Help through foreign aid

Re “The handouts that feed poverty,” Opinion, April 30

William Easterly stays true to his profession -- that of economics, the so-called dismal science -- and presents a characteristically dismal picture of foreign aid. However, he waited until the end of his article to cite those crucial programs that are worth doing -- “malaria medicines,” “oral rehydration therapy to reduce ... infant deaths from dehydration due to diarrheal diseases,” “clean water and bed nets to prevent diarrheal diseases and malaria,” “getting textbooks to schoolchildren” and creating jobs.

I choose to follow more realistic, and optimistic, voices, such as those of Bill Gates and his work with vaccines, or, yes, Jeffrey Sachs and his focus on infrastructure; those who would not throw out the baby of life-saving programs with the bathwater of past foreign aid mistakes.

CHRIS GILBERT

Berkeley

*

There is little doubt that a significant proportion of foreign aid -- whether by governmental agencies or charitable organizations -- goes into the pockets of corrupt politicians and bureaucrats rather than to actually reducing poverty. And some alternatives proposed by Easterly might possibly benefit the poor. However, his belief in “individuals operating in free markets” as the white knights who will erase poverty suggests a lack of historical perspective.

The free market has a history of largely benefiting the few at the expense of the many. Without some government regulation, therefore, the individuals operating in free markets would simply substitute exploitation of the poor by unbridled capitalism for exploitation by corrupt politicians and bureaucrats.

GUNNAR GREEN

Member, Board of Governors

Alliance for Progressive

Alternatives

Ventura