Hopeful signs on American food aid mess

ARTICLE: “Bush Administration Gains Support for New Approach on Global Food Aid,” New York Times, 22 April 2007, p. A8.

ARTICLE: “A Dam Connects Machakos, Kenya, To Archbold, Ohio: As Development Aid In Rural Africa Dwindles, American Farmers Pitch In,” by Roger Thurow, Wall Street Journal, 23 April 2007, p. A1.

First story is a bit of an oversell: conference hosted by USG entity that oversees food aid sees lots of condemnations on the usual crap I and others routinely condemn and which the Bush administration has valiantly tried to correct.

All the piece really says is that more and more people shine a light on these shameful practices and the villains and greedy bastards who feed off it.

Still, the more it is talked about, the better, like China and Darfur. Doesn’t mean anything will change. Just means it’s not unknown.

Second story reminds me--at least--that this iron triangle of shippers and aid groups and big ag companies doesn’t represent the average American small farmer. I grew up in that world, and while it’s a cheap bunch in many ways (no choice), it’s far from lacking in compassion and sensibility, and a strong sense of shared interest with other small farmers. This wonderful peer-to-peer aid story just reminds us of that.