credit Card DebtFind Out In 60 Seconds If You CanEliminate 70% Of Your Debt w/o aBKDebtRelief.us.comPay Off Credit Card DebtFind Out In 60 Seconds If You CanEliminate 70% Of Your Debt w/o aBKwww.TotalDebtRelief.netGet Debt Relief NowSave up to 50% off Debt. Be DebtFree In 12 - 36 Months!FreedomDebtHelp.com/DebtChristian Economic ReportHow To Escape Debt Bondage FreeReports & Member Forumwww.ChristianEconomicReport.com
Next 6AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Debt R...http://www.americablog.com/2005/06/debt-relief-for-africa-40-b...
1 of 57/23/09 12:31 AM
Visit ourAMERICAblog TV site.see all 322 videos >I collect with
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For the GOPers, healthcare is politics. They just
Traditional media has todebunk the birthers
One small step...
The right-wing media, thevoices of the GOP, in
REM - Orange CrushAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Debt R...http://www.americablog.com/2005/06/debt-relief-for-africa-40-b...
2 of 57/23/09 12:31 AM
The TreatmentObama Has a Grown-UpTalk With America(Gulp)36 minutes agoEzra KleinTab Dump4 hours agoWonk RoomSen. Byron Dorgan:The ‘Trade’ InCap-And-Trade ‘MakesNo Sense To Me’6 hours agoHealth BeatTruth Squad: WallStreet Journal HealthCare Editorial Wrong onthe Facts . . .7 hours agoDaily DoseProviders Endorse 'Payfor Value' ProposalsG AY P O L I T I C S
Visit our new gay politicssection, AMERICAblog Gay.F E E D S
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Subscribe me!Debt SettlementWarningAvoid Scams - 14 MustAsk Qs For All DebtSettlement Companies.NewEraDebtSolutions.comDebt Relief GuaranteedCut Your Payments & Getout of Debt Save 40-70%1-866-760-8019www.tffusa.comBusiness DebtEliminationRestructure yourbusiness debt intoaffordable monthlypayments.www.CompanyRecovery.comOnline DebtConsolidationDebt ConsolidationOnline · See YourSavings in 10 Minuteswww.CareOneCredit.comEliminate Your DebtStart Now! GetPre-Qualified today.www.clearchoicefs.com
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Blog ArchiveS I T E S W E L I K EAir America RadioAlan Colmes' blogAri Melber (The Nation)Ben SmithBicycleMark's blog &podcastBilericoBradBlogBring It OnCarrie FisherCrooks and LiarsDailyKosDan Savage's "Slog"Daou ReportDemocratic UndergroundEschatonEzra KleinFire Dog LakeFiveThirtyEight.comFreeway BloggerThe Gavel (SpeakerPelosi's blog)Good As YouGlenn GreenwaldHoly Bullies and HeadlessMonstersHuffington PostHullabaloo (Digby)Jack and Jill PoliticsJed ReportJesus' GeneralKenneth in the 212Margaret and HelenMatthew GrossMedia MattersMike Signorile's "The Gist"MudflatsMyDDOpen LeftPlum LinePolitical Punch (JakeTapper)Political WirePolitics 1Pop SurfingProgressive Blog DigestQueers UnitedRawStoryRex WocknerRude PunditSmirking ChimpTalk LeftTappedTaylor MarshThink ProgressTowleRoadVetVoice.comWashington NoteWayneBesen.comWonketteWorth Repeating
N E W S L I N K SUSWashington PostNYTAP PoliticsReuters PoliticsRasmussen PollsTimeNewsweekRoll CallThe HillABCNews
P L E A S E S U P P O RTA M E R I C A B L O GOne-time donation$
Recurring monthlydonation$
Donations are nottax-deductible.L A B E L S
Select a labelL A S T 1 0 0 V I S I T O R SRecent Visitors
A B O U TA M E R I C A B L O GWhy AMERICAblog?Because a great nationdeserves the truth.What issues do youcover?US politics overall with aparticular focus on theObama Administration, theradical right, and civilrights.Who are you?John AravosisEditorWashington, DCJoe SudbayDeputy EditorWashington, DCChris RyanAssociate EditorParis, FranceRobert ArenaContributing EditorBaltimore, MarylandJacki SchechnerContributing EditorWashington, DCAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Debt R...http://www.americablog.com/2005/06/debt-relief-for-africa-40-b...
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© 2009 - John Aravosis | Design maintenance by Jason RosenbaumSend me your tips: americablog@starpower.netAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Debt R...http://www.americablog.com/2005/06/debt-relief-for-africa-40-b...
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