Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.94.961228120215.6118B-100000@acy1.digex.net> Date: Sat, 28 Dec 1996 12:46:20 -0500 From: Tu and Bob Myers <mailto:tuandbob@ACY.DIGEX.NET> Subject: Re: Pumps that don't work To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
On Sat, 28 Dec 1996, David Johnson wrote:> You guys could be right. Maybe it is better to just leave eveyone alone.
> Let them, in a phrase I read somewhere "have their being." That's pretty
> easy. A lot of Americans would agree with you, even on a domestic level.
On the domestic (US) level we have two problems, not one.
The first is the, now found to be unworkable, set of "The government ought/will take care of everything." set of ethics we have taught a whole group of people, including the proposers without resources, and the victims, whom the proposers without resources have taught to be dependent on the dole.
The second is both a domestic and an "emerging nation" problem, That of raising the standard of living through education and appropriate projects. None of the projects will work until the people for whom the project is being done want the project and want to maintain the project.
> Most people would not wish to be called "contemptible busybodies". Why
> subject yourself to such abuse when even the people you are trying to
> help don't seem to appreciate your efforts in their behalf.
People deluded by themselves or external forces into believing "they know what's best" derive a strange thrive on that situation, because they "just know" they're helping the "poor lazy ignorant unsophisticated educationally challenged superstitious savages" in spite of the
> On the other hand, some efforts to help people do seem to help
> and be appreciated.
Those are the projects that the recipients want -and- will support after the project installers have left. Part of a proper installation is training the recipients to maintain the project at an expense level commensurate with the value the recipients place on the project.
> It doesn't seem like, because a lot of things fail,
> we should cease to do anything for fear of being ridiculed or deemed to
> be "busybodies".
"We" should not do projects that will result in ridicule or being labeled busybodies" because they are not the appropriate project.
> I view these examples of programs that went wrong as cautionary
> tales which can be thought about and learned from.
Excellent observation! If more "benevolent" organizations would look and learn before leaping into a project, more projects would succeed.
> I hope they won't be seen as "see, I told you so", reasons for pulling
> back from what is a noble effort ie: to help people.
Unfortunately, that is the cynical conclusion drawn from the poor results of inappropriate projects.
> Merry Christmas
> Dave Johnson
I wish a Happy, and prosperous, New Year to all, filled with appropriate projects so they will succeed.
Bob