Gordon Brown to send £8.5bn to Africa etc

[eternalnomad]

this gift of tax payers money is more about Gaydons political ambitions than any genuine desire to do good in the world.

In principle the UK should distribute some of our wealth to the third world, unfortunately in practice our own "back yard" is in serious decline and i think we should educate our own kids to a high standard before worrying about others kids.

Sadly, the wealth distribution will be badly (i.e. corruptly) and inefficiently handled so we can expect various African dictators to be rushing to place orders for brand new personal 747's any day soon.

[Davros]

Sadly, the wealth distribution will be badly (i.e. corruptly) and inefficiently handled so we can expect various African dictators to be rushing to place orders for brand new personal 747's any day soon.

Au contraire, the terms of the agreement will make it plain that any planes ordered will be from Airbus. In fact, the £8.5bn is probably in the form of an Airbus credit note.

[threaded]

Didn't Brownstuff indicate that the aid has been untied? So if your African dictator doesn't want to experience regime change then he will be buying that 747...

[Churchill]

Ermm.... It won't matter if Airbus do get the orders now that BAE are selling their share to EADS...

FFS!

[sasguru]

Ermm.... It won't matter if Airbus do get the orders now that BAE are selling their share to EADS...

FFS!

Agreed. The usual short-sightedness. Let's get rid of the last remnant of civilian aircraft manufacturing capacity in the UK, eh?
The French have the right idea after all - 2 now succesful car companies and the lions share of the Airbus

[BlasterBates]

The French have the right idea after all - 2 now succesful car companies and the lions share of the Airbus

...and a f**ing huge unemployment problem, not to mention the pathetically low take home pay, due to the fact that companies pay huge amounts into the bloated social security system.

[Emperor Dalek]

Agreed. The usual short-sightedness. Let's get rid of the last remnant of civilian aircraft manufacturing capacity in the UK, eh?
The French have the right idea after all - 2 now succesful car companies and the lions share of the Airbus

Surely that's a matter for the BAE board, and ultimately its shareholders, alone?

[wendigo100]

2. UK Overseas aid is one of the lowest in the EU at around 0.4% of GDP.

So what? Is it a competition to see who can ease their conciences the most? Sending billions to Africa is like feeding an addict's crack habit. It is a bottomless pit. They are independent nations now. Colonists created and left infrastructure and industry in place. What the feck have the Africans done with it?

[Emperor Dalek]

Just give 'em yoor fookin' money. They are literally tens of African dictators who only have the one fleet of limos and presidential palace.

St. Bob.

[sasguru]

Surely that's a matter for the BAE board, and utlimately its shareholders, alone?

We have been brainwashed into non-government intervention. Every country in the world, including the US, will intervene to save strategic industry. The short-termism of share-holders is not conducive to a country's long-term interests. And no I don't know what the solution is.