Will Live Aid End Poverty?

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – African musicians lent their voices Saturday to Live 8′s call for a fairer deal for the world’s poorest continent, but Nelson Mandela elicited bigger cheers than any of the musical acts.
“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, it is an act of justice,” said Mandela, who was cheered for nearly five minutes before he could start his speech. “Not to do this would be a crime against humanity against which I ask all humanity now to rise up.”
Africa’s Live 8 concert was one of a series around the world aimed at grabbing the attention of leaders of the Group of Eight club of wealthy nations ahead of their summit next week in Scotland.
“History and the generations to come will judge our leaders by the decisions they make in the coming weeks,” the former South African president told a crowd of more than 8,000 people. “I say to all those leaders: Do not look the other way, do not hesitate … It is within your power to prevent a genocide.”
The fans — some in brightly colored beaded skirts, others in jeans and talking into cell phones — jumped, danced and waved signs demanding “trade justice” and “give us food.”

I’m hearing this term, “fight poverty,” repeated a lot lately with the Live Aid concerts in the news. And fighting poverty is a good thing, to a point, but I wonder just how much long-term good Live Aid and other initiatives like it will have? After all, throwing money (and food) at the poor is only a temporary fix. In order to remove them from poverty you must teach them how not to be poor, and that can be a complicated task.
For one, the environment must be set in order for them to flourish. Governments friendly to capitalism, entrepreneurship and free trade must be put in place so that those who are the smartest and work the hardest will be rewarded the most. In order for such a government to exist the people must be allowed to choose their leaders. And in order for there to be plenty of hard-working smart people around there must be good educational system as well.
The key to this all is not how much money can be raised, but how soon freedom and democracy can be brought to the region. Right now it seems like this Live Aid stuff does little more than feed a bunch of hungry people who are suffering under the various yokes of totalitarian regimes.
Food is important too, but if we want Africa to be truly successful, and remain that way, we will bring them political change as well.