Quote:
Originally Posted by rei  americans really jump at the chance to help out when there is some kind of disaster. we often jump at the chance to help anyway (without disaster, and uninvited), but that stems from an arrogance that other parts of the world find distasteful. |
I disagree. The problem is not international aid. I do not see it as arrogance at all, unless it is expressed as military intervention against the will of people.
The problem is:
-Aid comes as supplies or money, not as investment to create jobs, so worsened poverty remains worse.
-Supplies are usually stolen by politicians, so many victims rarely see any help.
Of course, this is not a problem of Americans, but a problem of corruption in such countries.
I recall a hurricane which hit eastern coast of Nicaragua. International aid came as supplies and they went straight to the supermarket of the 9 Sandinista commanders, with a price tag. Victims saw no help at all.
And they called themselves "socialists".