Quote:
Originally Posted by pieter
It doesn't matter who's fault it is. A strong case could be made that the "free market" and capitalist history is at least partly responsible for it though. A strong case could also be made that Intellectual Property plays a part of keeping the first world far ahead of the third world. (I won't even start about intellectual property on genetically altered seeds which keep farmers in Africa dependent on western suppliers).
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Businesses are in business to make money, plain and simple. They are not, by their nature or design, charities. You don't blame a business for not being charitable enough, any more than you'd blame a dog for not being able to fly.
Charities get started by people who see a need in one place, a product or service in another that can be applied to that need, and making the effort to connect them through its own channels, including private and public support. In the absence of governments or other organizations, charities step in to satisfy that need. Charities and other organizations are already doing exactly this. Any ineffectiveness on their part is largely due to a lack of private and public support, not on any effort by businesses to stifle their efforts.
So don't blame businesses for not giving their products away to Africa. Blame you, and me, and everyone else, for not buying those drugs ourselves and sending them, or convincing our governments and charities to buy and send them. It does matter whose fault it is. Blame us for ignoring Africa... not IP.