"Paul, do you hear all those voices demanding that we eliminate foreign aid?

"No, I don't mean the Republicans. I mean economists who claim all our foreign aid is actually hurting Africa, not helping it. Some claim that our foreign aid actually undermines the poor countries of Africa.

"No responsible person would say that? How about James Shikwati of Kenya, who says,

'Such intentions [foreign aid] have been damaging our continent for the past 40 years. If the industrial nations really want to help the Africans, they should finally terminate this awful aid. Countries that have collected the most development aid are also the ones that are in the worst shape.'

"Shocking, Paul? I know it's shocking. Do you realize how many bureaucrats in Washington, Paris, Bonn and London make their living off of foreign aid? If we stopped giving Africa foreign aid, we would create massive unemployment in all the capitals of the West. We could even hurt some Swiss bankers.

"You don't think anybody serious will pay attention? Well, someone just did.

"Have you ever heard of Care International, one of our largest charities dispensing food? Well, they just decided to stop handing out $45 million in U.S. food because they say it harms Africa in four ways.

"Yes, Paul, four ways:

"First, it's sold and too often the poor can't afford to buy it, so they stay hungry.

"Second, it undermines the local farmers, all that cheap wheat from the U.S.

"Third, a lot of it falls into the hands of dictators and ends up in Swiss banks.

"Fourth, forty years of handouts has made beggars of the African people, who otherwise might have started their own businesses or farms or stores or something fruitful.

"Paul, other studies claim that the world has received $2.4 trillion in aid ... and it hasn't done any good! They claim that much less money spent on capitalism and trade have rescued 400 million people from poverty in Asia.

"Yes, it's shocking. Especially since this Shitwati fellow keeps saying that 'Africa needs capital and opportunity, not foreign aid.'

"Does he realize how many people his viewpoint could hurt? You bet. He says, 'If the West were to cancel these payments, normal Africans wouldn't even notice. Only the functionaries would be hard hit, which is why they maintain that the world would stop turning without this development aid.'

"Well, don't worry, Paul. It hasn't happened yet. And if worse comes to worse, we can always transfer to the Department of Education."

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