"Job cuts may hit aid to Third World"

From today's Metro (article not available online):

"Helping the world's poorest could be hampered by Whitehall staff cuts, MPs warned yesterday. Annual global aid from the Government is to rise to £9 billion by 2010. But the International Development Select Committee said slashing jobs might lead to the extra cash being not directed where it was most needed"

Ah ... the First Rule of Bureaucracy in action: distract attention from the fact its your own cushy jobs that you are trying to protect by wailing that you losing your job will hurt the "vulnerable" and the "needy".

Further, this £9 billion costs twice as much to raise (deadweight and collection costs). So really it costs us £600 per taxpayer per annum

Finally, most of this £9 billion is spent on weapons, bribes and other little luxuries for the ruling classes in the Third World.