Capitalism is about freedom, socialism is about equality and if you look at history and examine socialist countries, equality ONLY exists at the lowest common demominator.

__________________
"It's not alive, It's not alive, It's not alive. Because I said it isnt', there's your proof jerk." ...lexi

"As far as your logical fallicy shit - shove it. I am a woman."...naturemomma

Palerider,

Sorry it has taken so long to reply, been busy finishing coursework etc.

‘Do you really believe that the money that the rich put in the bank, or invest just sits there and gathers interest?’

No I do not think that, this money doesn’t really exist, it is all make believe but you have to play the system as it is. Trying to step outside it is virtually impossible, have a go at not paying your taxes and see how long it takes for them to catch you. The original point about which gives you the most freedom, capitalism or socialism requires a two way answer. On the surface it is easy to claim that capitalism is all about freedom, especially when looking at it from the point of view of a western society. These countries have to keep telling their people they are free so that they believe it to be true, meanwhile do all they can to make sure that those with power keep it. My definition of freedom is a little broader in that I would like to take this freedom a step further. (Again I am not denying that there is not more freedom in these countries just that it does not go far enough) The second step, which you continue to ignore is that if capitalism, as it is currently in practice, is so ‘free’ and gives the best possible chances for individuals to work harder and get more money for it, how come the amount of poverty exists in the world. All those people in developing countries working 3 times harder than you or I have absolutely no chance of getting anywhere in the world. If capitalism was true to its ideals then this imbalance would naturally be greatly reduced. It would still exist but not on the current levels. Until you can deal with this concept, your argument for all the good points about capitalism falls flat on the ground.

Some facts, just for the pleasure. (all taken from wikipedia)
• One third of deaths - some 18 million people a year or 50,000 per day - are due to poverty-related causes. That's 270 million people since 1990, the majority women and children, roughly equal to the population of the US.
• Every year nearly 11 million children die before their fifth birthday.
• 800 million people go to bed hungry every night.
• The three richest people in the world control more wealth than all 600 million people living in the world's poorest countries.[8]
Most modern industrialized nations today are not typically representative of Laissez-faire principles, as they usually involve significant amounts of government intervention in the economy.

Here is a list of the top 300 richest individuals
1. Bill Gates - USA - $51.5 billion
2. Warren Buffett - USA - $44.0 billion
3. Lakshmi Mittal - UK - $25.0 billion
4. Carlos Slim Helú - Mexico - $23.8 billion
5. Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - Saudi Arabia - $23.7 billion
6. Ingvar Kamprad1 - Sweden - $23.0 billion (living in Switzerland)
7. Paul Allen - USA - $21.0 billion
8. Karl Albrecht - Germany - $18.5 billion
9. Larry Ellison - USA - $18.4 billion
10. S. Robson Walton2 - USA - $18.3 billion
11. Jim Walton2 - USA - $18.2 billion
12. Alice Walton2 - USA - $18.0 billion
13. Helen Walton2 - USA - $18.0 billion
14. The Lord Thomson of Fleet and family - Canada - $17.9 billion
15. Liliane Bettencourt - France - $17.2 billion
16. Bernard Arnault - France - $17.0 billion
17. Michael Dell - USA - $16.0 billion
18. Sheldon Adelson - USA - $15.6 billion (was 311 in 2004)
19. Theo Albrecht - Germany - $15.5 billion
20. Roman Abramovich - Russia - $13.3 billion (lives both in Russia and UK)
21. Li Ka-shing - Hong Kong - $13.0 billion
22. Amancio Ortega Gaona - Spain - $12.6 billion
23. Steven Ballmer - USA - $12.1 billion
24. Silvio Berlusconi - Italy - $12.0 billion
25. Abigail Johnson - USA - $12.0 billion
26. Barbara Cox Anthony - USA - $11.7 billion
27. Anne Cox Chambers - USA - $11.7 billion
28. Stefan Persson - Sweden - $11.2 billion
29. John Kluge - USA - $11.0 billion
30. Walter, Thomas and Raymond Kwok - Hong Kong - $10.9 billion
31. Forrest Mars, Jr. - USA - $10.4 billion
32. Jacqueline Mars - USA - $10.4 billion
33. John Mars - USA - $10.4 billion
34. Luciano Benetton and family - Italy - $9.9 billion
35. Pierre Omidyar - USA - $9.9 billion
36. Galen Weston and family - Canada - $9.9 billion
37. Lee Shau Kee - Hong Kong - $9.3 billion
38. Azim Premji - India - $9.3 billion
39. Nasser Al-Kharafi and family - Kuwait - $9.0 billion
40. Kirk Kerkorian - USA - $8.9 billion
41. Sumner Redstone - USA - $8.8 billion
42. Leonardo Del Vecchio - Italy - $8.5 billion
43. Michele Ferrero and family - Belgium - $8.5 billion
44. Michael Otto and family - Germany - $8.3 billion
45. Susanne Klatten - Germany - $8.2 billion
46. Philip Knight - USA - $8.2 billion
47. Hans Rausing - Sweden - $8.0 billion (living in UK)
48. Serge Dassault and family - France - $7.8 billion
49. Carl Icahn - USA - $7.8 billion
50. Rupert Murdoch - USA - $7.8 billion
51. Rudolf August Oetker and family - Germany - $7.7 billion
52. Birgit Rausing and family - Sweden - $7.6 billion (living in Switzerland)
53. Spiro Latsis and family - Greece - $7.5 billion (living in Switzerland)
54. Sergey Brin - USA - $7.2 billion (was 552 in 2004)
55. Charles Ergen - USA - $7.2 billion
56. Larry Page - USA - $7.2 billion (was 552 in 2004)
57. George Soros - USA - $7.2 billion
58. Reinhold Würth - Germany - $7.2 billion
59. Mukesh & Anil Ambani - India - $7.0 billion
60. Mikhail Fridman - Russia - $7.0 billion
61. Vladimir Lisin - Russia - $7.0 billion
62. Donald Newhouse - USA - $7.0 billion
63. Samuel Newhouse, Jr. - USA - $7.0 billion
64. Adolf Merckle - Germany - $6.9 billion
65. Stefan Quandt - Germany - $6.7 billion
66. Micky Arison - USA - $6.5 billion
67. Cosa Marius Sp\ISB-PWKW - RO - $6.3 billion
68. Maria-Elisabeth and Georg Schaeffler - Germany - $6.3 billion
69. August von Finck - Germany - $6.3 billion (living in Switzerland)
70. Eli Broad - USA - $6.1 billion
71. Curt Engelhorn - Germany - $6.0 billion (living in Switzerland)
72. Friedrich Flick, Jr. - Germany - $6.0 billion (living in Austria)
73. Edward Johnson, III - USA - $6.0 billion
74. Nicky Oppenheimer and family - South Africa - $6.0 billion
75. Francois Pinault - France - $5.9 billion
76. Philip Anschutz - USA - $5.8 billion
77. Ernesto Bertarelli - Switzerland - $5.8 billion
78. Nobutada Saji and family - Japan - $5.8 billion
79. Sulaiman Bin Abdul Al Rajhi - Saudi Arabia - $5.6 billion
80. Yoshitaka Fukuda and family - Japan - $5.6 billion
81. The Duke of Westminster - UK - $5.6 billion
82. Reinhard Mohn and family - Germany - $5.6 billion
83. Shari Arison - Israel - $5.5 billion
84. Oleg Deripaska - Russia - $5.5 billion
85. Yasuo Takei and family - Japan - $5.5 billion
86. Jean-Claude Decaux and family - France - $5.4 billion
87. Antonia Johnson - Sweden - $5.4 billion
88. Johanna Quandt - Germany - $5.4 billion
89. Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller - Denmark - $5.3 billion
90. Joseph & Moise Safra - Brazil - $5.2 billion
91. Onsi Sawiris and family - Egypt - $5.2 billion
92. Dan Duncan - USA - $5.1 billion
93. Michael Bloomberg - USA - $5.0 billion
94. Gustavo Cisneros and family - Venezuela - $5.0 billion
95. Rafael del Pino and family - Spain - $5.0 billion
96. Robert Kuok - Malaysia - $5.0 billion (living in Hong Kong)
97. Hasso Plattner - Germany - $5.0 billion
98. James Packer - Australia - $5.0 billion
99. Jeffrey Skoll - Canada - $5.0 billion (living in USA)
100. Viktor Vekselberg - Russia - $5.0 billion
101. Ty Warner - USA - $5.0 billion
102. Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken - Netherlands - $4.9 billion (living in UK)
103. Eitaro Itoyama - Japan - $4.9 billion
104. Rahmi Koç and family - Turkey - $4.9 billion
105. Ronald Perelman - USA - $4.9 billion
106. Karl-Heinz Kipp - Germany - $4.8 billion (living in Switzerland)
107. Alexei Mordashov - Russia - $4.8 billion
108. Jim Pattison - Canada - $4.8 billion
109. Alain and Gerard Wertheimer - France - $4.8 billion
110. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and family - Netherlands - $4.7 billion (1997 estimate)
111. Kunio Busujima and family - Japan - $4.7 billion
112. Michael Kadoorie and family - Hong Kong - $4.7 billion
113. Kyosuke Kinoshita and family - Japan - $4.7 billion
114. Ferit Sahenk and family - Turkey - $4.7 billion
115. Robert Bosch, Jr. and family - Germany - $4.6 billion
116. Giorgio Armani - Italy - $4.5 billion
117. David Geffen - USA - $4.4 billion
118. James, Arthur and John Irving - Canada - $4.4 billion
119. Fukuzo Iwasaki - Japan - $4.4 billion
120. Vladimir Potanin - Russia - $4.4 billion
121. Mikhail Prokhorov - Russia - $4.4 billion
122. Vagit Alekperov - Russia - $4.3 billion
123. Donald Bren - USA - $4.3 billion
124. Walter Haefner - Switzerland - $4.3 billion

__________________
'An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.'
(Mahatma Gandhi)

125. Erivan Haub & family - Germany - $4.3 billion
126. Kun-Hee Lee & family - South Korea - $4.3 billion
127. Gordon Moore - USA - $4.3 billion
128. Ross Perot and family - USA - $4.3 billion
129. The Lord Sainsbury of Turville and family - UK - $4.3 billion
130. Masayoshi Son - Japan - $4.3 billion
131. William Wrigley, Jr. - USA - $4.3 billion
132. John Abele - USA - $4.2 billion
133. Cheng Yu-tung - Hong Kong - $4.2 billion
134. Andrónico Luksic and family - Chile - $4.2 billion
135. George Kaiser - USA - $4.2 billion
136. Jeffrey Bezos - USA - $4.1 billion
137. Lorenzo Mendoza and family - Venezuela - $4.1 billion
138. Charles Koch - USA - $4.0 billion
139. David Koch - USA - $4.0 billion
140. Ananda Krishnan - Malaysia - $4.0 billion
141. Kwek Leng Beng and family - Singapore - $4.0 billion
142. James Sorenson - USA - $4.0 billion
143. Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair and family - UAE - $3.9 billion
144. Lester Crown and family - USA - $3.8 billion
145. John Menard, Jr. - USA - $3.8 billion
146. Thomas Schmidheiny - Switzerland - $3.8 billion
147. Andreas Strüngmann - Germany - $3.8 billion
148. Thomas Strüngmann - Germany - $3.8 billion
149. Kumar Birla - India - $3.7 billion
150. Yoshiaki Tsutsumi - Japan - $3.7 billion
151. Jerónimo Arango - Mexico - $3.6 billion
152. Bernie Ecclestone and family - UK - $3.6 billion
153. Stanley Ho - Hong Kong - $3.6 billion
154. Frank Lowy and family - Australia - $3.6 billion
155. Victor Rashnikov - Russia - $3.6 billion
156. Jørgen Mads Clausen and family - Denmark - $3.5 billion
157. Willi and Isolde Liebherr and family - Switzerland - $3.5 billion
158. Peter Nicholas - USA - $3.5 billion
159. Julio Mario Santo Domingo - Colombia - $3.5 billion
160. Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay - UK - $3.4 billion (living in Guernsey)
161. Otto Beisheim - Germany - $3.4 billion (living in Switzerland)
162. John Fredriksen - Norway - $3.4 billion
163. Preston Robert Tisch - USA - $3.4 billion
164. Robert Bass - USA - $3.3 billion
165. Paul Desmarais - Canada - $3.3 billion
166. Charles B. Johnson - USA - $3.3 billion
167. Sunil Mittal - India - $3.3 billion
168. Robert Rowling - USA - $3.3 billion
169. Rainer and Michael Schmidt-Ruthenbeck - Germany - $3.3 billion
170. Saleh bin Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi - Saudi Arabia - $3.2 billion
171. Sir Richard Branson - UK - $3.2 billion
172. William Cook - USA - $3.2 billion
173. Aloysio de Andrade Faria - Brazil - $3.2 billion
174. Rolf Gerling - Germany - $3.2 billion (living in Switzerland)
175. James Goodnight - USA - $3.2 billion
176. Terry Gou - Taiwan (ROC) - $3.2 billion
177. Maurice Greenberg - USA - $3.2 billion
178. Klaus-Michael Kühne - Germany - $3.2 billion (living in Switzerland)
179. Leonard Lauder - USA - $3.2 billion
180. Gérard Louis-Dreyfus and family - France - $3.2 billion (living in USA)
181. Pallonji Mistry - India - $3.2 billion
182. Akira Mori - Japan - $3.2 billion
183. Madeleine Schickedanz - Germany - $3.2 billion (living in Switzerland)
184. Charles R. Schwab - USA - $3.2 billion
185. Jack C. Taylor - USA - $3.2 billion
186. Klaus Tschira - Germany - $3.2 billion
187. Tadashi Yanai - Japan - $3.2 billion
188. David Filo - USA - $3.1 billion
189. Heidi Horten - Austria - $3.1 billion
190. Sammy Ofer & Yuli Ofer - Israel - $3.1 billion
191. Nina Wang - Hong Kong - $3.1 billion
192. Y.C. Wang - Taiwan (ROC) - $3.1 billion
193. Leslie Wexner - USA - $3.1 billion
194. Richard DeVos - USA - $3.0 billion
195. Henry Fok - Hong Kong - $3.0 billion
196. Steve Jobs - USA - $3.0 billion
197. Ann Walton Kroenke - USA - $3.0 billion
198. George Lucas - USA - $3.0 billion
199. Sergio Mantegazza - Switzerland - $3.0 billion
200. Miuccia Prada and family - Italy - $3.0 billion
201. Anton Schlecker - Germany - $3.0 billion
202. Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi - Thailand - $3.0 billion
203. Anacleto Angelini - Chile - $2.9 billion
204. Masatoshi Ito - Japan - $2.9 billion
205. Barbara Piasecka Johnson - USA - $2.9 billion (living in Monaco)
206. Richard Schulze - USA - $2.9 billion
207. Stefan Schörghuber - Germany - $2.9 billion
208. Tsai Wan Tsai and family - Taiwan (ROC) - $2.9 billion
209. Karl Wlaschek - Austria - $2.9 billion
210. Khalid bin Mahfouz and family - Saudi Arabia - $2.8 billion
211. Charles Bronfman - Canada - $2.8 billion
212. William Davidson - USA - $2.8 billion
213. Jesús de Polanco - Spain - $2.8 billion
214. Rachman Halim and family - Indonesia - $2.8 billion
215. Henry Hillman - USA - $2.8 billion
216. Ralph Lauren - USA - $2.8 billion
217. Stephan Schmidheiny - Switzerland - $2.8 billion
218. Eric Schmidt - USA - $2.8 billion
219. Alberto Baillères - Mexico - $2.7 billion
220. Edgar Bronfman, Sr. - USA - $2.7 billion
221. The Earl Cadogan and family - UK - $2.7 billion
222. Otto Happel - Germany - $2.7 billion (living in Switzerland)
223. Bradley Hughes - USA - $2.7 billion
224. Ronald Lauder - USA - $2.7 billion

__________________
'An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.'
(Mahatma Gandhi)

225. Eliodoro Matte and family - Chile - $2.7 billion
226. Luis Carlos Sarmiento - Colombia - $2.7 billion
227. Steven Spielberg - USA - $2.7 billion
228. Hubert Burda - Germany - $2.6 billion
229. Michael Hilti and family - Liechtenstein - $2.6 billion
230. Martha Rivers Ingram and family - USA - $2.6 billion
231. Boris Ivanishvili - Russia - $2.6 billion (living in France)
232. Rupert Johnson, Jr. - USA - $2.6 billion
233. Saleh Kamel - Saudi Arabia - $2.6 billion
234. Jorge Paulo Lemann - Brazil - $2.6 billion
235. Lev Leviev - Israel - $2.6 billion
236. Hugo Mann and family - Germany - $2.6 billion
237. Ng Teng Fong and family - Singapore - $2.6 billion
238. Ricardo Salinas Pliego and family - Mexico - $2.6 billion
239. Yasumitsu Shigeta - Japan - $2.6 billion
240. Takemitsu Takizaki - Japan - $2.6 billion
241. Donald Trump - USA - $2.6 billion
242. Jerry Yang - USA - $2.6 billion
243. Mohammad Al Amoudi - Saudi Arabia - $2.5 billion
244. Gianluigi & Rafaela Aponte - Switzerland - $2.5 billion
245. John Dorrance III - Ireland - $2.5 billion
246. Antônio Ermírio de Moraes - Brazil - $2.5 billion
247. Jeffrey Koo, Jr. - Taiwan (ROC) - $2.5 billion
248. Esther Koplowitz - Spain - $2.5 billion
249. Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen - Denmark - $2.5 billion
250. Edward Lampert - USA - $2.5 billion
251. Nancy Walton Laurie - USA - $2.5 billion
252. Michael Lee-Chin - Canada - $2.5 billion
253. David Rockefeller - USA - $2.5 billion
254. Bernard Sherman - Canada - $2.5 billion
255. James Simons - USA - $2.5 billion
256. Leonard N. Stern - USA - $2.5 billion
257. Michael Ying - Hong Kong - $2.5 billion
258. Rinat Akhmetov - Ukraine - $2.4 billion
259. Riley Bechtel - USA - $2.4 billion
260. Stephen Bechtel, Jr. - USA - $2.4 billion
261. Leonard Blavatnik - USA - $2.4 billion
262. Martin Bouygues and family - France - $2.4 billion
263. Michael Herz - Germany - $2.4 billion
264. Lee Seng Wee and family - Singapore - $2.4 billion
265. Lim Goh Tong - Malaysia - $2.4 billion
266. Bernard Marcus - USA - $2.4 billion
267. A. Jerrold Perenchio - USA - $2.4 billion
268. Edward Rogers - Canada - $2.4 billion
269. Teh Hong Piow - Malaysia - $2.4 billion
270. Steven F. Udvar-Hazy - USA - $2.4 billion
271. Vladimir Yevtushenkov - Russia - $2.4 billion
272. Alexander Abramov - Russia - $2.3 billion
273. Vladimir Bogdanov - Russia - $2.3 billion
274. Ronald Burkle - USA - $2.3 billion
275. Clive Calder - UK - $2.3 billion (living in Cayman Islands)
276. Jean-Louis Dumas and family - France - $2.3 billion
277. Melinda Esterhazy - Austria - $2.3 billion (living in Switzerland)
278. Tetsuro Funai - Japan - $2.3 billion
279. Frits Goldschmeding - Netherlands - $2.3 billion
280. Stein Erik Hagen - Norway - $2.3 billion
281. Ray Hunt - USA - $2.3 billion
282. Shiv Nadar - India - $2.3 billion
283. Carl Pohlad - USA - $2.3 billion
284. Quek Leng Chan and family - Malaysia - $2.3 billion
285. Johann Rupert and family - South Africa - $2.3 billion
286. Haim Saban - USA - $2.3 billion
287. J. R. Simplot and family - USA - $2.3 billion
288. Clemmie Spangler, Jr. - USA - $2.3 billion
289. Friede Springer - Germany - $2.3 billion
290. Wee Cho Yaw - Singapore - $2.3 billion
291. Tadahiro Yoshida - Japan - $2.3 billion
292. Vincent Bollore - France - $2.2 billion
293. Charles Butt - USA - $2.2 billion
294. John Calamos - USA - $2.2 billion
295. Wolfgang Herz - Germany - $2.2 billion
296. Leona Helmsley - USA - $2.2 billion
297. Amos Hostetter, Jr. - USA - $2.2 billion
298. Ryoichi Jinnai and family - Japan - $2.2 billion
299. Peter Kellogg - USA - $2.2 billion
300. Mikhail Khodorkovsky - Russia - $2.0 billion (down from #16 and $15.2 billion in 2004 because of the Yukos affair)

This adds up in total to a staggering $3.1 trillion (approx) I don’t really care if they are new in to their money or not these figures highlight how that graph is so skewed. Back to my point about it would be ok if the money was re-circulated back to the very poorest so that it would eventually filter back up. Warren Buffett the world’s number 2 richest man obviously agrees and decided that he just didn’t need all of his $44.0 billion and has pledged %85 to be used for various projects in Bill Gates’ charity. An amazing moment for humanity, if more and more people came to that same conclusion, then this discussion would not be required. If it came about through genuine acts of charity, it would have far greater implications for the rest of mankind. If man does not do this through individual states of mind and actions, then again the current system is flawed and steps need to taken to redress this.
Another reason where it can be seen that: 1. the money does not really exist and 2. The current system in practice is flawed. Can be seen in the amount the US national debt is, it now totals - $8.4 trillion working out at $28,000 per person. Countries around the world have huge national debts, so where is all this money? http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

Socialism does not work, but the evidence points to the fact that capitalism will not work either. It is time to move on and try to think of ways to improve the current system and not just assume that is the best possible ideology. The world is always changing and I would hope that even you Mr Palerider would want the world to be a better place, for everyone, not just Americans. I am not asking you to change your whole philosophy but to concede that the philosophy is not perfect and could be improved upon.

__________________
'An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.'
(Mahatma Gandhi)

You asked why people are suffering and dying in abject poverty. I submit that most of those people are not living in capitalist countries. They also do not live in places where education is available. They also do not live in places that exercise personal rights.

I believe that one could argue successfully that the majority of the third world is living in abject poverty as a result of liberal policy. Malaria kills millions upon millions because bogus science was used by liberal environmentalists to outlaw DDT which could end the scourge of that disease in a decade.

The face of the third world would change in less than a generation if they had easy access to electricity but they do not because liberal activists have managed to shut down nearly every major hydroelectric project proposed in the third world in order to save this mouse, or that lizard. Lets also not ignore the access to clean water that a dam project provides as well and how many die because of the simple fact that they don't have access to clean water?

And the list goes on.

__________________
"It's not alive, It's not alive, It's not alive. Because I said it isnt', there's your proof jerk." ...lexi

"As far as your logical fallicy shit - shove it. I am a woman."...naturemomma

Good News About Drinking Water!

Now You Can Wet Your Whistle From The Air You Breathe!

.... and if you like penny stock - it sells at about 60-cents a share - Now poor libs can help people by buying stock in a company to employ American's, get water from air, and EVEN make a profit that most of you should be able to afford!

http://www.wataireindustries.com/products.html

. . . . uh oh! One problem though - it may not be something MOST lib's will be safely able to use in area's of excessive air pollution!

..... after considering the irony of ......

Ever notice - predominantly Liberal city's have been plagued with SEVERE air pollution?

..... while the towns where THEIR political leaders live, denounce the use of environmentally friendly alternative energy!
(Teddy (*** H * I * C * K ***) Kennedy vs the Wind Mill idea in HIS TOWN)
. . . . and BLAME Conservatives for global warming ????

__________________

"One Person Will Get $25.00 Visa Gift Card - CLICK HERE To Get Your Chance!"

hmm - evil rich - yuk!

..... that represents over 66 billion in donation that would have NEVER been if they weren't so rich!

So - explain your issue with RICH people?

hey - you are schooled - educate me (a 9th grade drop out with a GED) on why it is so terrible to have such a lack of distribution of wealth with the richest people in the world?

Where would the 66 billion come from if their wealth was distributed when they had a meager 5 million (which most poor would agree is plenty to live well on for life) ?

__________________

"One Person Will Get $25.00 Visa Gift Card - CLICK HERE To Get Your Chance!"

A Socialist society has more governmental control then a Capitalist one and if there is more government control then there is less freedom.

__________________
People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp92vkXcC0w

‘The face of the third world would change in less than a generation if they had easy access to electricity but they do not because liberal activists have managed to shut down nearly every major hydroelectric project proposed in the third world in order to save this mouse, or that lizard. Lets also not ignore the access to clean water that a dam project provides as well and how many die because of the simple fact that they don't have access to clean water?’

Although electricity supply is a factor in rural areas it is by no means one of the main issues. Why you dwell on this one issue skirts round the more important issues. The main reason that electricity is needed is to save on labor and a means to supply clean water etc. This becomes irrelevant in the fight against poverty if this is the only thing that was dealt with. If the other issues were faced then the supply of electricity and sanitation will happen naturally. When our countries were developing we did not go through a process of installing a electricity supply so that industry and society could happen quickly it was done simultaneously as demand needed it.

‘I believe that one could argue successfully that the majority of the third world is living in abject poverty as a result of liberal policy.’

This statement is just laughable and one that shows your lack of understanding of the problem. It is not liberals that are causing this situation; you keep going on about these hydroelectric power plants but if the whole eco system is being damaged then the countries are going to be no better off. Another reason for the arguments against these projects was that governments were using these deals as a way to broker arms deals.

‘The hydro industry's image has been further tarnished by a succession of corruption scandals. In Britain, for example, it was revealed that an aid package to build the Pergau dam on the Malaysian-Thai border was linked to an arms deal whereby the Malaysian government agreed to buy over £1000 million worth of British military equipment: subsequently, it also emerged that companies with close links to the then ruling Conservative party had profited substantially from the deal’

Consider that along with the fact that-
‘Research by the World Bank has documented a clear tendency to underestimate the cost of hydroelectric projects -- of some 70 World Bank funded projects, costs were, on average, 27 per cent above appraisal estimates (inflation adjusted), almost 5 times higher than the average cost overruns on thermal power stations: significantly, cost overruns for hydro "showed a substantially larger average error than the average cost overrun for the totality of World Bank-supported projects."1
Another World Bank study reveals that, of 80 hydro projects completed in the 1970s and 1980s, three-quarters had costs in excess of budget. Final costs on half the projects were at least 25 per cent higher than estimated; costs exceeded estimates by 50 per cent or more on 30 per cent of the projects studied. Costs were less than estimated on just 25 per cent of the projects.2’ (taken from http://www.thecornerhouse.org.uk/ite...ex-02-01-00-00 )
So the reason we should be pushing for these particular projects is? It is easy to play the blame the liberals card but there is usually more to their arguments than saving the pretty birds.
Your point about having access to clean water is a huge problem but when you look into the causes of this situation you will actually see that the biggest problem is due to over population in these lesser developed areas, there simply isn’t enough clean water to go around. According to WaterAid it would cost only $27 per person to provide water, sanitation and education for life. However, projects that are currently used to give water purification devices to third world countries, charge $3 for just six months.

__________________
'An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.'
(Mahatma Gandhi)