Forbes' list of the most corrupt countries in the world, as compiled by Transparency International, is a yearly exercise in bracing, depressing, and needed news. I realize that here in the US we have a problem with wealth concentration, but it is nothing like what is going on in the poorest countries in the world, in which billions of dollars (much of it in the form of aid for the poor) gets funnelled into the hands of literally a handful of people.
In many places, a $1000 would make you a very, very wealthy person. Imagine a billion dollars then, in a place like that. Then imagine it should have gone to keep people alive.
I'm not so cynical as to think that simply cutting off aid will somehow make things better. People will still be poor and die unhealthy and short lives. But throwing money away isn't helping squat.
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