Sure, if everyone did that then the problem would resolve itself, completely and permanently. You start.
Now, now, let’s not resort to hyperbole. I’m sure all he meant was for the sub-Saharan region to adhere to a strict policy of abstinence until marriage, as has been successfully practiced in so many other places and times in the world.
OK lemme see if I’ve got this right.
President Bush asks for a massive increase in funding for AIDS research.
A paying member of the SDMB comes in moaning about how we poor taxpayers must fund this. When pressed on the issue, he says the Africans should all just bloody well practice abstinence.
I’m going to go lie down now. Someone’s obviously spiked my lemonade with really really bad acid.
Note: I recognize your sarcasm, so don’t take this as addressing your post.
If I remember my facts correctly, many of the women are celibate until marriage (unless raped, which I include because I believe the rape rates are quite high in some areas), but it only takes one of the couple to stray and then bam.
And then the Catholic Church engages in their war on condoms, meaning that if the women are free of AIDS and their husbands are infected, they won’t wear condoms because they’ve been told that condoms don’t help, and might actually hurt.
And if they realized that abstinence was a good way to do that, some of them would. But the level of misinformation in Africa is insane- people there are hearing crazy things like that garlic, beetroot, and lemon to cure AIDS. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to spend money on informing them.
But that’s not what this is about (I think; the OP is vague). AIDS research would benefit people in the states.
In response to the OP: Great! That’s a good use of taxpayer money. Unlike, you know, the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives.
True, they could masturbate instead. Oh wait, you’re against that, too.
I haven’t read the full context of the funding, but on the surface I’d say this increase is one of the few positive points of Little Boots’ administration.
You’re proud of this sentence?
[Hijack]I read a study a while ago that said teenagers pledging abstinence had a higher rate of disease and pregnancy a year later than those who promised to have safe sex.[/hijack]
Holy shit. I feel like Lionel Mandrake now.
Absolutely. You had your say about how your tax dollars are spent when you entered the polling booth. Fortunately, a majority of our representative government agrees that the government should fund medical research, even if a minority of the voters regards it as theft.
You shouldn’t be. Bush has already done a great deal to fight AIDS in Africa, far more than any previous administrations.
I think that within the context that Fear Itself put that sentence (you know, the context you didn’t quote), yes he is proud of that sentence, and has every right to be.
I feel better about it than I do the $14 you wasted on a membership.
Damn you, I wanted to make that same reference. 
Fear Itself: I’ll state that I think mere residence in a country in which you are born implies a tacit agreement at best and is not sufficient justification for taxation. From that position, yes, I, the minority, call it stealing.
I’m not completely heartless, though. I think it was right for you to accept the stolen money to save a life, but I feel you should still repay your debt for the crime committed. Since it’s impractical to repay every member of society who contributed their like amount, might I suggest volunteering at a homeless shelter?
I am well aware that you disagree any such crime was commited, but I hope you see where I am coming from.
Dear Friends, you’ve got me all wrong. I’m all for helping people out. I do it myself as much as my limited income permits. Yup; it’s true, I’ve sent money to help folks in Africa (more than any other country, in fact) a number of times.
But this country is so far in the red ink that it’s not funny! And so Bush and Rice have no business taking money that’s not theirs and giving it away. I have no children and never will, nevetheless, I still am opposed to what many of these photo-op politicians are doing with the money that many Americans work so hard to make, money that is not theirs to give away. There’s nothing wrong with a country being financially solvent (ask your grand kids 30-years down the road).
If you folks are so quick to slam me for where I stand in this regard, fine. Then may I respectfully suggest that you put YOUR OWN MONEY where your mouths are and start sending it out to the desperate people of your choice, as I have.
That would be the hinterlands of Outer Randistan?
No, Rand was a psycho bitch who couldn’t see that just because you don’t have to help someone doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.
I volunteer my time out of the same sense of duty as all citizens should, whether I receive the benefits of your taxes or not. I don’t think I need a quid pro quo to motivate me to donate my time.
How is this NOT putting our money where our mouths are?