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From: notes@ucbcad.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: foreign policy thought - (nf)
Message-ID: <518@ucbcad.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 24-Oct-83 07:15:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: ucbcad.518
Posted: Mon Oct 24 07:15:46 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Oct-83 00:01:38 EDT
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#R:arizona:-558600:ucbcad:19000001:000:2034
ucbcad!ming    Oct 23 22:38:00 1983

	budd's comments represent on odd point of convergence
between left- and right-wing thought on foreign aid in the U.S.
The idea that most foreign aid is more of a hindrance than a
help to its supposed recipients is well expressed by Frances
Moore Lappe, et al., in "Aid as Obstacle", and other books from
the Institute for Food and Development Policy.  This group has
been very actively consulting with the Nicaraguan government on
land-reform issues, agricultural policy, etc.

	Even aside from their complicity with a nation that budd
probably finds anathema, he would probably find fault with IFDP
simply for proposing *government* solutions to problems of hunger
and poverty.  I suspect, however, that IFDP might eventually turn
around even on this point: recently they have been expressing
frustration with the whole problem of converting a former export-
oriented plantation economy into one that can feed itself efficiently.
If they come to see the problem as government bureaucracy, the
convergence might be complete.

	This left/right wrap-around has already shown up at some of
the extremes: while "Policy Review", a right/libertarian journal,
publishes articles like "Land Reform without Tears" (a critique of
bureaucratization, see back issues), the Sandinista government kicks
out a far-left internationalist group, the Simon Bolivar Brigade, for
instigating grass-roots (i.e., non-government-mediated) land-reform
movements.  Both extremes oppose government intervention in the process.

	Not that I oppose extremism, at least when it's in the pursuit
of liberty.  (Ah think Abraham Lincoln sed thet...whups, no, it wuz
Barry Goldwater, hm.)

	So, hey! the left and the right should get together and agree
on a coherent, mutually satisfying program for 1984: Death to Kissinger,
and U.S. out of the IMF!  First, they announce the merger of "In These
Times" with "Conservative Digest", and then for their presidential
candidates, they could . . . .

	Hey, wait!  Come back....
---
Michael Turner (ucbvax!ucbesvax.turner)