I love this piece on the 7 worst international aid ideas ever. It is, admittedly, a random assortment (in one corner, puffed up celebrities; in the other, USAID as a foreign policy tool). And yet within this juxtaposition is a common theme: people who think that having a lot of money makes you smart. So smart, in fact, that you don’t have to bother to listen to anyone else.
On the other hand, without hubris we wouldn’t have the Absurdist Masterpiece that is exchanging a “like” on the Facebook page of an energy drink for a free meal for a Somalian child. Nor would we have this helpful map.
Of course, my sense of humor withers away when it comes to making food packet air drops and cluster bomblets the same color – not only do I feel that this specific choice deserves a special Worst Idea Ever supercategory, it’s the sort of thing that makes me wish I genuinely believed in eternal damnation. I am not being sarcastic. This particular branch of the US Military stupid tree leaves me with a smoldering, sincere anger in addition to the sour taste of national shame.
I’m glad you enjoyed the piece! And yeah. That air drop issue makes me utterly sick. How on earth did nobody pick that up. Or listen to the stories of those hurt.