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How To Fix Africa In 3 Easy Steps
 

In The Flesh's picture
HF
(Neanderthal, 2,811
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 3:00pm
adventure capitalist.jpg

Suppose you’ve got yourself a pet project, one that’s very near and dear to your heart. You’ve spent a ton of time, sweat, and treasure to get this thing up and running on its own, but try as you might, it just doesn’t seem to be working out. How do you approach it?

If you’re Jim Rogers, the answer is: Cut it off, say sayonara, and let it fix itself.

Step 1. Canceling all the African nations’ debt, he claims in “Adventure Capitalist,” will save the continent $30 billion in annual financing fees (in 2001 money). That’s of course, assuming that these nations would put those savings to productive use (instead of on things like armies, private jets, and lavish palaces—but really, who would do that?).
But ah, there’s a solution for all those wars as well, says our pal Jim.

Step 2. Simply have the existing African nations form a parliament and re-draw all the present borders, many of which were set up by the colonial powers with no idea of the conflicts that would result. No UN involved, just them. Of course, getting more than thirty nations together not only to calmly talk things out but also take action (!) makes the formation of the EU seem like a cakewalk.

Oh, and part 3 is that all the foreign aid to Africa gets shut off as a condition of the debt cancellation. Of all the parts of this plan, this is the one that makes most sense to me. Most of it ends up being stolen by warlords, corrupt officials, and sham NGOs anyway, which no one really contests. It wouldn’t be such a problem if we just, I don’t know, bothered to watch the money—but who wants to do that? Better to just say, “I increased foreign aid” to win votes.

Like many of the strident libertarian ideas he espouses in his book, this one operates on some generous assumptions. I admit after so many decades of frustration, the plan is appealing at least as a means of shutting up the critics who scream that Africa’s problems are entirely the fault of the West. But if Jim’s plan doesn’t work, we’ll still be left holding the chicken. Seems like a lose-lose situation, almost.

Or is this the right way to go? Is it crazy enough that it just might work? Or is something more moderate/practical the way to go?

Head of Metal Website: www.headofmetal.com https://twitter.com/headofmetal2012
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Comments

PetEng's picture

Africa isn't fixable. Rome

O
(Gorilla, 746
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 3:16pm

Africa isn't fixable. Rome was more advanced 2000 years ago than the average African village today. They haven't closed the gap in 2000 years. If you can't close it in 100 generations it can't be closed.

BTbanker's picture

PetEng: Africa isn't fixable.

IB
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 3:21pm
PetEng:

Africa isn't fixable. Rome was more advanced 2000 years ago than the average African village today. They haven't closed the gap in 2000 years. If you can't close it in 100 generations it can't be closed.

Spoken like a true realist.

"A man generally has two reasons for doing anything. One that sounds good, and the real one." - J.P. Morgan

Ravenous's picture

You gotta recut the map by

HF
(King Kong, 1,347
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 3:37pm

You gotta recut the map by digging a moat around each country. That would stop all of the foreign invasions. The problem with Africa is that any time anyone gets something going, some group of assholes comes in and messes it up. I'm telling you, moats is the only solution. Really, really big moats.

go.with.the.flow's picture

did someone say Kony?

EN
(King Kong, 1,109
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 4:05pm

did someone say Kony?

|| But feeling good and enjoying life are prerequisites to success, not by products of it- Midas Mulligan Magoo ||

M Friedman's picture

This American Capitalist book

(King Kong, 1,007
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 4:26pm

This American Capitalist book must be pretty damn good

See my WSO blogs here.

Zalachenko's picture

PetEng: Africa isn't fixable.

O
(Monkey, 58
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 5:55pm
PetEng:

Africa isn't fixable. Rome was more advanced 2000 years ago than the average African village today. They haven't closed the gap in 2000 years. If you can't close it in 100 generations it can't be closed.

Wow, I don't think I could agree more with this guy...

alreadyrich's picture

Rome was also more advanced

IB
(Baboon, 150
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 6:17pm

Rome was also more advanced than the average Asian (even some european) village today.

painfully dumb analogy. Some people really need to travel out of the country to get some perspective

WSJ123's picture

^Bullshit, look at the

(Baboon, 100
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 6:19pm

^Bullshit, look at the difference between North and South Korea. You could've said the same thing before and now look at how political and economic institutions change the world and the country.

WSJ123's picture

double

(Baboon, 100
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 6:20pm

double

JeremyLinMVP's picture

PetEng: Africa isn't fixable.

 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 6:23pm
PetEng:

Africa isn't fixable. Rome was more advanced 2000 years ago than the average African village today. They haven't closed the gap in 2000 years. If you can't close it in 100 generations it can't be closed.

Sub-Saharan Africa at 1950-60s were at the same level as East Asia. And what about Botswana - the country is a phenomenal success minus the AIDS epidemic.

Seems like there are some racists in this thread.

Anomanderis's picture

JeremyLinMVP: PetEng: Africa

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 6:27pm
JeremyLinMVP:
PetEng:

Africa isn't fixable. Rome was more advanced 2000 years ago than the average African village today. They haven't closed the gap in 2000 years. If you can't close it in 100 generations it can't be closed.

Sub-Saharan Africa at 1950-60s were at the same level as East Asia. And what about Botswana - the country is a phenomenal success minus the AIDS epidemic.

Seems like there are some racists in this thread.

Some? Heh.

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

Zalachenko's picture

JeremyLinMVP: PetEng: Africa

O
(Monkey, 58
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 6:32pm
JeremyLinMVP:
PetEng:

Africa isn't fixable. Rome was more advanced 2000 years ago than the average African village today. They haven't closed the gap in 2000 years. If you can't close it in 100 generations it can't be closed.

Sub-Saharan Africa at 1950-60s were at the same level as East Asia. And what about Botswana - the country is a phenomenal success minus the AIDS epidemic.

Seems like there are some racists in this thread.

Read what he said, ''average African village today'', he didn't specify. You've given a single example, good job.

Not racists, realists. This situation has been going on forever, do you seriously think it'll be considerably different in 60 years time?

Anomanderis's picture

Zalachenko: JeremyLinMVP: P

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 6:36pm
Zalachenko:
JeremyLinMVP:
PetEng:

Africa isn't fixable. Rome was more advanced 2000 years ago than the average African village today. They haven't closed the gap in 2000 years. If you can't close it in 100 generations it can't be closed.

Sub-Saharan Africa at 1950-60s were at the same level as East Asia. And what about Botswana - the country is a phenomenal success minus the AIDS epidemic.

Seems like there are some racists in this thread.

Read what he said, ''average African village today'', he didn't specify. You've given a single example, good job.

Not racists, realists. This situation has been going on forever, do you seriously think it'll be considerably different in 60 years time?

What's this? Forever? When did this forever start? in the 1600-1900s when europe was trawling africa for slaves? In the 19th - 20th centuries when Africa was colonially controlled? In the 50's and 60's when the leadership was skewed heavily by unnecessary western meddling in african politics?

No seriously, define this "forever", please.

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

WSJ123's picture

Zalachenko: Look at how the

(Baboon, 100
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 6:41pm

Zalachenko: Look at how the world changed as a result of the industrial revolution. Look at how Japan has grown after throwing away its inner looking attitude. Look at how China has grown by changing its political and economic policies. 60 years is plenty of time.

Anomanderis's picture

Re-reading these posts makes

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 6:41pm

Re-reading these posts makes me worry for wall street, the vast majority of you guys are Sarah Palin level dumb. DUMB. Africa is less developed that Rome 2000 years ago? By what standard is that statement made if I may ask? How are you measuring this "underdevelopment"?

I'm just stunned, stunned. I thought this level of ignorance only existed in the backroads of the south.

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

Zalachenko's picture

Anomanderis: Zalachenko: Je

O
(Monkey, 58
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 6:42pm
Anomanderis's picture

Zalachenko: Anomanderis: Za

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 6:44pm

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

Amphipathic's picture

The fact that (Sub-Saharan)

 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 6:51pm
Anomanderis's picture

Amphipathic: The fact that

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 6:56pm

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

Zalachenko's picture

Anomanderis: Zalachenko: An

O
(Monkey, 58
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 6:56pm
Anomanderis's picture

Zalachenko: Anomanderis: Za

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:01pm

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

Amphipathic's picture

Anomanderis: Amphipathic: Th

 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:01pm
Anomanderis's picture

Amphipathic: Anomanderis: A

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:08pm

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

Anomanderis's picture

Abdel: Anomanderis: Sure

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:14pm

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

ChrisHansen's picture

Anomanderis: Re-reading these

(Gorilla, 533
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:19pm

"I'm the luckiest guy in the world, and when I die I want to come back as me."
-Mark Cuban

Amphipathic's picture

Anomanderis: Amphipathic: A

 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:18pm
Abdel's picture

Anomanderis: Abdel: Anomand

O
(Neanderthal, 2,064
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:23pm
Anomanderis's picture

FusRoDah: Anomanderis: Re-re

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:27pm

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

Anomanderis's picture

Amphipathic: Anomanderis: A

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:29pm

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

Anomanderis's picture

FusRoDah: Anomanderis: Re-re

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:32pm

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

Anomanderis's picture

FusRoDah: ^agreed abdel,

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:34pm

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

Abdel's picture

Anomanderis: Why stop today?

O
(Neanderthal, 2,064
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:35pm
Anomanderis's picture

Abdel: Anomanderis: Abdel:

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:37pm

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

Anomanderis's picture

Abdel: Anomanderis: Why stop

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:38pm

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

Abdel's picture

Anomanderis: Abdel: Anomand

O
(Neanderthal, 2,064
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:42pm
Anomanderis's picture

Abdel: Anomanderis: Abdel:

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:46pm

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

Abdel's picture

Abdel: In other words, during

O
(Neanderthal, 2,064
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:46pm
HappyThanksgiving's picture

Patrick can some of these

(Monkey, 63
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:47pm
ChrisHansen's picture

Anomanderis: I ask you - how

(Gorilla, 533
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:48pm

"I'm the luckiest guy in the world, and when I die I want to come back as me."
-Mark Cuban

bfin's picture

ITT we have someone who has

CF
(Neanderthal, 2,772
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:49pm

The answer to your question is 1) network 2) get involved 3) beef up your resume 4) repeat -happypantsmcgee

WSO is not your personal search function.

Anomanderis's picture

Abdel: Abdel: In other

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:51pm

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

Anomanderis's picture

Abdel: Anomanderis: Do you

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 7:53pm

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

Anomanderis's picture

blackfinancier: ITT we have

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 8:00pm

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

Anomanderis's picture

Abdel: @Anomanderis - ok let

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 8:01pm

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

WSJ123's picture

Anomanderis: Abdel: Abdel:

(Baboon, 100
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 8:04pm
jec's picture

Africa may be a shithole but

 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 8:05pm
bfin's picture

Anomanderis: blackfinancier:

CF
(Neanderthal, 2,772
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 8:05pm

The answer to your question is 1) network 2) get involved 3) beef up your resume 4) repeat -happypantsmcgee

WSO is not your personal search function.

Amphipathic's picture

The most sad thing about this

 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 8:06pm
Downeasta's picture

My God....some of these posts

IB
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 8:07pm
Anomanderis's picture

WSJ123: Anomanderis: Abdel:

ST
(Orangutan, 357
 
Points)
 on 4/18/12 at 8:07pm

But Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely.

And Rhaegar died.

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