Comments on: The man-made disaster in Myanmar http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/ news and commentary from a conservative perspective Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:26:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: WarTip http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/comment-page-2/#comment-317259 WarTip Sat, 10 May 2008 11:05:14 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/#comment-317259 Now we have more relief going in and oddly enough, with very little (or no) capacity to transport it to the affected regions, the government is still refusing aid workers permission to go in. Gee, I wonder why? Seems like maybe prayers are the best thing we can give those people right now. Now we have more relief going in and oddly enough, with very little (or no) capacity to transport it to the affected regions, the government is still refusing aid workers permission to go in.

Gee, I wonder why?

Seems like maybe prayers are the best thing we can give those people right now.

]]> By: graysonret http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/comment-page-2/#comment-317258 graysonret Sat, 10 May 2008 10:48:54 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/#comment-317258 Just as I thought, what relief has gotten into that country is being distributed as propaganda by the generals. It shows the sorry state of affairs that junta has become. If the U.N. is worth anything (which is doubtful) international pressure needs to be placed on them. Something has to be done other than accepting their terms and thousands starve and die. Maybe the people will revolt in order to eat and live. Just as I thought, what relief has gotten into that country is being distributed as propaganda by the generals. It shows the sorry state of affairs that junta has become. If the U.N. is worth anything (which is doubtful) international pressure needs to be placed on them. Something has to be done other than accepting their terms and thousands starve and die. Maybe the people will revolt in order to eat and live.

]]> By: DougT http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/comment-page-2/#comment-316895 DougT Fri, 09 May 2008 20:33:39 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/#comment-316895 Democracy is not the solution to preventing suffering. Capitalism, that is, free enterprise and free markets are the solutions. Democracy, especially in a place as diverse as Myanmar, shifts the tyrannical behavior away from a military junta to a majority. And having a democratic form of government doesn't mean the economy will be free. Majorities...er...democracies can be just as tyrannical and stupid as a military dictatorship, only in the former, the population feels good about it because they're doing it to themselves (unless you're in the minority, of course.) The problem in Myanmar and every other backwater dictatorship around the world is that the people aren't free to act economically. The power to vote just doesn't matter all that much if you're free to create, accumulate, and spend wealth. Myanmar should be an economic powerhouse, but the political idiots in charge are too worried about keeping their offices. Maybe a democracy would change that, but it isn't a prerequisite. It could be argued that democracy is actually preventing economic freedom and prosperity in progressive-leaning (socialist) democracies. Once people believe that government is a creator of wealth (versus a confiscator of wealth,) there is no end to the spending on ourselves. That will spell the failure of some democracies within our lifetimes. US foreign policy should be about pushing economic freedom around the world. Democracy is overrated. Myanmar has political problems, obviously, but restoring their democracy is neither necessary or sufficient to cure them. (Though, admittedly, it wouldn't hurt.) Democracy is not the solution to preventing suffering. Capitalism, that is, free enterprise and free markets are the solutions.

Democracy, especially in a place as diverse as Myanmar, shifts the tyrannical behavior away from a military junta to a majority. And having a democratic form of government doesn’t mean the economy will be free.

Majorities…er…democracies can be just as tyrannical and stupid as a military dictatorship, only in the former, the population feels good about it because they’re doing it to themselves (unless you’re in the minority, of course.)

The problem in Myanmar and every other backwater dictatorship around the world is that the people aren’t free to act economically. The power to vote just doesn’t matter all that much if you’re free to create, accumulate, and spend wealth. Myanmar should be an economic powerhouse, but the political idiots in charge are too worried about keeping their offices.

Maybe a democracy would change that, but it isn’t a prerequisite. It could be argued that democracy is actually preventing economic freedom and prosperity in progressive-leaning (socialist) democracies.

Once people believe that government is a creator of wealth (versus a confiscator of wealth,) there is no end to the spending on ourselves. That will spell the failure of some democracies within our lifetimes.

US foreign policy should be about pushing economic freedom around the world. Democracy is overrated.

Myanmar has political problems, obviously, but restoring their democracy is neither necessary or sufficient to cure them. (Though, admittedly, it wouldn’t hurt.)

]]> By: abstractmind http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/comment-page-2/#comment-316832 abstractmind Fri, 09 May 2008 20:01:33 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/#comment-316832 since this is on topic, i thougth it might be worth a post. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,354677,00.html title of the article: <em>A Gulf in Giving: Oil-Rich States Starve the World Food Program</em> And a quote, to put the generous nature of America in perspective: <strong>Donor listings on WFP’s website show that this year, as in every year since 1999, the U.S. is far and away the biggest aid provider to WFP. Since 2001, U.S. donations to the food agency have averaged more than $1.16 billion annually — or more than five times as much as the next biggest donor, the European Commission.</strong> We give <strong>FIVE TIMES </strong>as much as anyone else. Take the story, and that knowledge, in any way you like :) since this is on topic, i thougth it might be worth a post.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,354677,00.html
title of the article:
A Gulf in Giving: Oil-Rich States Starve the World Food Program

And a quote, to put the generous nature of America in perspective:

Donor listings on WFP’s website show that this year, as in every year since 1999, the U.S. is far and away the biggest aid provider to WFP. Since 2001, U.S. donations to the food agency have averaged more than $1.16 billion annually — or more than five times as much as the next biggest donor, the European Commission.

We give FIVE TIMES as much as anyone else.

Take the story, and that knowledge, in any way you like :)

]]> By: Danceswithdachshunds http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/comment-page-2/#comment-316812 Danceswithdachshunds Fri, 09 May 2008 19:49:59 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/#comment-316812 feeler said:<blockquote> The REAL DEAL on Myanmar? The Burmese people made a choice. .... </blockquote> WHAT?! You think the Burmese people had ANYTHING to do with ruling junta being in power? Nothing could be further from the truth. Take your head out of the sand; what part of "MILITARY COUP" is it that you do not understand? Next you'll tell how much the North Koreans appreciate their 'cultural isolation' while they eat tree bark and coal. feeler said:
The REAL DEAL on Myanmar?
The Burmese people made a choice. ….

WHAT?! You think the Burmese people had ANYTHING to do with ruling junta being in power? Nothing could be further from the truth. Take your head out of the sand; what part of “MILITARY COUP” is it that you do not understand? Next you’ll tell how much the North Koreans appreciate their ‘cultural isolation’ while they eat tree bark and coal.

]]> By: abstractmind http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/comment-page-2/#comment-316800 abstractmind Fri, 09 May 2008 19:40:37 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/#comment-316800 I'm seeing on the news that they are going to let the UN get supplies in there, just as an update. I’m seeing on the news that they are going to let the UN get supplies in there, just as an update.

]]> By: Danceswithdachshunds http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/comment-page-2/#comment-316796 Danceswithdachshunds Fri, 09 May 2008 19:39:38 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/#comment-316796 Good point An-artist. This situation is the poster-child of what happens when imbeciles like code-pink get their way. We never gave code-pink a fair chance to prove how they would have solved the problem with Saddam but here is a golden opportunity for them to show us the 'right way' to deal with thug dictators and save ~50 thousand lives. Where are you hiding code pinkers? How come you aren't in the news trying to go to Burma to negotiate with the thugs to allow us in to prevent the deaths from starvation and disease that are CERTAIN to happen without any outside help? Let's start a collection drive to: SEND CODE PINK TO BURMA! Good point An-artist. This situation is the poster-child of what happens when imbeciles like code-pink get their way.

We never gave code-pink a fair chance to prove how they would have solved the problem with Saddam but here is a golden opportunity for them to show us the ‘right way’ to deal with thug dictators and save ~50 thousand lives.

Where are you hiding code pinkers? How come you aren’t in the news trying to go to Burma to negotiate with the thugs to allow us in to prevent the deaths from starvation and disease that are CERTAIN to happen without any outside help?

Let’s start a collection drive to: SEND CODE PINK TO BURMA!

]]> By: sgcwi http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/comment-page-2/#comment-316791 sgcwi Fri, 09 May 2008 19:33:26 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/#comment-316791 You got me Changer But I sure was hoping.... Khan I didn't specify who gave them guns.. Just let them do what they have to to survive. I would appreciate a weapon from anyone if it meant saving myself and country You got me Changer
But I sure was hoping….
Khan I didn’t specify who gave them guns.. Just let them do what they have to to survive. I would appreciate a weapon from anyone if it meant saving myself and country

]]> By: graysonret http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/comment-page-2/#comment-316776 graysonret Fri, 09 May 2008 19:21:25 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/#comment-316776 Sorry, Dances. What I meant was that the junta may be "forced" by itself, into some sort of action, not by the U.N, in order to maintain power. I see on Foxnew.com that the junta has seized the U.N. shipments already. They say they want to distribute it themselves. They either plan on giving it to the people as something they themselves have done (not the U.N.) or hold it all for themselves for profit and power. I imagine that they want to use the relief shipments as hostage to attain something they want. Time to pull the plug, U.N.. All you are doing is feeding into a very tyrannical government bent on themselves, not the people. That isn't charity. Sorry, Dances. What I meant was that the junta may be “forced” by itself, into some sort of action, not by the U.N, in order to maintain power. I see on Foxnew.com that the junta has seized the U.N. shipments already. They say they want to distribute it themselves. They either plan on giving it to the people as something they themselves have done (not the U.N.) or hold it all for themselves for profit and power. I imagine that they want to use the relief shipments as hostage to attain something they want. Time to pull the plug, U.N.. All you are doing is feeding into a very tyrannical government bent on themselves, not the people. That isn’t charity.

]]> By: an-artist http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/comment-page-2/#comment-316763 an-artist Fri, 09 May 2008 19:07:00 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/#comment-316763 this is code pink's utopia right here, folks. they want the UN to solve all the world's problems and deal with dictators? this is what happens. what we see in myanmar today is what the world would be like without the united states. and i wish the liberals in this country would see it. this is code pink’s utopia right here, folks. they want the UN to solve all the world’s problems and deal with dictators? this is what happens. what we see in myanmar today is what the world would be like without the united states. and i wish the liberals in this country would see it.

]]> By: ADyer http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/comment-page-2/#comment-316740 ADyer Fri, 09 May 2008 18:42:35 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/#comment-316740 I'm all for providing aid to help with the recovery from natural disasters and other acts of God, but only if the aid in no way increases the longevity of corrupt governments. The problem with giving any relief to a place like Burma or North Korea is that it takes the pressure of the government. Even if you deliver the food directly to the oppressed peasants, all you have done is make it feasible for the government that used to steal 90% of their money now able to steal 99% for the same effect. Corrupt governments eventually destroy themselves when left to their own devices, either through rebellion or simply running out of people to oppress. As painful as it may be to watch this happen, any help you give to such a society simply delays the inevitable. Without aid, country X may have a famine that kills 5 million people, at which point the government collapses. With aid, that country kills 1 million people every year for 25 years at which point the aid ends and that famine you postponed finally occurs. The only way, other than cutting them off entirely, to deal with a corrupt state, is military action. It is the most humane option, insofar as you may only have to kill a few hundred thousand people. But a populous that has been oppressed for any amount of time would be incapable of self government immediately following the resolution of the regime change action. This type of solution would require the political will to impose a non-democratic government run by the occupying power on the state in question long enough for effective political machinery to develop and for normalcy to return to such a degree that the people can make rational decisions. Sadly, the popular opinion seems to be against anything but continual subsidies to failing governments, and in the few cases that regime change is tolerable, the only acceptable plan of action is immediate democracy. Basically it's foreign policy that feels good but only really serves to increase suffering. I’m all for providing aid to help with the recovery from natural disasters and other acts of God, but only if the aid in no way increases the longevity of corrupt governments. The problem with giving any relief to a place like Burma or North Korea is that it takes the pressure of the government. Even if you deliver the food directly to the oppressed peasants, all you have done is make it feasible for the government that used to steal 90% of their money now able to steal 99% for the same effect. Corrupt governments eventually destroy themselves when left to their own devices, either through rebellion or simply running out of people to oppress. As painful as it may be to watch this happen, any help you give to such a society simply delays the inevitable. Without aid, country X may have a famine that kills 5 million people, at which point the government collapses. With aid, that country kills 1 million people every year for 25 years at which point the aid ends and that famine you postponed finally occurs.

The only way, other than cutting them off entirely, to deal with a corrupt state, is military action. It is the most humane option, insofar as you may only have to kill a few hundred thousand people. But a populous that has been oppressed for any amount of time would be incapable of self government immediately following the resolution of the regime change action. This type of solution would require the political will to impose a non-democratic government run by the occupying power on the state in question long enough for effective political machinery to develop and for normalcy to return to such a degree that the people can make rational decisions.

Sadly, the popular opinion seems to be against anything but continual subsidies to failing governments, and in the few cases that regime change is tolerable, the only acceptable plan of action is immediate democracy. Basically it’s foreign policy that feels good but only really serves to increase suffering.

]]> By: Danceswithdachshunds http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/comment-page-2/#comment-316724 Danceswithdachshunds Fri, 09 May 2008 18:33:03 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/#comment-316724 Harris said: <blockquote>Let’s let them die because: A) It’s not our job to feed them. B) We don’t want to suffer the wrath of world opinion. C) The people should suffer because because of the choices their military rulers made. </blockquote> Huh? What 'wrath' did we and Aussies suffer for being the first responders to the Tsunami disaster? Let's air drop guns and ammo to the people who can then overthrow the junta and then let in the aid. Now would be a good time.. Harris said:

Let’s let them die because:

A) It’s not our job to feed them.
B) We don’t want to suffer the wrath of world opinion.
C) The people should suffer because because of the choices their military rulers made.

Huh? What ‘wrath’ did we and Aussies suffer for being the first responders to the Tsunami disaster?

Let’s air drop guns and ammo to the people who can then overthrow the junta and then let in the aid. Now would be a good time..

]]> By: Danceswithdachshunds http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/comment-page-2/#comment-316717 Danceswithdachshunds Fri, 09 May 2008 18:26:27 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/#comment-316717 I don't think the junta can be 'forced' to do anything by the UN or any country unless it involves pointing a gun at them. I think that they simply do not care at all about the people. I say that because I understand that their military has done NOTHING in the way of relief action thus far? You'd think they would have done something by now if they were ever going to? I don’t think the junta can be ‘forced’ to do anything by the UN or any country unless it involves pointing a gun at them. I think that they simply do not care at all about the people. I say that because I understand that their military has done NOTHING in the way of relief action thus far? You’d think they would have done something by now if they were ever going to?

]]> By: graysonret http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/comment-page-2/#comment-316653 graysonret Fri, 09 May 2008 17:53:04 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/#comment-316653 I'm waiting for all those Tibet protestors to hit the streets and start after Myanmar. I haven't seen them in the news lately; break-time is over, people. This junta is on shaky ground right now, and they don't want the people to know that the relief is coming from abroad. They want the people to know it came all from the government. Like N. Korea, this junta doesn't want their people to know how terrible conditions are in their country. Outside influence is definitely not welcome. They may be forced into some sort of action, based on the death/homeless toll. Hopefully, they will open the gates and let their people start to live again. It shows how extreme a government can be...interested in only holding power rather than the welfare of its people. Some people here are wanting to deny any relief to them. I, for one, don't corrupt my morals simply because others do. Charity is something you give from the heart and faith; not from the political pocketbook. I’m waiting for all those Tibet protestors to hit the streets and start after Myanmar. I haven’t seen them in the news lately; break-time is over, people. This junta is on shaky ground right now, and they don’t want the people to know that the relief is coming from abroad. They want the people to know it came all from the government. Like N. Korea, this junta doesn’t want their people to know how terrible conditions are in their country. Outside influence is definitely not welcome. They may be forced into some sort of action, based on the death/homeless toll. Hopefully, they will open the gates and let their people start to live again. It shows how extreme a government can be…interested in only holding power rather than the welfare of its people. Some people here are wanting to deny any relief to them. I, for one, don’t corrupt my morals simply because others do. Charity is something you give from the heart and faith; not from the political pocketbook.

]]> By: AlohaGuy http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/comment-page-2/#comment-316604 AlohaGuy Fri, 09 May 2008 17:28:40 +0000 http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/09/the-man-made-disaster-in-myanmar/#comment-316604 <blockquote>There is this magic device called radar</blockquote> Sorry sosnodfly but there is also a magic device called a "jammer"... If you drop food, drop a few weapons too...armed responsible people get to make choices their government would rather they not make. (2nd Amendment plug)

There is this magic device called radar

Sorry sosnodfly but there is also a magic device called a “jammer”…

If you drop food, drop a few weapons too…armed responsible people get to make choices their government would rather they not make. (2nd Amendment plug)

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