http://blog.oldpilesofstone.com/archives/363 Because the word is mightier than the stone. Wed, 05 Jan 2011 21:08:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 http://blog.oldpilesofstone.com/archives/363/comment-page-1#comment-76 matt Sun, 03 Jan 2010 23:10:11 +0000 http://blog.oldpilesofstone.com/?p=363#comment-76 Well, there are two points. First of all, I would argue that the impact of the US intervention is overrated. That was comparatively minor and some 60 years ago. According to this reasoning, it should be Spain sending the aid. Secondly, even if the US were to take an even greater role in helping to develop the country (USAid is already the number one foreign donor), it would not help. The reason for that is that the country is mostly poor because of the corrupt power structure, and the US sending money would change nothing (we have had people who work in developmental aid programs ask us not to send money through NGOs, for example, because they often feed corruption). Alternatively, the US could force its aid to be channeled in certain directions, with strict oversight, but I think that the lefties here would just use it as an example of American interventionism. I think that the US's current policy of trade and non-intervention here is about the best that they can do. Well, there are two points. First of all, I would argue that the impact of the US intervention is overrated. That was comparatively minor and some 60 years ago. According to this reasoning, it should be Spain sending the aid. Secondly, even if the US were to take an even greater role in helping to develop the country (USAid is already the number one foreign donor), it would not help. The reason for that is that the country is mostly poor because of the corrupt power structure, and the US sending money would change nothing (we have had people who work in developmental aid programs ask us not to send money through NGOs, for example, because they often feed corruption). Alternatively, the US could force its aid to be channeled in certain directions, with strict oversight, but I think that the lefties here would just use it as an example of American interventionism. I think that the US’s current policy of trade and non-intervention here is about the best that they can do.

]]> http://blog.oldpilesofstone.com/archives/363/comment-page-1#comment-71 liisa wistrand-gilles Fri, 01 Jan 2010 12:03:01 +0000 http://blog.oldpilesofstone.com/?p=363#comment-71 Thank's for reminding that Guatemala actually , somewhere, got to the 20th century ! Thank’s for reminding that Guatemala actually , somewhere, got to the 20th century !

]]> http://blog.oldpilesofstone.com/archives/363/comment-page-1#comment-67 pedro f Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:58:14 +0000 http://blog.oldpilesofstone.com/?p=363#comment-67 excelent summary ! little question though: as some of the facts to understand guatemala's current problems are linked to USA former intervention; should washington do something about this in order to promote this nation's development ? excelent summary ! little question though:
as some of the facts to understand
guatemala’s current problems
are linked to USA former intervention;
should washington do something about
this in order to promote this nation’s
development ?

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