At 10am on Wednesday morning myself, and other ONE Campaign volunteers will be meeting at the Portsmouth NH office of Senator Judd Gregg. We hope to express to his Project Director Tom Prasol that innovative programs like the Millennium Challenge Corporation which rewards poor but well governed nations with grants for infrastructure development are both the morally AND fiscally responsible.
Teaching a man to fish is all well and good, but if that man can catch more than he can eat before it goes bad what then? Perhaps if he could make some ice or freeze the fish he could have time to get it to market... after that the possibilities are endless.
That is kind of how the MCC works.
The country in question might say "we need to develop a modern port facility".
After meeting the prerequisites for transparency and accountability a grant might be offered. If that project succeeds, and further expansion of that facility is needed it is possible that the country could reapply using their already proven track record to tackle corruption and possibly enter another "compact".
Recently i wrote an op-ed that appeared in the New Hampshire Union Leader http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Michael+Castaldo%3A+Even+now%2C+we+must+continue+giving+to+the+world's+poor&articleId=f6e0b380-f07e-4be0-b1d1-3900fe978cb3 in which i use logic and credible backing to make the case for smart diplomacy. This is fiscal conservatism. To act in any other way is to be penny wise and dollar foolish.
Part of the reason I have had success in promoting the central tenets of the ONE Campaign is that I have always tried to be respectful and well mannered when meeting with my elected officials and their representatives. If you join with me I will expect no less of you. That does not mean we will be wallflowers. So on Wednesday let the voices of the poorest billion be heard loud and clear here in the Granite State!
If you can not make it please call after our meeting and let them know how you feel!!!
Senator Judd Gregg
Portsmouth, NH Office:
16 Pease Boulevard
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Main: (603) 431-2171
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