Starved by Socialism

«The director of the World Food Program, James Morris, says one-third of Burma's children are chronically malnourished, and, in some areas, the proportion is as high as two-thirds. And, noting that many mothers are also malnourished, he said the humanitarian cost is enormous.»

Burma, an authoritarian socialist proves what the erasure of free enterprise and the decapitation of capitalism can accomplish, just as they have in Cuba and South Korea, and may inflict itself on Venezuela.

«"When numbers this large of children are at risk, to say nothing of the anemia condition of so many women in the country, the country's future is severely at risk," he said.

Mr. Morris, talking to reporters in Bangkok after a trip through Burma, said Burmese government policies on agriculture, marketing and the movement of people make it difficult for many Burmese to subsist.

He said the WFP is allowed to operate in Burma with relatively few restrictions. But he said many humanitarian workers are hampered by complex bureaucratic procedures, taxes and market restrictions on staples, such as rice.

"The government needs to be much more thoughtful and committed to addressing these tough issues that I have described," he said.»

Burma has lush and productive land. Unlike corrupt states, or ones that cannot live with their land and weather events, what’s killing people in Burma, and holding them back is distinctly ideological.

The agitators can complain all they like. The leftist view of the world comes down to the illiberal behavior of the control freak within.

Media note: We’re linking to an article by the Voice of America on this item, but huzzah and bravo to the BBC for not holding the statement back or maligning it with the Radio 4 politburo “chat panel” treatment (yet).
Malatsia’s Star masks the attribution to severe market controls, and alludes to “Army rule”, as does Reuters, which rather improbably throws HIV/AIDS in there as an implied side effect. Through droning repetition and advocacy, in lieu of disciplined reportage might have brought this bubbling up with the usual Reuters pedantic bubbling of teenage angst.