LIVE 8

Well, we finally got past the G8 Summit and the intercontinental jam session [called Live8]. Was it (the Live 8 concert) worth it? What did it accomplish? How much money was raised for the sick and dying in Africa?

It raised no money ............ none, natta, zero, zilch. Jonah Goldberg writes:

"Live8 was intended to raise consciousness and exert political pressure on the G8 summiteers. No one was allowed to actually raise money for the masses of starving people in Africa. None of the dollars spent on the concert by fans, corporate sponsors, or television networks will reach Africa. Charities couldn't rattle tin cups outside the porta-potties and concession stands."

(Emphasis added.) This was solely an effort to "raise awareness". Goldberg goes on to write:

"Very smart people have been trying really, really hard to make poverty history for a long time. Heck, they've been working very hard to make Africa just ever-so-slightly less hellish for a very long time. Debt relief is probably part of a potential solution, but without ending Africa's tendency to produce horrible, greedy dictatorships, debt relief is more akin to paying off a drug addict's credit cards. Even if the concert-goers were speaking with a single voice, they weren't saying anything of much use, except 'we care' -- and aren't we special people for it? Geldof summed up the attitude perfectly when he said, 'Something must be done, even if it doesn't work.' This concert was an exercise in boosting the self-esteem of the audience."

This is what "todays" true liberal does - pointing out problems, but wants and expects someone else to take care of the problem (i.e, foot the bill). "By doing their part" they can go to bed at night with a clear conscience knowing they have made a "real contribution".