Sunday, July 19, 2009

Did You Know You Are Helping Sheepherders in Botswana?

That's right. The U.S. just gave a grant to a  organization representing a community of 1500 in the Kalahari Desert. The grant is "designed to help the group’s members raise themselves out of poverty" and to "empower them to become competitive in the wool trade." That's mighty nice of us isn't it? When I saw this story I first thought that it must be some charitable organization at work.  But the charity is us.  The US African Development Foundation is a government agency with an annual budget of over 30 million dollars. I wonder how many people know that some of their tax money is going to help people raise sheep and market wool in Botswana? 

If you object to U.S. tax money going to help Botswanans rather than Americans, look on the bright side. These people probably really need it, might even be grateful, and aren't our enemies. At least it isn't more money going to the Palestinians. If we have to hand out U.S. tax money like candy to foreigners, wouldn't it be great if we could take that entire 900 million in Palestinian aid and distribute it instead to poor African farmers & herders struggling to better their lives? At least it would be put to better use than buying rockets, AK-47s, building tunnels, and teaching children to hate Jews.

1 comment:

  1. Nice to see that someone else has caught on to this, The UK Goverment has the same ideas through the 'Overseas Development' budget and even have Secretary of State to oversee the dispersal of the funds I also agree that I would rathe see the money being used to help people build thier way out of poverty than sustain the Status Quo in Israel/Gaza/West Bank

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