Why is Africa still poor? (regular, racism, Somali, how much)

[samston]

The arguments for African poverty are so:

- Colonialism
- Corruption
- Western attempts to undermine the continent covertly

The first example is a no-no. If colonialism always undermines development, then why is India an aspiring power now? The British treated India awfully.

Secondly, all countries are corrupt, with no exceptions. Corruption will exist as long as human beings exist. Yet for most countries, corruption does not retard economic development, so why in Africa?

Lastly, well racism is racism.

So, since corruption is part of the human condition, and colonialism affected other areas badly also, why is Africa still poor?

[Escort Rider]

Corruption is not an either/or condition. I agree that corruption is everywhere and is part of the human condition, but I do not agree that it is the same everywhere. A country can be a little bit corrupt (i.e., the United States), or massively corrupt, as are many countries in Africa, or anywhere in between. Here we have a tradition of a free press, and this helps to expose corruption; the Los Angeles Times is always reporting about some public official who is charged or sentenced, both in California and nation-wide. So I don't think we can dismiss corruption so cavalierly as one of the causes of the poverty of Africa today.

[Currency Pair Crocodile]

Africa was in chaos even when the Europeans first set foot in there. That's why it was easy to enslave. Some tribes even helped enslave other tribes.

I can only say it's the impossibility of several clans and tribes that can never reconcile with one another.

[Mercury Cougar]

Originally Posted by samston

The arguments for African poverty are so:

- Colonialism
- Corruption
- Western attempts to undermine the continent covertly

The first example is a no-no. If colonialism always undermines development, then why is India an aspiring power now? The British treated India awfully.

Secondly, all countries are corrupt, with no exceptions. Corruption will exist as long as human beings exist. Yet for most countries, corruption does not retard economic development, so why in Africa?

Lastly, well racism is racism.

So, since corruption is part of the human condition, and colonialism affected other areas badly also, why is Africa still poor?

Rampant corruption, superstition, and lack of education are the big three. Also the tribal system is a big problem since a lot of Africans still see things divided along those lines, rather than identify with a specific country.

[Boompa]

Originally Posted by samston

The arguments for African poverty are so:

- Colonialism
- Corruption
- Western attempts to undermine the continent covertly

The first example is a no-no. If colonialism always undermines development, then why is India an aspiring power now? The British treated India awfully.

Secondly, all countries are corrupt, with no exceptions. Corruption will exist as long as human beings exist. Yet for most countries, corruption does not retard economic development, so why in Africa?

Lastly, well racism is racism.

So, since corruption is part of the human condition, and colonialism affected other areas badly also, why is Africa still poor?

You mean there is no poverty in India?
Latin America isn't poor?
Eastern europe isn't poor?
Parts of Southeast Asia aren't poor?

i get your point, it's: I'm not a racist BUT........

[Dusty Rhodes]

Why is Africa still poor?

I'm not sure why you think Africa is poor. The continent has vast oil reserves, diamond, gold, silver, copper, platinum. A rich cultural background and a land mass bigger than N. and S. America combined. It is true that the vast majority of the riches are in only a few hands, but, that does not mean the continent itself is poor. To its' misfortune, it is overly rich in greed, bigotry, and ignorance as well.

[sailordave]

My dad was sent to Nigeria to train oil field workers there. Though he wasn't high in the company, they sent him an armored vehicle with a driver. The first week he was there, a car wrecked into a tree killing the driver whose body partially hung out the car door. Few months later when it was time for him to leave the country, the car and body was still there. He asked the driver why no one had moved the car and body. Driver said his family didn't have the money to pay anyone to move the car or body so they left it there. While waiting for permission to leave the country, his passport and visa were missing. The government official told my dad, "you give us $100 and we'll find your passport and visa." He'd been warned about this so he had $100 ready. He handed over the money. The government official pocketed the money and said, "good news, we've found your passport and visa" and handed it back to my dad. When I was in Egypt, I saw a man on the street trying to sell a 12 year old girl he claimed was his daughter. In Tunis, Tunisia the women on our ship were told to stay with a man from the ship. The local men would ignore the women and go to the man next to the woman and ask, "how much for your woman? I give you 25 camel for your woman". South Africa is currently the rape capital of the world, a place where men and women can purchase rape insurance.

[Memphis1979]

What kind of manufacturing base does Africa have? What goods are they producing that aren't available in most of the rest of the world already?

They have natural resources, yes, but not the regular production thats needed to sustain a civilized western European society that most of us see as a progressive society.

[jonaos]

Originally Posted by Boompa

You mean there is no poverty in India?
Latin America isn't poor?
Eastern europe isn't poor?
Parts of Southeast Asia aren't poor?

i get your point, it's: I'm not a racist BUT........

You have to admit that Sub-Saharan Africa is lightyears behind in development compared to other regions on the planet. Sub-Saharan Africa has by and large become worse since Colonialism ended. Many people were better off surprisingly. Somalia was a peaceful nation under Italian rule. The Congo region and Nigeria also had stability. And thats just naming two small examples there, there are many many more. So its a valid question and asking it does not make someone racist. Calling someone a racist for bringing it up is a cop out and is a way to shut down any conversation on a topic.

[samston]

Originally Posted by Boompa

You mean there is no poverty in India?
Latin America isn't poor?
Eastern europe isn't poor?
Parts of Southeast Asia aren't poor?

i get your point, it's: I'm not a racist BUT........

India is poor, but progressing. South America is poor, but countries like Brazil are progressing. Eastern European countries are only just below first world and have (or are) joined the European Union. Southeast Asia is progressing. Why isn't Africa progressing?

I'm not sure why you think Africa is poor. The continent has vast oil reserves, diamond, gold, silver, copper, platinum. A rich cultural background and a land mass bigger than N. and S. America combined. It is true that the vast majority of the riches are in only a few hands, but, that does not mean the continent itself is poor. To its' misfortune, it is overly rich in greed, bigotry, and ignorance as well.

The general living standard is extraordinarily low. Besides, there are a few countries that have prospered without extensive natural resources. Japan and Singapore are examples.