Lambasted by Tim Worstall, praised to the rafters by Jim at Our word is our weapon, Owen Barder's recent blog outlining fallacies about aid and development is well worth a read. Of course, few will agree with all 13 points, especially coming from a self-confessed left of centre Guardian reader - but you'll probably agree with some.
Unfortunately the substantive issues were somewhat overshadowed by the personal when Owen unfairly characterised Tim as having argued against development, rather than "against certain methods of trying to achieve it". To dub Tim as being stupid, prejudiced, a liar, even a reactionary, was over the top (these blog comments were subsequently amended).
When when you've finished reading Owen's entry, read Tim's lengthy riposte and the comments below it (which includes a two-part apology). There's more at stake here than just the "nice little catfight", as George at EU Rota enviously referred to it. With debt relief, the G8 summit and Liv8 in the news, we all ought to get better informed on these issues and decide on our own positions - not leave it up to the politicians.
NE,
VERY envious ;-)
you are quite right in the importance of this issue. far more so than my snarky comments. cheers for a good debate.
george
Posted by: George Adair | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 10:33 PM