Does the U.S. have a moral obligation to give aid to 3rd World people?

Question

Most of the world condemns the U.S. when it doesn't help out a poor, starving 3rd world nation (after all, it's OUR job, not theirs... hah.) But... why should it help? What has that nation ever done for the U.S.? Isn't it (shouldn't it) be a two-way street? Why don't the people of that nation help themselves? If they are that pathetic that they simply cannot take care of and provide for themselves, what does that say about them? The strong have no moral duty toward the weak, just as the weak have no moral duty toward the strong... they also have no right to demand help from the strong.

Now, I'm not saying that you shouldn't help a little old lady across the street. I would. But she's feeble and helpless. But the grown up, able bodied residents of African, Asian, and South American nations who simply cannot take care of themselves--if they need help, then they must FIRST admit that they are weak, feeble, childlike, and helpless BEFORE they DEMAND aid from the U.S. or Great Britain!

Answer 1

Considering the fact that the US has created the third world conditions, and continues to deny development potential to third world nations, yup, we've got a moral obligation.

See, you can give them some charity to keep them afloat so they can still make your $3.00 Old Navy tank top, without having to actually change the system.

Answer 2

What's your problem? First of all, I come from South America, I have lived and still live all my life in South America and I can take care of myself. In my house I have 2 cars, acces to internet, cable TV all that in a confortable house. I would be very stupid to believe that I have all that because I'm STRONG, and the famine African of South American don't has it because he's WEAK. They're starving not because they're WEAK but because they never had the chance to study in a decent school, they had very feel opportunity to improve their lifes. I would like to see how STRONG you are, you say you're STRONG. I would like to say what would you do if I put you in the middle of the rural zone of an African country, let's see how STRONG you are. When I come back 10 years later you will be in a much better situation than your neighbors because you're STRONG right? haha

The world don't aks the US to donate, ALL first world country donates, the US is one of the countries in the world that less donate per capita in the world. You are so worried about your dollars, less than 1% of US GDP is given to donation. You're right when you say that 3rd world countries should develop by themselfes but only a DUMB person like you will think that they don't develop becauser they are not capable, instead of thinking that they don't develop because it's incredibly difficult. Do you think your anglo people was always rich? Do you know that when the Roman Empire was in its highest esplendor the anglos were a bunch of savages that couldn't read and write?

What should those nations do to the US? What should Burkina Faso to the US? What can Burkina Faso do to the US? What a DUMB question, don't you think? What I do know is that the US stole half of Mexican territorry, when are you going to give it back? What I do know is that during the first half of the XXth century the US invaded Central American countries inumerous times just to put governments loyal to the US.

You're one of the DUMBIEST person I've ever seen on Yahoo! Answers.

It amazes how can a human beeing like YOU be so worried with dollars that you could be using to buy magazines while people are starving.

I recommend you a trip to Africa so that you know how the reality is. And I recommend you make this question you made to them all and to the aid people that work there.

Bie.

Answer 3

First, all human beings are morally obligated to help those who need our help be they little old ladies down the street or robust young men working for an American corporation for less than a dollar a day.

Secondly, A LOT of people in third world nations are kept impoverished by a system of discrimination and inequality often perpetrated by corporations based in the United States. Sweatshop labor ensures that we can buy a t-shirt for about $10 but the true cost of the manufacture of that shirt is born by the workers who are often not paid enough to build a good life or to care for themselves let alone their families. If there is only one place to work in your village, you often have to take whatever they are offering despite if it is enough to feed your family or not. Any attempts by the workers to unionize or seek better treatment is often crushed, violently.

So, impoverished people are kept impoverished by a system that does not value their contributions but on a system that we all rely upon to give us cheap crap and fulfill our materialistic greed for the new and better.

Poverty keeps people weak and voiceless. They do not have the ability to change their situation despite if they are 6, 26, or 66 so your view of "strength" and "weakness" is not applicable to their situations. In short, it is a rather naive and unrealistic appraisal of the situation.

Third, I don't see how demanding that people - who have the same capacity for pride as we do - admit that they are anything but the victims that they are is going to change their situation or make them any less impoverished.

Answer 4

Moral obligations apply to people, companies, and countries.

We have an abundance of resources that allowed our young nation to grow exponentially. We in turn invested in intellectual capital. With the information age, walls between 3rd and 1st world nations can be bridged and new opportunities created.

Others may say that it is American corporations and government that are creating these conditions, but I disagree. Corrupt individuals within 3rd world nations have caused more hardships than individuals from the 1st world nations.

As for me, I’m not giving a dime to a bum who asks me for money, but I’ll give a man a job if he comes to me and asks for work and puts effort into it. I think the same principle should apply to diplomacy.

Answer 5

Morality has nothing to do with weak and strong, young or old. We all have a moral responsibility to help other human beings if we can. The US is a country (a collection of people) not a person and therefore isn't obligated to help anyone. But you should be proud that the country you live in chooses to percieve itself as one entity therby offering help to those who need it. Being that the US is the only country powerful and resourceful enough to offer aid, the world does view this country as having a moral obligation to better humanity for all people...weak or strong, young or old.

Answer 6

I agree completely. If a country is in such a state that they have to ask for aid from another country, they should admit they cannot take care of themselves. Once they admit they cannot take of themselves, they should be required to become at the very least a territory of the country helping them, if not become a state of the helping nation altogether. The reason nations form is because they want to control their areas of land and take care of their own people. If they cannot do this under their own power, they shouldn't be in control. I for one am sick of seeing our tax dollars being wasted in this way. Look at the middle east for example. With all the money pouring into that one little country, what are we going to have accomplished when we are done. Nothing. We will still be sending money after the war is over, to help them rebuild. Most likely their will still be someone in power that isn't doing a very good job and we will have done this for nothing. We still have people in this country needing help, and all the money and manpower pouring out of the country could be used to help with the problems we have here at home. All it does is hurt us in the long run. People can disagree with me if they want, but that is my opinion and I firmly believe what I state above. One last thing. America isn't a christian nation, it's people are. Their is a big big diffrence. Our country was founded on seratation of church and state. If you do not believe me check out this link

http://www.nobeliefs.com/Tripoli.htm

Answer 7

Hey why not look at if they are a communist or dictatorship?
You see they do not have an incentive to help them selves. We have the same problem here with people on welfare and the food stamp program.
I DO agree with you, but almost every nation receives aid of some sort from our tax dollars. free trade, military equipment, food and debt relief and more.
Did you send money to the victims in the earthquake in Pakistan? how about the tsunami or the Russian school.

Sorry I now give only to American relief and groups.

Answer 8

Most of the world condemns the US because the US destroyed nations indirectly and directly. You destroy, you should fix too.

thats why Haliburton gets paid to rebuild nations.

Answer 9

You can say what you are saying if America is not a Christian nation. But if we know and undersand our God, He tells us to help those in need. It was man who said, "help those who help themselves," not God.

We've been blessed by God to help other nations and to take His gospel into all the world. Would you want to lose God's blessings?

Answer 10

Hah. Well America's meddled in so many country's business, you'd think the world would have enough.