World Bank Interview

The World Bank and IFC have been taken to task because of the immense corruption pervading almost every avenue of so-called aid to impoverished nations, notable in Africa. Numerous examples of corporate corruption have illustrated this egregious practice which has further victimized the impoverished.

The American division of the World Bank employs that all American principle of capitalism in "encouraging" free enterprise world wide. Unfortunately, the bank officials ensure income and profit for themselves first, thus, leaving the recipients of the aid worse off than they were before this "aid." In fact, the promising entrepreneurs in these proffered programs toward free enterprise have been the very victims of exploitation.

The World Bank president was asked why the bank was providing loans to China, India and Brazil, classified as middle-income nations, when they hold 100s of billions of dollars of U.S. debt, why they couldn't utilize these enormous sums to fund their own development of environmental projects, etc. instead of aiding impoverished nations. He replied that this is good business, China and India will spread the wealth.

This is but one more tragic example of American free trade and free enterprise gone awry. Even more egregious than exploiting the poor in other nations is the out-sourcing of American Jobs now enriching China and India. The American people can empathize with the down trodden around the world, and in fact are the most generous in helping the afflicted, but even they are being exploited. Is it because the American working class is becoming expendable?

Exploitation is not new; however, it's excessively high degree today among those in power, especially in a land of laws and constitutional principles, is appalling. Yet, the American public appears to be oblivious to it.

Some working Americans are wondering why billions of dollars of tax payers' money are helping China, for instance, expand its foreign trade with the U.S. and further impoverishing our middle class, instead of funding the desperately needed restructuring of our interstate freeways and bridges, currently crumbling before our very eyes. Is this country already on the slippery slope?

Gabriel Read
Avon Park