It is unfortunate that Patricia Rodi should staunchly defend what was clearly a bad and demeaning analogy. And Jim is quite right to point out that foreign-funded scholarships (of which we were and are beneficiaries) is another manifestation of the extent of our dependence on aid. Our medical patients and the elderly who benefit from the humble wheel chair have also been taxpayers for decades. As a sovereign nation and as free citizens, we have the right to say 'no' to offers of aid.

We all agree that we should be grateful for help that we receive. We also all agree that our objective as a country and as individuals is to be less dependent (and in the long-term truly independent).