Why Do We Ever Get Involved?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2691750/Ethiopian-farmer-given-taxpayers-money-sue-Britain-sending-international-aid-homeland.html

This is a good one, an Ethiopian farmer is suing the British Government for sending international aid to Ethiopia, he has also been granted legal aid so that he can do so.

[weecalf]

Good at least we know where some of out taxes are going perhaps we should be told where the rest is going .

[Old_Geezer]

Do they not apply a test to weed out frivolous cases before giving out our money ? Or is the suggestion that trying to help is a good excuse to demand more and more ? Why isn't the Ethiopian government supplying the legal aid rather than the government accused ? Do they believe the UK considered this a corrupt state that needed help UK oppressing its people, or something ? What is his real chance of winning the case ? And who put him up to it ?

[Old_Geezer]

I have no idea how the PC tech managed to add a "UK" in the middle where it doesn't belong. Probably did so under cover of trying to start an ad video NO ONE asked it to play, which I had to stop >:-(

[dunnitall]

Yes indeed who put him up to it and why is it being allowed. Always said the UK is a soft touch and it seems soft in the head too if this is all correct! Wee calf glad you endorse our money being paid in this way....hope you're contributing too!

[Hypognosis]

Interesting find, AOG.

"‘O’ is not personally seeking compensation but wants the British Government change its aid policies and stop bankrolling brutal regimes."
[…]
"Officials say the money spent by Britain, part of a scheme called Protection of Basic Services, did not go direct to the Ethiopian Government.

Instead, the scheme – run by the World Bank – provided access to healthcare, schooling and clean water."

A just cause but a dubious route to fixing the situation. Mugabe-esque land siezures, except of the indigenous people!

[weecalf]

I will not pay one more penny because of this so dosnt bother me at all .I pay a percentage on what I earn .So does it matter it wont be coming back to me I only work for a living so wont be getting any handout for our caring ,sharing government.

[ToraToraTora]

you couldn't make it up. I eagerly await the anti British to tell me why this is correct.

[inksplotter]

Gives lawyers employment?

[anotheoldgit]

ToraToraTora

/// you couldn't make it up. I eagerly await the anti British to tell me why this is correct. ///

You won't find many of them contributing to threads such as this TTT. Why? because in cases such as this they haven't got an augment.

[grasscarp]

Reading through the article it seems that this farmer has got a point
If we are "bankrolling brutal regimes" then it needs to be looked at without dismissing him out of hand.

[Svejk]

it might save us billions in 'foreign aid' money.
Or at least be an eye-opener for ABers who think said aid is marvellous and should be increased.

[Hypognosis]

Hi Svejk

Yes, even some of us lefty/liberals are
painfully aware of how much foreign aid gets misappropriated at government level.

Charities responded by driving truckloads of food direct to refugee camps but the dodgy governments responded by having the army intercept the trucks at the front gate and taking the food to feed the troops (powerful recruitment incentive, during a famine).

Trouble is, if some foreign country came here, handing out food to our poor, I imagine our government would use that to justify redirection of funds, destined for that sector channeled into some ideological project, instead. In a totalitarian regime prone to famines, it just means they can spend more on running their military regime.

What the litigant doesn't appreciate is that he's advocating that we should deprive some of his fellow countrymen of the only thing keeping them alive. Me Geldof ought to pop round and have a word with him.