What do you think about foreign aid? Is it money down a rathole?

Question

Part of the reason for the national debt has been Big Giveaways.
What's your position on showering other countries with money that can't seem to support themselves?

Answer 1

Well, given that we only give less than 1% of our GDP, I think that using that as a reason for our debt is rediculous. We are dead last when it comes to percentages of GDP's that go towards foreign aid. Aside from that, I think that it is a good way to gain and keep support. What if your city/county/state decided that a portion of the real estate taxes were to go to a general fund that helped you in a time of need, say divorce, health problems, death, unemployment. Would you be more willing to support them when they asked for something that you weren't really too sure about? I think you would. They might say something such as: "Remember that time when we gave you all that money because you had cancer?" You would not feel too great about helping them out, but you might do it anyways. It's about public relations.

Also, foreign aid also goes to help prop up economies. If there is nobody to buy our products, who are we going to sell them to? We need people to trade with. True, we don't have as many as we need right now, but these things run in cycles. As our dollar declines in value, our goods become cheaper to those who's values are higher. As our goods become cheaper, they buy more of them. When they buy more, it creates jobs. As more jobs are created, more people have more money to spend. As more people have more money to spend they buy more things. When they buy more things it boosts our economy. As our economy goes up, our dollar value goes up. When our dollar value gets too high, foreign goods become cheaper because they cost less to buy. It's one big cycle.

Foreign aid is a necessity. The gap between the haves and the have nots can't be too high. When it gets too high, the losing end gets fed up and revolts. It's happened time and time again throughout history. It pays to keep everyone happy.

Answer 2

Yes. Although the people in power are using it as a means to an end, the average citizen doesn't benefit by it the way they seem to think they will.
I don't believe in any government giveaways to foreigners either here or in other countries. I also don't believe it should be legal for private American companies to operate outside the US, to outsource, etc. I don't believe any American employer should be allowed to hire anyone who isn't an American citizen. I also don't believe private American charities should be allowed to give more than 25% of their donations to foreigners. They should be required by law to use most of their charity for Americans. However, I do believe in domestic aid, and you'd be surprised at how bad off the poor are these days in this regard. For example, American citizens can't get medical care for years, often until it is too late. Then if they do get to go to the doctor or hospital, they have to share the waiting room with foreigners, and are often called last. It's a real slap in the face.

Answer 3

It's kind of like parents confering some privilige on children who become too big to spank. Perhaps their own computer or a cell phone. This gives you bargaining power. "If these grades don't show improvement, the cell phone gets cancelled!"

So foreign aid is basically a bribe. It can be MUCH cheaper to buy a nation's cooperation than it is to compel it through military might.

Answer 4

I think that money should be spent on Americans. Why should we give one dime to a third world country that continues to breed like animals when we have homeless Americans and some of them are even veterans. It's kinda like feeding the children in Africa. My mom sent money 30 years ago and look it isn't any better today because those kids lived and grew up and started breeding more.

Answer 5

via fact of this this is important to offer privately via charitable giving. the money/centers is a lot greater in all threat to get to the folk who're in desire. that's probably going one among the justifications why the Bush human beings funded countless "non secular" agencies in Africa who have been giving out AIDS drugs, and so on. to no longer push their faith, yet to get the stuff to the folk there. like it or no longer, most of the folk volunteering their time in third international countries for scientific and humanitarian reasons have some style of non secular bent. yet...you do no longer look involved in helping absolutely everyone. Why do you consume on a daily basis? you are going to die. you're basically prolonging the inevitable.

Answer 6

and you really think foreign aid is due to a philanthropic government? the purpose of foreign "aid" is not what it seems, theres something much bigger behind it. stop being ignorant.