TVSquad

Live8 itself has seriously ticked me off.
How's this: instead of Joe Taxpayer being the one that takes the bite in the ass for African debt; how's about all these self righteous rich rockers pay off the African debt since they feel so strongly about it. Bono and U2 have more than enough cash laying around to pay off a couple countries worth of debt. So Bono, instead of buying another pair of $1,000 shades; how's about putting it towards paying off Niger or Ethiopia's debt?

THese African nations ran up debt by borrowing all sorts of money and then using it to buy all sorts of fun little military toys to blow each other up. That same cash line was used to buy a damn good portion of the weaponry that was used against US and UN forces in Somolia (and we were there to provide relief!).

So Bono, Pink Floyd, Dave Matthews, and all you other self centered, self riteous rich musicians; you want that debt paid off so bad, you pay it off then. And tell ya what, give them extra in aid and see what happens to that charity money. I want to hear Bono bitch on the news how money he gave to African nations was used to purchase AK-47s.

Reply

My Issue #1
As a very big Pink Floyd fan, I was PISSED! This is most likely the last time that these fellows will ever get together and perform. So, how does MTV handle it? They decide to tell me how important it is. Shouldn't a channel called Music Television (if that is still there name) understand that we actually want to see and hear the music?

Of course, I should have known better. They play more music on Comedy Central than they do on MTV.

My Issue #2
If suddenly the nations of the world decided to give the 50 billion that Geldof wants, isn't it kind of naive to think that much of it would actually get to the people who need it? I'm betting that it would get snapped up in less than a minute by the "leaders" running those countries.
Don't get me wrong, I think that poverty is a huge problem that desperately needs to be solved, and I have no problem with people speaking out against it. I just think you are being a little deluded if you think we can throw money at the problem and make it go away.
Of course, the U.S. could probably do something about the problem, but every other country in the world would condemn us for doing it.

Reply

to #1
A lot of the debt that African countries accumulated was actually loans that the borrowing country had to use to finance projects developed and constructed (and usually operated, as well) by companies from the lender country. i.e. the money was fueled back into the economy of the lender country and for projects not necessarily in the interest for the borrowing country.

...And the weapons you talk about: why do you think the US arms industry sells more than the budget of the US defense department? Where do you think African dictators in the 80's got the money?

Reply

Mack Swift: many of the artists ARE donating money to the effort -- see http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/articles/19715471?source=Daily%20Mail&ct=5 .
It may not be much, but we're talking about tens of billions of dollars in debt...these guys are rich, not Bill Gates rich. :)

But in fairness, I don't think it's their responsibility to pay off these debts. Nor do I think it sends the right message -- after all, this is all about eliminating debt, not contributing more money to African nations (not that this is a bad idea in and of itself). Most of the money that is contributed to African nations really just ends up going back to the G8 as debt payments, even if not directly.

That's why the REAL issue here is getting the G8 to eliminate the debt completely. If these artists or other NP groups were to assume the debt, all you're doing is letting these governments off the hook. I'm not sure that's a precedent we'd all want to see.

That said, at the risk of being a little hypocritical, what I would REALLY like to see MTV and VH1 donate all their advertising revenues made during Live8 coverage to the cause.

Reply

Keith said "what I would REALLY like to see MTV and VH1 donate all their advertising revenues made during Live8 coverage to the cause"

MTV and VH1 are all for us taxpayers footing the bill, but don't ask for a penny of their advertising revenue. Many of these countries so-called leaders have personally enriched themselves at their people's expense. All we do by forgiving the debt is reward corruption.

Reply