I Don't Stand Alone

In decrying the misguided call for foreign aid for Africa:

Andrew Sullivan:

I'm relatively dismayed by the way in which some of the most paleo-liberal notions of aid to developing countries have gained traction with the antics of Live-8 and other lame pop-star posturing. There's something actually racist, I think, in arguing that Africans somehow cannot work and trade their own way to prosperity.

(and while you're there, check out the email of the day from the "tolerant" left

Michael Stastny:

Adam Smith noted that "what is prudence in the conduct of every private family, can scarce be folly in that of a great kingdom." This he applied to trade, but surely it holds for credit policy too. Think about your financially troubled friends and relatives. It is usually the case that the last thing they need is more money or pity, but rather bourgeois virtues that create prosperity.

Andrew Mwenda:

Taxation is a politically explosive exercise - why should any government alienate political allies in the name of tax collection when international donors are willing to pick up its bills? By acting as a subsidy to government corruption and incompetence, foreign aid creates disincentives to fiscal reform.

...good governance is less a moral aspiration and more a product of enlightened self-interest. If international donors began to cut off the aid taps, governments in Africa would be forced to reform their fiscal policies or stare regime collapse in the eye.

Mark Steyn:

Two decades ago, Sir Bob was at least demanding we give him our own fokkin' money. This time round, all he was asking was that we join him into bullying the G8 blokes to give us their taxpayers' fokkin' money.

The system that enriched them could enrich Africa. But capitalism's the one cause the poseurs never speak up for. The rockers demand we give our fokkin' money to African dictators to manage, while they give their fokkin' money to Winthrop Stimson Putnam & Roberts to manage. Which of those models makes more sense?

Okay, I'm done with this for now. It's clear where I stand.

But did anyone hear the rumor that 50 Cent backed out cause he disagreed with the premise? Apparently he read some Milton Friedman and had an epiphany. Someone wanna give me odds on that one?