How much should we spend on foreign aid
- Thread starter Big Don
- Start date
But you never GIVE to any country, there's always an ulterior motive behind any aid given. It depends on whether you think you are getting value for your money doesn't it?
OP
OP
Big Don
Sr. Grandmaster
The President’s FY 2010 International Affairs Budget for the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and other foreign affairs agencies provides the resources to renew America’s global leadership through diplomacy and foreign assistance that enhances our security, advances our interests, and reflects our values. This budget totals approximately $53.9 billion, including food aid
1. Israel $2.4 billion
2. Egypt $1.7 billion
3. Pakistan $798 million
4. Jordan$688 million
5. Kenya $586 million
6. South Africa $574 million
7. Mexico $551 million
8. Colombia $541 million
9. Nigeria $491 million
10. Sudan $479 million
That is the top ten.
What are we giving money to Sudan for? So they can let their own people be murdered?
1. Israel $2.4 billion
2. Egypt $1.7 billion
3. Pakistan $798 million
4. Jordan$688 million
5. Kenya $586 million
6. South Africa $574 million
7. Mexico $551 million
8. Colombia $541 million
9. Nigeria $491 million
10. Sudan $479 million
That is the top ten.
What are we giving money to Sudan for? So they can let their own people be murdered?
jarrod
Senior Master
well to be fair, that's true of any charity, even if all you get is a warm fuzzy feeling. i'm okay with us spending some on foreign aid, primarily for disaster relief. it's good for our country's image & the bottom line is that help gets to people who need it. i'm not really interested in our prolonged involvement in other nation's business though.
jf
OP
OP
Big Don
Sr. Grandmaster
Same here, but, that is just being a good neighbor
Nor am I, but, if we are going to give money away, lets not do it all willy-nilly, lets attach some strings.
celtic_crippler
Senior Master
So...like...if we didn't give that money away...we might could have...like.. avoided going further in debt...by...like... not passing TARP?
...aw who cares...it ain't the government's money anyway...it's ours! It's real easy to spend other people's money.
...aw who cares...it ain't the government's money anyway...it's ours! It's real easy to spend other people's money.
ItÂ’s not like there is a cheque for $X billion going out.
Much of it, especially the Israeli $$, is based on military equipment. Who do you think tests new American weapons in combat?
Most of those top countries are Local American allies/supporters, vital in keeping stability in their respective regions. The $$ to Columbia and Mexico is suppose to help stop the drug trade at its source.
FA works best when you get it on the ground, once you start giving it to governmentsÂ….It kinds starts to disappearÂ…
Marginal
Senior Master
Judging by your own link, mainly stuff like AIDs relief, and fighting drug trafficking.
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/101415.pdf
Winning the good will of people in other countries is a worthwhile pursuit regardless. It goes to the same end as maintaining a strong military does.
Empty Hands
Senior Master
All this arguing and bitching and possible real world negative consequences over 53 billion dollars? If you really want to trim the budget, you need to first look at the military budget, then at transfer payments. That's where the real fat is. Even if you eliminated all foreign aid, it would amount to only a 5% reduction in the yearly deficit.
.7% of GDP.
Apparently, if all the richest nations spent .7% of GDP on foreign aid, you could eliminate tens of millions of preventable deaths due to poverty, starvation, illness like malaria, and so forth.
Why do that? Well, first there's the simple issue of saving millions of people. Secondly, terrorism is an international issue. Provide food, shelter and stability in impoverished neighbourhoods and you start to address the issue.
Apparently, if all the richest nations spent .7% of GDP on foreign aid, you could eliminate tens of millions of preventable deaths due to poverty, starvation, illness like malaria, and so forth.
Why do that? Well, first there's the simple issue of saving millions of people. Secondly, terrorism is an international issue. Provide food, shelter and stability in impoverished neighbourhoods and you start to address the issue.
Marginal
Senior Master
Bah. Then you'd just have healthy terrorists who'd use their state funded yoga lessons to bend and twist around security barriers so they could blow up even more high value targets with their strong, strong, lithe legs!
