President Obama to the U.N: Do as I Say, Not as I Do!

James M. Roberts / September 23, 2010

President Obama said a number of good things in his address yesterday at the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Summit in New York.  Unfortunately, he has not been following his own good advice.

Saying his administration will no longer rely exclusively on metrics of money, food or medicine distributed to the world’s poor but judge the effectiveness of development programs by how successful they are in helping countries move “from poverty to prosperity,” the president advised other world leaders to direct taxpayer-funded foreign aid to countries pursuing economic growth by promoting “good governance and democracy; the rule of law and equal administration of justice; transparent institutions with strong civil societies; and respect for human rights.  Because over the long run, democracy and economic growth go hand in hand.”  He also urged others to adopt policies that “unleash the next generation of entrepreneurs.” (more…)