This article features a number of insights by Dambisa Moyo on the harm aid given to Africa has caused. It’s refreshing to hear an African call out trendy aid given without accountability: “You get the corruption — historically, leaders have stolen the money without penalty — and you get the dependency, which kills entrepreneurship.”

Aid breeds corruption which breeds dependency which kills entrepreneurship. Why can’t leaders in the United States figure this out? Oh, because they’re the ones getting to dole out the money and collect accolades for doing so. Any business worth saving or starting will do so by legitimately borrowing and repaying a loan. Money given or received otherwise should be seen as money taken from people who would otherwise spend or invest it wisely. Of course, this doesn’t apply to all giving–individuals giving mercifully of their own money, gifts to orphans and widows etc. But it does apply to any governmental “investing” which is not just ineffective but also counterproductive.