Secret Motives in US Help

[Jason]

What are some ways in which the US gives out aid in exchange for economic dominance?

[freehobo]

Is this for an assignment question?

If you google the term "structural adjustment" you will get a good idea of how it's done. They give out aid in return for political changes in the country they are giving the AID to. Often it's done under the rubric of human rights and democracy, but the skeptical can conclude that America is just trying seduce the third world into implementing capitalism.

I think there is some truth to it. But it's also interesting to note how critics of America cannot possibly be pleased. If the US does bad things, they're doing bad things, and if they do good things, they're also doing bad things.

[Jason]

Is this for an assignment question?

If you google the term "structural adjustment" you will get a good idea of how it's done. They give out aid in return for political changes in the country they are giving the AID to. Often it's done under the rubric of human rights and democracy, but the skeptical can conclude that America is just trying seduce the third world into implementing capitalism.

I think there is some truth to it. But it's also interesting to note how critics of America cannot possibly be pleased. If the US does bad things, they're doing bad things, and if they do good things, they're also doing bad things.

The problem is the "Monroe Doctrine". The nations want real independence from the US. However, the notion of independence is tied in with economics. So if the US dominates Latin America economically, then there is no real independence. The only way to get Latin Americans to favor US interests would be to raise them all economically. But it can't be done under capitalism, because capitalism doesn't work. :)

The main point of deals with the US is to "keep the peasants tied to the land". It's very similar to deals that might have been cut by some Russian czar. "We can cut some deals as long as the existing order isn't changed".

[Zealot]

They often demand political and economic changes in exchange for the aid. It could be as simple as voting with them at the UN on the next issue or trying to force change through front organisations. For example, USAID in Cuba and elsewhere operates as a front organisation for the CIA to spread propaganda and financially support anti-communist groups.

[Jason]

They often demand political and economic changes in exchange for the aid. It could be as simple as voting with them at the UN on the next issue or trying to force change through front organisations. For example, USAID in Cuba and elsewhere operates as a front organisation for the CIA to spread propaganda and financially support anti-communist groups.


Right, and freehobo cannot see how this conflicts with democracy. It's enough to outweigh any positive things the US does in other nations.

[skitty]

What are some ways in which the US gives out aid in exchange for economic dominance?
The "aid" is often loans, in amounts that the borrower can't pay back, for weapons or infrastructure projects; and the money goes directly to corporations like Halliburton. So the corporations, who control the govt, are well-fed; and the "borrower" countries are under their thumb.:(

[freehobo]

Right, and freehobo cannot see how this conflicts with democracy.

Huh? I don't know you drew that conclusion - I know for a fact that aid / structural adjustment does more harm than good. Most of the aid given to Africa has just strengthened corruption and retarded any possibility of creating quality governments. Latin American countries needs to develop economies and social systems organically without any form of medelling. The biggest problem is their drug cartels. We could do them a huge favor by legalizing drugs and nullifying that black market. The cartels are more powerful than the governments ffs. No economic system can work with the craziness that's going on down there. War on drugs == war on progress in south America ( and north Asia and Russia too ).

[Jason]

Huh? I don't know you drew that conclusion - I know for a fact that aid / structural adjustment does more harm than good. Most of the aid given to Africa has just strengthened corruption and retarded any possibility of creating quality governments. Latin American countries needs to develop economies and social systems organically without any form of medelling. The biggest problem is their drug cartels. We could do them a huge favor by legalizing drugs and nullifying that black market. The cartels are more powerful than the governments ffs. No economic system can work with the craziness that's going on down there. War on drugs == war on progress in south America ( and north Asia and Russia too ).

We could legalize hard core drugs (cocaine, meth, heroin), or we could create a revolutionary society which actually has major reductions in drug use.

In addition, we can't really be sure if some "prison industrial complex" goes on in the US. In that case, the US doesn't want to end drugs, just like it didn't want to end Vietnam (either in victory or defeat). Anyhow, again we see the US causing hardship in Latin America via drugs.

[freehobo]

We could legalize hard core drugs (cocaine, meth, heroin), or we could create a revolutionary society which actually has major reductions in drug use.



Hahahaha. Lordy. I have a lot more faith in the legalizing drugs solution than I do of producing this utopian society where there will be no demand for drugs. One is a practical solution, the other is a nasty daydream.

[Jason]

Hahahaha. Lordy. I have a lot more faith in the legalizing drugs solution than I do of producing this utopian society where there will be no demand for drugs. One is a practical solution, the other is a nasty daydream.

It boils down to the people. The people will get what they want (good or bad): free will. :)