What's your opinion on US aiding foreign countries?

Question

Why do Americans feel the constant need to aid and assist foreign countries when we have the exact same problems on our own soil? For instance: I just read about Brad Pitt joining this alliance to go build homes in India for the poor...WE HAVE MILLIONS OF HOMELESS HERE!!! I just get so damn fed up with the way people think here. My motto is take care of your own first and then hand out what's left over, but that doesn't seem to be the way anyone else thinks. Am I crazy? And don't get me started with Iraq...

Answer 1

I agree with you. First of all, I ascribe to the theory that charity indeed does begin at home. I can think of a few reasons the U.S. is so quick to dish out our hard-earned money to foreign countries, but none includes generosity. I think our country wants to keep its status as an all-powerful nation, and gain the respect and admiration of other nations. Trouble is, it has backfired more than once. I have good reason to believe that these other nations we willingly dole out financial help to, are the same ones that would stab us in the back the minute our backs are turned. They don't appreciate it, and they laugh at us behind our backs, for being naive.

I correspond on line with numerous people from foreign countries, and they all say the same thing. After the liberation of Paris in WWII, the French were extremely grateful to the American troops. But somewhere along the line, the gratitude changed to derision of the U.S., and other countries followed suit. We have given millions to countries who have experienced disasters. What have they ever done for us? Did they, with few exceptions, come rushing to our shores with handouts following 9/11? Did they offer their assistance after the hurricane destruction last year in New Orleans and Mississippi? We tapped into our resources during the Tsunami disaster, without even a second thought. But was it reciprocal? Appreciated? Even acknowledged out of politeness? You know the answers to that.

I say let the foreign nations fend for themselves and take care of our own starving and homeless people. I hope for the sake of argument that others feel the same as you and I, and that includes the pro-Bush people as well as those who will vote Democrat in the next election.

Answer 2

Good question. I'd imagine "Foreign Aid" is just a clever way of saying paying off. 1 example, Turkey. Yeah they voted against the US but they allowed us to use their airbases when the US invaded Iraq. I think we had to pay them more than what is technically foreign aid. So if we didn't give them foreign aid then they probably wouldn't have allowed us to use them. And I bet presidents dangle the cash in front of them every time we need something. This argument can go both ways. Do we not allow their own opinions and rights to disagree without repurcussions? For some no, if we are paying them. I'd say cut them off and pay them off when we need something. At that time they can express their opinions. It'll probably be cheaper.

Answer 3

Foreign aid is part of foreign policy. Though sometime I wonder if it hasn't actually brought harm rather than help to a lot of those countries. I haven't been particularly impressed with some things like the World Bank, or the ready forgiveness of debt.

But your quarrel with Pitt? Is he not free to do as he chooses? And I think it's a better investment to build homes for India's poor. The Indians are without homes through no fault of their own - many were born into homeless families.

This is in distinct contrast to many of the US homeless, of whom the majority are addicts and the mentally ill. We are no longer able to institutionalize these people, so they wander the streets.

As for taking care of them, you are free to spend all your time and money on helping them.

Answer 4

I agree that we have many problems here, and they need to be addressed. And, although you don't hear about it much, they are being taken care of...slowly.

As for helping other countries, we as a government do it because we are expected to. America is a prosperous country, and if we sat back and did nothing, it would lose us favor in the eyes of the global community. It's kind of like Public Relations. Countries help us, because we help them. They might not give us money, but they help us by letting us use thier air space, or ports, by lending troops, etc.

By supporting others we are helping our country...just not in the same ways (ie: building houses in Africa does not get it done here).

Answer 5

no not iraq. but what happened after katrina??
and aiding other countries. It is no secret that america once aided Saddam ( Ooops! sorry !! ) , taliban in fighting the soviets...
Problem is some of these people repay it . which could turn out to be highly inconvenient. Better idea is to make ( try to ) things better at home first. Like trying to do something to the economy.

Answer 6

Until we solve our own problems with homelessness and hungry children we have no business sending our food and tax dollars somewhere else to just get intercepted by some warlord that doesn't give the food and or money to the people that it was supposed to go to.

Answer 7

Too many points to cover here.. Please understand, the MAJORITY of homeless people here in America choose to life that life (with the understanding that many of them have emotional issues). I don't know that we should knock good works anywhere they are done, but I do believe foreign aid should be cut to most of the countries it is sent to.

Answer 8

well for individuals offering help ... many including myself, feel that they can actually make a difference in peoples lives that would never have the opportunity to have anything in a third world country ... yes, there are people in trouble in the states but i feel that anyone that wants to apply themselves has opportunity to help themselves here ... not so in some other countries ... and as far as the govt giving aid thats a deception .. its usually the banks that do that in the name of the US but theyre doing it in the form of loans and profiting off of it .....

Answer 9

If the states don't help other countries then other countries won't help the states. if something bad happens to you (in general, not you yourself) you will have to ask for aid because you were not interested in giving it... you do get what you give in politiqs, business, love, and practically everything else.

Answer 10

Since we can not or will not take care of our needy here, aid to other countries should be illegal