Few of my friends would doubt my progressive bonafides. So when I react with dismay to another article that promises a money give-away to Third World countries, you might be surprised.
Take the latest plan on expanding digital technology.
The Geneva summit disappointed many countries after the rich nations failed to back a Digital Solidarity Fund.
The fund, intended to help finance technology projects in developing countries, was formally launched earlier this year.
The voluntary fund has so far only raised $6.4m (£3.68m) in cash and pledges, so the UN will be hoping to encourage more contributions.
I can only imagine what would happen with yet more large dollar grants handed off to ineffective developing nation governments. These funds have a history of overpromising and underdelivering. In order to make a difference, initiatives around micro loans and volunteer programs such as Geek Corps that have the largest potential to foster on the ground improvements in the quality of life for residents in developing nations. The countries themselves simply don’t have the infrastructure to disburse large sums of money effectively, nor, in many cases, does the political will exist to try. Using even a franction of that money to further expand these kinds of initiatives would go a long way.