oh wow, this is just horrific...

[KukriKhan]

On the contrary, the White Man's Burden was a well established mission of the "enlightened" Empires. Siphoning off resources was considered "commission".



Given Bill Gates' record in operating systems, I'd say Somalia already suffers enough from random crashes.

Nevertheless, I agree with the Major: give them thar layabouts real jobs, doing real work, making real product, earning real money, realizing real dignity, then voting in a real government that will help that cause, not hamper it.

Then, all they'll have to deal with are the few remaining crazies in their midst.

The question is: do it for them (to speed it up)? Or wait 'til they do it for themselves?

HSBC, General Electric, Toyota, Microsoft, AT&T, WalMart, Ford. Those seven companies alone could change the face of Africa in 5 years or less, and put it on-par with at least India & China.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Really? Ford?

[KukriKhan]

Really? Ford?

Just an example, but sure; why not? Make an African Model T, that the workers who build/assemble them could afford to buy and maintain, as well as export.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Well, I'd pick a car company that wasn't on the ropes.

Of course, I don't think an alliance of corporations would do any more for Africa than the current governments or even a shiny US-led invasion. I don't think any would help (or at least not in a way that avoided over-sterilization).

[Banquo's Ghost]

Nevertheless, I agree with the Major: give them thar layabouts real jobs, doing real work, making real product, earning real money, realizing real dignity, then voting in a real government that will help that cause, not hamper it.

Then, all they'll have to deal with are the few remaining crazies in their midst.

The question is: do it for them (to speed it up)? Or wait 'til they do it for themselves?

HSBC, General Electric, Toyota, Microsoft, AT&T, WalMart, Ford. Those seven companies alone could change the face of Africa in 5 years or less, and put it on-par with at least India & China.

Your suggestion requires a number of caveats to progress from the situation already pertaining (ie multinationals already exist throughout the continent where it suits them).

First, these companies would have to agree not to repatriate the profits to their homelands/tax havens.

Second, you'd have to lift the extensive trade barriers that already prevent African produce from finding US and European markets.

Third, you'd have to find some way of placating the existing layabouts in the home countries from their usual protestation that "their" jobs are being extinguished in favour of Africans.

Fourthly, real government actually comes first, and that government must be largely corruption free. Business can't survive without a reasonably stable legal framework, whatever the total free-marketers think. Unless of course, corporations pay the local warlords/power brokers "protection insurance" - which is exactly how it operates now, and why much of the continent is in tatters and excludes the "layabouts" so effectively.

(There are many other factors at work, such as rampant tribalism, devastating health impacts and grinding poverty exacerbated by desperation agriculture, non-existent infrastructure, overwhelming illiteracy levels and so on, but I'm sure you took that into account in your proposal )

[KukriKhan]

I must admit: though similar plans worked well in Germany and Japan, both required fighting and winning wars first before such "American Way" improvements could be made.

Maybe we can trick Zimbabwe into declaring war on the US?

And I wouldn't want my Army to have to stay there 30-40 years to make it work.

It's just that the current "way" hasn't worked yet, and shows little prospect of doing so in the foreseeable future. I'm just brainstorming other "ways" out of the morass, and the murders, and the mayhem.

Venture Capitalism seems an option, in both the Middle East and Africa. I'm sure there are even better ideas.

[Major Robert Dump]

I, like the pope, blame condoms in Africa on their problems. If people would practice abstinence there would not be so much rape!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...cle5923927.ece