Could feeding the starving children be destroying them?

Question

I am not some heartless soul that does not care about the starving people in the world. However, could supplying these 3rd world countries be destroying them, and be crippling their ability to develop?

Here's where I'm coming from; The countries become dependent on foreign aid. They may see us as a resource instead of an aid, which could subconsciously keep them from developing. Obviously death by starvation won't let them develop either. Also it may be hard for them to develop anyways with all the mega monster corporations and countries in this world.

However, If all these countries were to be unbalanced, would it create a economic unbalance in the world? Obviously it would unbalance, but could it be a dangerous unbalance? Admittedly, the US needs to stop being so selfish in resource consumption, etc.

So, are we causing these LDC's (less developed countries) More harm than good, in the long run?

Answer 1

Give a man a fish, he eats for a day.

Teach a man to fish, he eats for a life time.

Answer 2

I understand your reasoning, the "teach a man to fish" rule, but if they are starving, how can they be expected to "develop"? If  someone is in danger of starving to death, they can't do anything. It's far more than missing a meal or two.

Answer 3

I guess you would be right because now you will have alot of malnurished people instead of one fat one but who is to decide who will eat or not?  Anyway, the only answer one can have is to educate the mass while feeding them.  This will allow one to figure out how to live there life while equating with a community the goal is...

Answer 4

Maybe if Europe and the US stop subsidizing agriculture, third world countries would be able to develop?

Producing and exporting food is the only way they can develop or compete, as their 'technological ability' is still far from viable.

At the moment, both Europe and the US are spending billions on subsidies to farmers, and more billions on aid because poor countries can't compete with subsidies.

Stupid.............or what?

Answer 5

doesnt this same theory apply to people getting welfare in our own country?  do you consider the fact they are getting food stamps or public housing "destroying them"?  just sayin'.

Answer 6

Well that's really deep for a Sunday Morning. But I get  what your saying maybe we should supply things that can learn how to provide for themselves..like things to plant and harvest..instead of just delivering food..

Answer 7

You are 100% right. Foreign aid almost never goes to the hungry masses anyway, but gets stuck upstairs with the corrupt leaders.

Take for instance bags of food, suplied by the UN to a 3rd world country, then taken by their Dictator and given to his relatives to sell to the poor.

Another thing is, that because of easy access to free food, people flee their little farms in Africa to be rather beggars in the big cities, adding to chaos poverty beyond measure

But the biggest problem is really the population explosion in this countries, which destroys their abiltity to get their act together.

Answer 8

Could be, to an extent. We may be enabling them to continue counting on us for support, so why would they be in a hurry to do things for themselves??? I'm not heartless, either, and I do see the point you're making.