 chlenEthically ChallengedPremium
join:2001-01-16
Albany, NY | reply to Duramax08
Re: LMAO actually Africa is abundant in natural resources, there are many wealthy centers From Dakar to Botswana to Djibouti but since you dont know what you are talking about I'll will let you slide, why dont you read what I wrote above. |
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 fcislerPremium
join:2004-06-14
Riverhead, NY | Botswana?
Botswana is better off than most areas - but it's only the rich that benefit from and own the diamond mines. Not to mention that half of the diamond mines are owned by the government. The rest of the nation is poor. The HIV/AIDS rate is something like 1 in 5 - AND it's one of the "better off" parts of South Africa.
Yet somehow broadband will help these people out....give me a break. Their government takes in billions a year from diamonds, coal and pretty soon uranium....but 20%+ of the population will not make it to 40 years of age due to lack of health care, unsanitary living conditions, and rampant disease.
Yeah...go HSBC and Google!
Install fast internet. Help the 419 scammers. I may open up an internet shop and help impoverished people access the internet....1 chicken/hour. What? You can't afford that? Well it's gotta make someone money.
Oh...and while your at it, make them touch screens and speak....because the lack of education means that a good percentage of the population would be better using the computer case a hunting utensil.
I may be cynical, but i'm holding back my opinions on this because this isn't the place for it. I just don't see how a faster internet connection (or new) will help the people in South Africa who actually need it. |
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chlenEthically ChallengedPremium
join:2001-01-16
Albany, NY | said by fcisler:Botswana? Botswana is better off than most areas - but it's only the rich that benefit from and own the diamond mines. Not to mention that half of the diamond mines are owned by the government. The rest of the nation is poor. The HIV/AIDS rate is something like 1 in 5 - AND it's one of the "better off" parts of South Africa. Yet somehow broadband will help these people out....give me a break. Their government takes in billions a year from diamonds, coal and pretty soon uranium....but 20%+ of the population will not make it to 40 years of age due to lack of health care, unsanitary living conditions, and rampant disease. Yeah...go HSBC and Google! Install fast internet. Help the 419 scammers. I may open up an internet shop and help impoverished people access the internet....1 chicken/hour. What? You can't afford that? Well it's gotta make someone money. Oh...and while your at it, make them touch screens and speak....because the lack of education means that a good percentage of the population would be better using the computer case a hunting utensil. I may be cynical, but i'm holding back my opinions on this because this isn't the place for it. I just don't see how a faster internet connection (or new) will help the people in South Africa who actually need it. Because it is not about the actual product. It is about the building of infrastructure. You are looking at the short term, but not in the long term. Mass media closes barriers between groups, social classes and trade.
It does not matter if it is google laying broadband or a natural gas pipeline, in the long run it is a base for skilled labor, it is new roads, it is massive build-outs.
Trust me when I say this that you are very wrong on this. Like I said this has already worked in the eastern block, China, Russia, India, South America. It is far away from perfect, but even a marginal improvement pays off big time.
BTW this is not just my opinion, it is from my dissertation for my MS in Public Policy and Information Management. My job is to make sure these kinds of projects work in rural US which faces the same type of basic problems that are in Africa.
Look at how cell phones have revolutionized Africa.
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"He who is not afraid today to say 'no' to the repressive machinery of a criminal bureaucracy earns the right to be called a Human Being."
»lp.org/
Zion is our milk |
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fcislerPremium
join:2004-06-14
Riverhead, NY | While I do see your point and it is valid, I still disagree. You obviously have more experience than I do.
Comparing broadband to natural gas pipeline is apples and oranges. You could get someone to install a heater with the natural gas pipeline - and the people would benefit.
What about internet? "Free WiFi!". Now what when no one has a PC? Oh, free "Internet terminals"? Oh....they would need to be able to read. I am not in any way diminishing anyone's intelligence or insinuating that every person of the nation is illiterate, but it's almost a requirement for using a PC.
While in the long haul, it may pay off - but I only see it benefiting those who have money currently. At the prices, and a median income of around $16,000 (source: wikipedia) - who can currently afford an internet connection? I couldn't, and I make significantly more than that.
Ok, so now instead of $200/mo, it's $100/mo. "The People" still can't afford it....
You think this will cause, lets say, and internet cafe to lower it's prices? I highly doubt it.
While Natural Gas, Water and Phones (cell in this case) are considered "basic utility", the Internet is not. I would rather see a company invest in a water filtration system (several do - I'm talking about Google/HSBC) then Internet connections. |
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chlenEthically ChallengedPremium
join:2001-01-16
Albany, NY | But that is the point more infrastructure means more people will learn to read, more fiber means more electricity to run pump stations etc...
The first businesses to go up after the fall of Baghdad were internet cafes with cheap old recycled PCs.
This investment pays off, and very well, HSBC and Google are not altruistic organizations, they know what they are doing.
They did this in China, India, South America and now moving to Africa. Sure, it will take time, but trust me or the experts at Google or HSBC, these ventures pay off. First will come cheap TV, then people will attend schools in one or two generations it will be the next cheap labor market, semi-skilled, literate and connected.
--
"He who is not afraid today to say 'no' to the repressive machinery of a criminal bureaucracy earns the right to be called a Human Being."
»lp.org/
Zion is our milk |
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| reply to chlen
BTW this is not just my opinion, it is from my dissertation for my MS in Public Policy and Information Management. My job is to make sure these kinds of projects work in rural US which faces the same type of basic problems that are in Africa.
yea you have done a great job in rural America (not)give all Americans access to dsl or cable first then provide internet to whom ever you want to after that |
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| reply to chlen
BTW this is not just my opinion, it is from my dissertation for my MS in Public Policy and Information Management. My job is to make sure these kinds of projects work in rural US which faces the same type of basic problems that are in Africa.
yea you have done a great job in rural america (not)give all americans access to dsl or cable first then provide internet to whom ever you want to after that |
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| reply to chlen
said by chlen:actually Africa is abundant in natural resources, there are many wealthy centers From Dakar to Botswana to Djibouti but since you dont know what you are talking about I'll will let you slide, why dont you read what I wrote above. if so abundant,and wealthy why dont they pay for all this,plus food for their people rather than taking handouts from everybody else.why dont you just quit trying to make everybody think this is needed,because its needed like i need a hole in my head give me a fucking break |
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