Re: Subsidizing Other Countries

On Mon, 28 Sep 1998, Dave Hultberg wrote:

> Robert F. Reeder wrote on Sunday, September 27, 1998 5:00 PM:
>
> > If all scouting organizations in the world were charged the same "basic"
> > price, how could this great gathering of scouts be considered a "World
> > Jamboree?" There would be so many countries left out simply because of
> > economical reasons.

> The problem with this logic is that it fails to address the issue of all the
> poor Scouts living in the wealthier countries. I can't speak for the other

While I share part of your concern, I do feel compelled to mention that
few other countries come anywhere near our per capita income.

Wealthy is a relative concept. A Scout in India, for instance, whose
college-graduate parents earn a combined USDollar-equivalent of $30,000 a
year is wealthy by *local* Indian standards but not by US standards. (US
standards make this a "comfortable" family, not a wealthy one. ..the same
family could well be earning $80,000 in the US.)

Thus, even a "wealthy" Scout from India generally will be poorer than the
"average" Scout from the US at any given Jamboree.

It does no one much good for the US Scouts to go to France or Brazil to a
Jamboree if the only other folks who can afford to be there are more
Americans.

Yes, it smacks of paternalism and Nobless Oblige for the US to pay more
to enable other Scouts to participate. Be grateful you've got it to
share and try not to rub it in.

IMO.

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