Marxism around the world has ensured that foreign aid never made it to the people who needed it most. The Marxist dictator of Ethiopia, Mengistu Haile Mariam, received significant donor funds but the money was kept away from some of the most severely affected areas because he felt that it would be better to starve his political opponents. The Marxist Somalian warlord, Said Barre, was financed by Italian Socialists. Insult was added to injury considering that the Marxist leaders did not just steal aid, they also limited economic growth by attempting to control the economy. Julius Nyerere of Tanzania received significant backing when he promoted a socialist experiment. The Scandinavian countries poured in an estimated $10 billion over 20 years. Tanzania in fact had received more foreign aid per capita than any other country, yet under Nyerere almost every industry saw a decrease in production. The people suffered as per capita income fell 12 percent from 1980 to 1985 under his policies. Likewise, the leader of Mozambique destroyed his countries agricultural output through price controls.
For a more recent example of this phenomenon, look at how the breadbasket of Africa, Zimbabwe, was turned into a hollow shell of its former self. After just a few years of Robert Mugabe controlling the economy, 45 percent of the citizens were malnourished and food production was down 80 percent.
Based on information quoted in The Poverty of Nations by Wayne Grudem and Barry Asmsus
The information on Zimbabwe can be found in The Politically Incorrect Guide to Socialism by Kevin D Williamson
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