We Cannot Aid Africa by Exploiting Its Labor

Re “O’Neill, Bono Differ on Needs of Poor,” May 23:

How quaint a vision! Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill goes to a market in Ghana as a representative of this hyper-capitalistic administration and sees little, budding global entrepreneurs and loan recipients--people we can do business with if only they were given the freedom to work for us, making more of whatever they make and doing it for less, unconstrained by pesky regulations regarding wages, conditions and workload. Basically, he asks, “What’s in it for us?”

Rock singer Bono sees a country in need of aid for roads, water and basic sanitation so that its people can be independent and self-sufficient. Less glamorous, but more noble to be sure. As Americans, must we always ask how we can benefit from the labors of others or should we help others to help themselves in achieving sustainable, stable economies? That is a question that divides us as a nation.

Selfishness or selflessness? How unfortunate for those who just want a sustainable, peaceful planet that affords the greatest number of people a pleasant existence.

Zack Griffin

Ventura