Brotherhood, equality, democracy etc.. for all but when it matters in the money

armchair_warrior

the west doesn't preach equality for world bank or imf.

what really matters is the matter of money. are other peoples too stupid to share the power of the imf or world bank?

does the heads have to be european or american and does these two areas have most of the votes because only the west is enlighten enough to understand money?

boygabriel

Having only westerners head the IMF & WB is a joke.

An offensive joke.

booklaw

From IMF.org:

Our Work

The IMF's main jobs

The IMF monitors the world's economies, lends to members in economic difficulty, and provides technical assistance.

Perhaps the "haves" prefer to be in control of the distribution of their funds to the "have nots"?

boygabriel

Perhaps the "haves" prefer to be in control of the distribution of their funds to the "have nots"?

A better metaphor for the shortcomings of international aid and economic intervention does not exist.

armchair_warrior

booklaw said:

From IMF.org:

Our Work

The IMF's main jobs

The IMF monitors the world's economies, lends to members in economic difficulty, and provides technical assistance.

Perhaps the "haves" prefer to be in control of the distribution of their funds to the "have nots"?

problem is they are more of debtor countries these days lol.

whynot_31

I can't expect either the world bank or the IMF to engage in charity, because I have consistently articulated on these boards that I believe that altruism is a complete myth.

It should come as no surprise that all funds given out by the IMF and world bank have strings: Borrowers are obligated to run their countries a certain way, they are supposed to pay it back, they expected to embrace free trade, they are expected to make steps toward democracy, yada, yada, yada.

Since it is not really "aid" or "charity", perhaps we could just forget these words, and think of them as banks.

...or credit card companies.

...or pawn shops.

You know: Places you go to when you have no other option, only to regret it later.

Remember, sometimes lenders don't want to be paid back in money. Sometimes they just want to literally or figuratively "own you".

boygabriel

You know: Places you go to when you have no other option, only to regret it later.

Remember, sometimes lenders don't want to be paid back in money. Sometimes they just want to literally or figuratively "own you".

That pretty much tells the story, at least w/r/t to Africa.

whynot_31

The first world no longer needs to send armies to the third world. ...the leaders of the third world come to the IMF and World Bank with heads hung low and a pen in hand.

A promissory note resembles a surrender document in so many ways.

armchair_warrior

the arguments by European governments to Europe to keep the head and many votes at the imf is they need to head it cause they know how to deal with European problems better.

the European argument back in 1997 was they should lead cause they as outsiders know how to handle Asian financial crises better LOL.

boygabriel

outsiders know how to handle Asian financial crises better

lol. that's excellent.

armchair_warrior

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Asian_financial_crisis#IMF_Role

they wouldn't do the same in europe in the piig countries.

armchair_warrior

rumours or not. I hope the next head be for their merits not for their country of origin. they don't need more lawyers and politicians in those institutions.

The State Department shot down a report Thursday that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has been in discussions with the White House about heading the World Bank.

"The story is completely untrue," Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines said in the United Arab Emirates, where Clinton was involved in international talks on Libya.

He said Clinton has not had any conversations with President Barack Obama, the White House "or anyone else about moving to the World Bank. She has expressed absolutely no interest in the job. She would not take it if offered."

Reuters, citing sources familiar with the discussions, said her discussions involved leaving the State Department next year to lead the World Bank.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43346036/ns/business-world_business/

armchair_warrior

not surprised at all, #1 job at the IMF went to a European and # 2 went to American, world changes yet America and Europe still clings positions of power. talk is very cheap internationally about democracy and all that junk.

boygabriel

Western talk of 'democracy' is all lies.

When they say 'democracy' they mean 'economic interests'.

It has been true for 100's of years.

cool the kid

Boygabriel said:

Western talk of 'democracy' is all lies.

When they say 'democracy' they mean 'economic interests'.

It has been true for 100's of years.

The sooner American nationalists admit to this the sooner political discourse can begin to make progress. Though there are other similar philosophical concessions that have to be made by other groups.