December 15, 2008 at 3:19 pm

Wow, Chris – this might be some of the best Holiday news that I’ll receive this year (my mom is gravely ill). What a GREAT little video about the MCC and what makes it even better is that it’s done by a filmmaker who appeared to be a bit skeptical about foreign aid.

The MCC, along with PEPFAR, were the programs “at the heart” of the movement which became ONE.

DATA, along with its supporters and other organizations, worked hard with members of the Bush administration to craft these two programs which have shown TREMENDOUSLY POSITIVE results for Africa and other developing areas of the world.

The only problem with the MCC is that it has never received the funding levels from Congress that Pres. Bush requested to be able to make this wonderfully creative and effective program truly work to the best of its ability.

With the new administration and Congress, one can only hope that this changes soon.

ONE question – Coldplay for the choice of music? (smile)

I think that it would have been more effective to have African – especially some beautiful Malagasy music in the background.

Overall, a GREAT video that I will be sharing with my online friends.

AS ONE, debbie
http://www.mpwn-uganda.org

December 16, 2008 at 1:14 am

I’ll be looking into this as well. Thanks for the post.

I’m sorry to hear that your mom is very ill Debbie. While that’s always hard, it’s always a bit harder at this time of the year.

December 16, 2008 at 9:54 am

Folks, you need to look at the results of the programs. There has been little or no results from the MCC programs all over the world which is why congress is hesitating to extend funds. Moreover, several of the initial MCC countries chosen are now failing the MCC eligibility critiera.

Yes, there are lots of problems with foreign aid and needs to be improved. The idea of the MCC is a very good one but the implementation has simply not lived up to its billing.

December 16, 2008 at 4:40 pm

Unfortunately Bill I would have to disagree with you in the way that you are approaching the issue of the difficulties that the MCC has had.

The reason WHY “there has been little or no results from the MCC programs all over the world” is that from the beginning of the program five years ago, Congress has NEVER granted the MCC the full funding levels that the Bush administration projected that it would need to get this new program up off the ground and running efficiently.

Thus, if “the implementation has simply not lived up to its billing” then it’s Congress’ own fault!

It has strangled the MCC’s ability to implement programs that it has wanted to by lack of sufficient funding and by the bureaucratic red tape involved in the way that MCC countries have to apply for these funds.

The MCC started out as the MCA (Millenium Challenge Account). It is not a perfect program – which program that Congress administers is? But it stands as a U.S. program that is CREATIVE and WORKABLE if given the sufficient time and funding to fully get it running to its capacity.

In the countries where the MCC has worked well, the money put into the programs has returned its dividends to the U.S. by increasing good will and co-operation between MCC countries and the U.S. government.

To me and the millions of others who support the MCC – that is definitely worth the money. ( it prevents shoe throwing at politicians – smile)

As I am right now in a family health emergency, I do not have the time to debate the MCC any further but I do hope that if this conversation continues that another ONE member will come to the defense of one of the programs that has historically defined our movement.

ALWAYS FOREVER, ONE – debbie
http://www.mpwn-uganda.org

April 15, 2009 at 11:01 am

Hey, cool tips. I’ll buy a glass of beer to that person from that forum who told me to go to your blog