bush’s aid: too little too late…

I felt compelled to at least say something about Bush’s recent proposal to give more money to aid Africa. All I should say is: BOUT TIME, but I can’t let it end there.

First things first: It sure is nice that Bush is “letting them loose” for some of the debt that they owe us. I bet there are African children that STILL WON’T get to eat tonight, but I bet they feel a weight has been lifted off of their gaunt little shoulders. Hell, you might as well pay off their Discover bill while you are at it.

Seriously, folks, don’t get me wrong. It isn’t like I am looking a “gift horse in the mouth” (WHAT THE HELL does that mean… I cannot think of a better way to put it though), with this aid… I am actually surprised and elated that we, as the richest nation in the world, have decided to be nice, and lend a helping hand… considering that much of the reason things are so bad directly relate to us (ahem… globalization)!! How nice… we cause your problems AND throw money at them to make ourselves feel better. (If you make a mess, you should at least clean it up!)
But the reason this just makes me mad is this: Sure, we will give you money… but only if you qualify. (does that sound familiar college kids?):

Flanked by the five African presidents during remarks at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Bush said that “we will work harder and faster to certify countries” for the Millennium Challenge Account, a program announced in 2002 that was supposed to increase U.S. foreign aid by as much as $5 billion by 2006. So far, the program has committed a fraction of that – about $325 million – largely because of an unwieldy process for verifying that applicant nations meet the program’s criteria. Madagascar is the only African country receiving aid under the program. taken from Michael Fletcher, The Washington Post

and shit like this:

Administration officials have said that as president, Bush has tripled aid to Africa. The increased U.S. aid has helped finance treatment for more than 200,000 Africans with HIV, which is part of the administration’s five-year goal of providing treatment to 2 million people. taken from Michael Fletcher, The Washington Post

(Did you know that we have 1 Million people here in the US with AIDS!!!??? How many do you think there are in Africa??? THINK ABOUT HOW MANY ARE IN AFRICA that will never see a dime of that money… and how many more than 2 million will die?????)

Now I know that I am really reaching here, but I guess the real reason this pisses me off, is that these people had to come over here, and plead a case, that they were not getting money!! (Money we promised them!) We reduced them to beggars!!! And, we took our time with it!! We made them wait… told them they didn’t qualify… and many of them probably never will qualify!! WTF??? Are we that greedy? That we promise money, and keep it for ourselves? (keep in mind… if you are thinking… 700 million is a lot of money… you are damned right it is… but NOTHING compared to the 170+ billion spent on the war in Iraq… AND!!!! Don’t forget about this: we lost 100 million of it!.)

I guess I just don’t understand how we can live in a world where people don’t seem to care about other people. Or maybe it is country? Even Tony Blair said we weren’t giving enough. Ouch. I truly wish that there was more compassion in the world, and I also wish that it wasn’t so thinly spread, in such a slow fashion. Yeah, this money is a good thing. It is a damned great thing. It makes me happy. But the stipulations, time tables, and amount really make me wonder about Bush. I wonder if God will talk to him and tell him that putting a dollar in the plate at church, and making change, will still buy his way in to heaven… I highly doubt it.