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Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

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141–150 of 224 posts

Re: Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

#141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

well last time they claimed to be giving vaccines in pakistan it was to collect genetic information against a us target.

You're getting downvoted... but this did happen, and is likely to blame for polio's continued presence in western pakistan. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-cia-fake-vacc...

And, let's not diminish this: it's probably to blame for polio existing at all now.

Re: Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

#142
Can't they just help more directly to eradicate polio instead of paying a corrupt government to do it?

Payments like these can be interpreted as buying a state's benevolence (aka corruption), something that Soros is regularly accused of.

I'm sure there are quite a few NGOs that are more efficient in fighting polio than the Nigerian government.

Likewise, should we pay Kim Jong Un to feed hungry North Koreans if it were possible to send them food directly?

Re: Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

#143

Can't they just help more directly to eradicate polio instead of paying a corrupt government to do it? Payments like these can be interpreted as buying a state's benevolence (aka corruption), something that Soros is regularly accused of. I'm sure there are quite a few NGOs that are more efficient in fighting polio than the Nigerian government. Likewise, should we pay Kim Jong Un to feed hungry North Koreans if it wer…

Judging from the statistics quoted in the article, the government has almost eradicated polio in Nigeria. Pretty effective, no?

(P.S. Cheque’s in the post, right, George?)

Re: Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

#144

Can't they just help more directly to eradicate polio instead of paying a corrupt government to do it? Payments like these can be interpreted as buying a state's benevolence (aka corruption), something that Soros is regularly accused of. I'm sure there are quite a few NGOs that are more efficient in fighting polio than the Nigerian government. Likewise, should we pay Kim Jong Un to feed hungry North Koreans if it wer…

Judging from the statistics quoted in the article, the government has almost eradicated polio in Nigeria. Pretty effective, no? (P.S. Cheque’s in the post, right, George?)

That's why I wrote 'efficient' while you answered 'effective' :)

Re: Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

#146

A book by Jeffrey Sachs, The End of Poverty, argues in favor of this approach where, wealthy individuals or nations help write off debt of poorer countries. The cost of servicing this debt is often crushing enough that no meaningful uplifit is possible from their current poverty. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_End_of_Poverty

Given these regimes often are unstable politically and/or corrupt, what prevents new debt being made and filling the pockets of the leaders?

In the Jeffrey Sachs model.

Re: Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

#147

Can't they just help more directly to eradicate polio instead of paying a corrupt government to do it? Payments like these can be interpreted as buying a state's benevolence (aka corruption), something that Soros is regularly accused of. I'm sure there are quite a few NGOs that are more efficient in fighting polio than the Nigerian government. Likewise, should we pay Kim Jong Un to feed hungry North Koreans if it wer…

It seems like Japan (not a corrupt government) helped eradicate polio in the country Nigeria in exchange for some amount of debt from Nigeria.

I'd think the Gates' foundation would have paid Japan directly avoiding all of the problems you mentioned.

Re: Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

#148
post #28

Nigeria loses tens of billions of dollars a year to corruption, especially in their oil industry, especially among politicians. If I was Nigerian, I would find this sort of charity to be very embarrassing.

And? OK, that's very terrible indeed, but should it prevent working towards eradicating polio by whatever means necessary?

Meanwhile, America isn't a shining example, we just passed a tax cut for the rich at a huge cost to the health of the poor. And the government is seriously considering whether to take away health coverage for poor kids despite the cbo saying it would actually cost more money to do so.

Re: Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

#149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gates is worshipped by most millennials, including the techies. For those of us who've been around for a while - as your reference to Slashdot points out - this can be surprising considering just how hated he was a decade or two ago when Microsoft was in a much different position than they are now. I still have a negative opinion of him, and feel his business practices were extremely negative to the world. But I will…

Microsoft did some shitty things. But really, the main thing people worry about was bundling a browser with the OS for free 20 years ago . Take a look at some of the shit companies are getting away with these days without a quarter of the hate. You think spending billions of his own money every single year is about cleaning up his image over the anti-trust case? Give me a break.

Yeah, it's funny in retrospect. What the "FANGS" get away with on a daily basis today would have resulted in Microsoft being declared satan's step child back in the day, how things change.

Re: Bill and Melinda Gates Are Paying Off Nigeria's $76M Debt to Japan

#150
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having read Slashdot 15 years ago, a part of me is shocked to hear anyone wish that Bill Gates stays rich. But don't worry, Bill will be just fine.

Gates is worshipped by most millennials, including the techies. For those of us who've been around for a while - as your reference to Slashdot points out - this can be surprising considering just how hated he was a decade or two ago when Microsoft was in a much different position than they are now. I still have a negative opinion of him, and feel his business practices were extremely negative to the world. But I will…

While homeless, I wrote a tongue in cheek piece about me fantasizing about becoming a provider of affordable housing. I concluded no one would sing my praises for that. Instead, I would be labeled a slumlord.

You can't accomplish anything in this life without being hated for it.

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