Friday, May 16, 2008

The United States Government Should Not Aid Myanmar (Laurence Vance)

Laurence Vance says that the choice to provide foreign aid should be left in the hands of individuals, not the state:

The destruction and suffering in Myanmar from the recent killer cyclone is incalculable. The death toll, which is rising by the thousands daily, has now been predicted to top 100,000 people. President Bush, after initially authorizing $250,000 in US aid, has now pledged an additional $3 million to help the people of Myanmar. The real question, however, is not how much aid the United States should give to Myanmar, but whether the United States should give aid to Myanmar in the first place.

The recent earthquake in China brings up the same question.

The answer to the question depends on what is meant by the United States. If the United States refers to the government of the United States then the answer is no. If the United States refers to the people of the United States then the answer is perhaps.

Read the rest

No comments: