“That is certainly a more worthy cause than coercing Americans into giving money to other relatively wealthy Americans.”

Why?

Listen, Chuck: If you think saving the lives of poor Africans is a worthy use of government coercion – that is to say, if you think it is okay to put a gun to another human’s head and say to them “give money to this poor person or I will shoot you,” then fine. That is certainly a more worthy cause than coercing Americans into giving money to other relatively wealthy Americans. At least you have that going for you.

But don’t claim that this act is unobjectionable. I can think of thousands of other worthy causes too — adequate housing, food, education, heathcare — the list goes on and on. There is already a word for people who think that it is unobjectionable for the government to try to solve these problems, and that word is not “libertarian.”

There’s a saying that “Hard cases make bad law.”

Since we’re talking about a case in which the lives of millions of human beings are at stake, I dare say that the question of adherence to an ideology on the size and scope of government at this point is moot. This is a situation of lifeboat ethics. If a little internal incoherence on the part of myself and other small government types would lead to saving the lives of millions, well, I say bring it.

If there are cases where government action could solve a coordination problem, wouldn’t encourage moral hazard, etc, etc. I’m ready to violate the sacred tenets of minarchism to save a few million souls.

So congratulations, Micha, you are officially more hardcore than me.

Whenever someone starts talking about a “New Marshall Plan,” it’s time to holler “check, please.”

Revoked.

It’s not helpful to lump all government development aid in one pot and then have a thumbs up/thumbs down vote on whether it’s effective or not.

We would profit from a subtler, more careful analysis. Certain types of aid could probably reap enormous benefits if calculated in “lives saved/dollars spent.” I’m thinking about the production, purchase, distribution and use of DDT to fight malaria in Africa as an example, provided that it’s done efficiently. I don’t think it would impossible or objectionable for government assistance to help achieve this goal.