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gale kooser

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Sanctions verses citizens caught in the middle...

Just what do countries hope to accomplish by imposing sanctions on another country when the people in the sanctioned country can't get important drugs for their illnesses? Like cancer drugs etc. Not only are adults affected but so are children. What can be done to help these people?

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    Daryl Roche

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    Feb 22 2013: You have drawn attention to a situation that you admit is created by politicians and yet insist on a discussion and solution that does not involve politics. Furthermore, this is a forum, and a forum by it's very nature is political.

    The purpose of "sanctions" is to force the people of the sanctioned group to feel the weight of the disagreement beyond the governing body involved. It is a push to force them to reform their own government.

    • gale kooser 20+

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      Feb 22 2013: I know what sanctions are!
      My question was (and still is): How can we help these people?
      It maybe a political forum but you don't need to attack someone cause they asked a simple question.
      I was under the impression things were done differently here on TED!
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        Daryl Roche

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        Feb 22 2013: I understand what you are asking and it was not my intention to "attack" you but instead to try and help you understand that what you have asked is political in nature and to expect political fallout…

        So to your question the second half of my response was meant to clarify that "sanction" of the type you have based this discussion on are meant to create suffering in the mainstream population of the country the sanctions are aimed at. The intent is to force the people to alter their government's behavior. Therefore helping them would be counter-productive.

        • gale kooser 20+

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          Feb 22 2013: I have been a member of TED for quite sometime and offer up answers when I feel I can contribute. So what happens the first time I post a question: I get told I don't vote wisely and get told I am insisting on something. All I expected were replies that could broaden the scope of my understanding.
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        Daryl Roche

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        Feb 22 2013: I understand your compassion and frustration with an action that causes the suffering of people and your desire to help them. I am not a machine and can share your compassion, however, I have also tried to give you a broader perspective on the intent of "sanctions" as a political means to encourage a people and their government to address specific issues of concern, which are at the heart of why sanctions are levied when the afore mentioned government and/or it's people have refused to do so.

        Can you offer an example where helping to lesson the suffering of the people in question could be done without weakening the effect of the sanctions against their government? Ending the practice of "sanctions" would be one way of alleviating the suffering of these people.

  • gale kooser 20+

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    Feb 22 2013: I vote wisely but once those elected get into office they learn things that are going on, which is usually not public information. I do not want to cause this question to become a political forum but to find ways to help the people caught in the middle.
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      Krisztián Pintér 200+

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      TED Translator
      Feb 22 2013: it is impossible that you vote wisely, but somehow the politicians you voted for turn out to be evil. there must be something wrong then.

      • gale kooser 20+

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        Feb 22 2013: This is NOT a question about voting wisely but about trying to help those caught in the middle. Between governments that are at odds with each other and those caught in between. This stuff has been going on for ages-before voting even.
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    Gail . 50+

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    Feb 22 2013: Nothing for as long as people continue to vote for the abomination that our US government has become.
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    Krisztián Pintér 200+

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    TED Translator
    Feb 22 2013: vote wisely
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