1) The opportunities for such kids in the US is considerably greater than in the 3rd world, but only if they can get access to such things.
2) (and this is the most important one) the venture is being done at MIT, which is in the US. Given that there are truly horrible conditions in the US that these laptops could help, not even mentioning this use for them annoyed me. Also, I firmly believe that people in any nation have somewhat more of a obligation to help their fellow citizens than others. Also (and of equal import) there are vast international relief agencies attempting to aid most of the 3rd world. Given that the US government clearly cares not one whit for this nation's poor, there is no one but a bunch of smaller and ill-funded private agencies helping them. It is potentially arguable that in some ways they need the help more - especially since far too many people forget entirely about them.
3) W/o radical changes (which I don't expect), most of the very poor in the 3rd world are essentially doomed to lives like they have now - there is simply an insufficient amount wealth in those nations to bring everyone to anything resembling a middle-class or even working class standard of living - the government of India recognizes this and specifically focuses much of their aid on the poor but not desperately poor regions because these people are more likely to gain long-term benefit from help. A more extensive discussion of my thoughts about the 3rd world can be found here. OTOH, everyone in every First World nation can (and as I see it should) have access to this degree of wealth and opportunity, and these things could help make that happen. I have absolutely no objection to these things going to the 3rd world, but I think they should go to poor people in the US first (or at least simultaneously).
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Date: Sep. 30th, 2005 05:53 am (UTC)From:1) The opportunities for such kids in the US is considerably greater than in the 3rd world, but only if they can get access to such things.
2) (and this is the most important one) the venture is being done at MIT, which is in the US. Given that there are truly horrible conditions in the US that these laptops could help, not even mentioning this use for them annoyed me. Also, I firmly believe that people in any nation have somewhat more of a obligation to help their fellow citizens than others. Also (and of equal import) there are vast international relief agencies attempting to aid most of the 3rd world. Given that the US government clearly cares not one whit for this nation's poor, there is no one but a bunch of smaller and ill-funded private agencies helping them. It is potentially arguable that in some ways they need the help more - especially since far too many people forget entirely about them.
3) W/o radical changes (which I don't expect), most of the very poor in the 3rd world are essentially doomed to lives like they have now - there is simply an insufficient amount wealth in those nations to bring everyone to anything resembling a middle-class or even working class standard of living - the government of India recognizes this and specifically focuses much of their aid on the poor but not desperately poor regions because these people are more likely to gain long-term benefit from help. A more extensive discussion of my thoughts about the 3rd world can be found here. OTOH, everyone in every First World nation can (and as I see it should) have access to this degree of wealth and opportunity, and these things could help make that happen. I have absolutely no objection to these things going to the 3rd world, but I think they should go to poor people in the US first (or at least simultaneously).