Saved a Million African Lives

[synseer]

Dr. Kengor in his article below talks about a Bush initiative to address the AIDs epidemic in Africa. Former Pres. Bush in an act of compassion and humanitarianism asked Congress for funding to provide drugs, treatment, and prevention against the AID virus and apparently a study conduct demonstrated that his efforts down there paid off. For whatever reason though this accomplishment had been largely ignored by the media.

"It all began in January 2003, during the State of the Union. In a completely unexpected announcement, Bush asked Congress for $15 billion for AIDS in Africa—drugs, treatment and prevention.

America soon learned this was not the typical State of the Union throwaway line: To show his seriousness, Bush followed on April 29 with a press conference in the East Room, where he exhorted Congress to “act quickly” on his “emergency plan.”"

http://townhall.com/columnists/DrPaulKengor/2009/08/19/bush_quietly_saved_a_million_african_lives

[Motive]

That's alot of tax money going to Africa...

[Jeb]

And it want or did not make a dent in a country that still lives under tribalism and spread HIV like our own prison populations here in America do! 1 in 40 black males has HIV in Florida alone! Inmates on the downlow come out of prison and go straight and contaiminate the say pool of booty! Vicious cycle for all concerned.

[MYCAR47562]

it is alot of tax money but can we find any way to bring revenue in from those saved?

[Jeb]

At least the point is well taken...he gets no credit for saving African lives! If Clinton had spent 15 billion (oh wait he did on his library) he would get the Noble Prize!

[MYCAR47562]

15 Billion? You Serious, That Is Crazy

[djmotwister]

oh wild amount of money. :eek:

[Jeb]

chump change for some

[nelson]

In the current social and political climate, even if Bush parted the Red Sea, he would be given credit for nothing. That is how corrupt our media and culture have grown. Whenever he did anything that suited the liberal agenda (like give massive aid to third world countries, for instance) it was ignored.

Beyond the politics of it, I think Bush honestly wanted to help people in Africa. He is a reborn Christian, and like many Christians, he believed in extending his arm to help others.

Unfortunately, this level of aid to impoverished parts of the world, where it is well-proven that residents cannot "keep it in their pants" even when it means saving their own lives, will eventually bankrupt us. And that helps nobody.

[Jeb]

Are you referring to San Francisco?

[nelson]

No, that's another population that can't keep it in their pants. But I was referring to Africa, where AIDS - a 95% preventable, sexually transmitted disease - by some estimates kills nearly 6000 people per day and infects nearly 11000. To say they can't keep it in their pants may sound ugly, but it's just the truth. Consider the number one effort to prevent the spread of AIDS in these countries: condom use. Consider the second most prevalent form of spreading AIDS in Africa (after unprotected sex): mother-to-child, which daisy chains from unprotected sex. Like I said, it's no dirty secret that AIDS is preventable. Yet, in many African countries, well over 15% of the population is infected with HIV, and in some it's well over 20%. That's pretty devastating. The major prevention for all this is behavioral. It's just astounding to me. AIDS ought to be an asterisk everywhere by now. In many African countries, it is. But in many, it is epidemic.

I only mentioned AIDS to illustrate how crazy it is for governments to be giving so much taxpayer money to Africa. Subsidizing this sort of thing should not be forced upon us. My church sends a lot of aid to Africa and other parts of the world, and that's the way it should be IMO.

[Remphoto]

Good points nelson. The African branch is only reason the United Methodist Church hasn't gone down the slippery slope of its episcopalian and Lutheran brothers in ordaining homosexuals. The African branch sees the ravages of aids and behaviors you mentioned. The liberal umc US leadership is maneuvering to take away the African branches vote. Typical liberal strategy.

[MYCAR47562]

im spreading the word about what bush did..... it has really suprised everyone i told