Lydia’s Comments (group member since Oct 14, 2010)

Lydia’s comments from the Sustaining Development group.

Yep. The economic history of this book is fascinating. I have even heard Klein speak. I don't understand why more people don't take notice.

This is not a situation specific to Africa. Consider all the nations the U.S. has "put under their wing", such as Haiti, India, etc. This not just about corruption; it is about the U.S. having that paternalistic approach to aid to counties they consider "third world". Look at India -- their growth in the technology industry has changed the U.S. foreign policy towards the country!! All of a sudden, we don't need to hear or worry about this still overcrowded country. People are using technology in huts!! And yet, now we don't care. We don't worry about housing and such because industry has outsourced!

What can we make of this?

I found Dead Aid to be a bit daunting as well. I'm glad you're going to attack it a second time. I must admit, the primary perspective makes a great deal of sense to me.

When slaves were set free, most did not want to be. They were still blocked when it came to self-sufficiency because they had no land, no money, and were separated from their families. They had been sustained on the plantations.

Is this no similar to what aid has been doing to Africa, as well as other nations?

There are interesting fiction books, often from a fantasy/sci fi perspective, which do indeed address the concept of colonization, e.g., Harry Turtledove's Colonization series.

Many of the non-fiction historical colonization books are historical:
The English Colonization of America: How Explorers and Colonists Such As Sir Walter Raleigh, John Smith, and Miles Standish Helped Establish England's ... in the New World

The Ordeal of the Longhouse: The Peoples of the Iroquois League in the Era of European Colonization

Thoughts On African Colonization

Slavery and the Peculiar Solution

These are just some written materials.