Live 8 BS

"The greatest thing that's ever been organized in the history of the world." This is how some guy from Coldplay described the Live 8 concert. For those who don't, Live 8 was a massive worldwide concert put on to shame the heads of the G8 (the largest economies plus Russia who is invited to be nice to a country that used to be a superpower) into giving more money to Africa to alleviate the dire poverty that exists there. It's nice to see that the concert performers are not over dramatizing their importance. They probably believe that everyone who watched the concerts is now up in arms about Africa. I think the slaughter in Rwanda shows how much most of the people of the civilized world care about Africa. Of course, nothing irritates me more than friggin celebrities trying to tell me about poverty. These geniuses are part of a group that rails against things like capitalism while they are perfectly willing to take money from record companies, usually multi-national conglomerates. Are these really the best people to inform the world about poverty? That's something these shitbags have no clue about. Madonna played the show, and she once gave her 8 year old daughter a $10,000 credit card (not to mention all the money wasted on her shitty movies). Elton John once spent over $500,000 on flowers in less than two years. Mariah Carey apparently spends $7,000 a day on a hairdresser and makeup artist. I won't mention what a lot of these performers probably sent up their nose. For God's sakes, they were serving lobster and caviar backstage of the Live 8 show and giving these "altruistic" millionaires goodie bags that were worth up to $12,000. Are these really the people to lecture me on solving poverty? Looks like they've got more than enough money to blow on Africa themselves, but they don't seem to be doing it.

I think the funniest thing about this whole joke of an event was how the viewers were told not to send any money, but convince their leaders to send more financial aid to Africa. This keen grasp of economic principles makes me realize why so many rock 'n roll figures end of bankrupt during their careers. Let me explain something. Governments do not generate income on their own. The money that the U.S. government spends on foreign aid comes either directly through me in income taxes or in higher prices that are charged due to taxes on corporations. Either way, the money eventually comes from you and me. Of course, I notice that Paul McCartney opened and closed the show. This model of civic responsibility was considered a tax exile when he was with the Beatles because they stayed out of England for long chunks of time to avoiding paying their high tax rates. Yet, he wants my tax dollars going into the toilet.

And it is the toilet. I would think that Live 8's big promoter, Bob Geldof, should know better. Or maybe not. It's my belief that self-promotion is at the heart of these big charity events. Why? Because I remember the 80s when "We Are the World" and LiveAid were supposed to be feeding Ethiopia. What happened? Communist dictator, Mengistu (I won't use his full name because it would take a page and a half), diverted most of the food aid to his military and militias allied with him. He even used the aid vehicles for military use. Seven years after LiveAid, the U.S. Marines were sent into Somalia because food aid wasn't reaching the people. Why wasn't it? In a nutshell, the tribal militias were diverting it for their own use. That's the reason Live 8 is friggin' joke. Development money isn't the problem. Europe and North America have been sending billions (not millions) to Africa for development. The problem is that too many African countries are run by dictators and warlords. Look at Zimbabwe. They used to be self-sufficient in food. Thanks to President Robert Mugabe (check him out, he's got his own website), they rely on international food aid. Until there is some type of responsible government in most of these countries, the money will simply be wasted. Again