Why is America chided for not giving enough foreign aid when we have citizens here who need just as much?

Question

This question is an off-shoot of what trouble-maker just asked.

People want us to give them food, medical supplies, finances and other things to take care of their countries yet we have hungry people here, people without health insurance here and other problems we need to deal with.

I am against welfare and the like, but I especially loathe giving money to foreign countries that don't appreciate the aid anyway.

Answer 1

Seriously? We give far, far more foreign aid than the rest of the world combined. Any one who says we don't do our share is either a fool or a liar.

Answer 2

It is called foreign relations.
America has been involved in foreign affairs whether we like it or not - think Cold War, Vietnam War, and the current Iraq War. What does it have anything with giving foreign aid? It gives this country a leverage when dealing with uncooperative nations. For example, "we will give you medical supplies if you let us use this part of the land to monitor our enemies." Or, "We're good guys, we give $ to African children - you can trust us."

It also gives America a good image around the world, making it easier for us to do businesses there and negotiate better terms for treaties, etc.

So rest assured, whether you realize it or not, not everything is philanthropic - there is a gain as well.

Is the gain worth it? We leave that for the politicians to decide.

Answer 3

We give away BILLIONS and our status as the richest and most prosperous nation makes everyone think that we have an obligation. Look at Kyoto. They wanted us to sign something that essentially put all of the blame ($) on us when China and India--the biggest polluters--had no obligation to pay whatsoever.

Now, while I agree that due to our wealth and freedom, we do owe it to humanity--not one country or the other, but humanity as a whole--to help make sure that people can get help if they need and want it, whether its food and water or military action, we still need to consider who it is we give this money to (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, etc.) and how deserving they truly are, especially when they're bathing in wealth themselves.

Answer 4

I would rather pour our tax dollars into bettering lives of my fellow Americans, pour the money into the inner cities where the average life expectency of a black male is 45 years of age. And even if wealthy Americans like Oprah think the inner cities are not worthy of the charity because they won't help themselves, we try harder and keep trying and don't give up on our own citizens.

I cringe to think of our money going to any American-hating country, which is most of them. I do wish we would go into isolation and a good part of the rest of the hateful world could return to the Middle Ages, fight wars with each other without having to worry about the US coming in and sorting it out, and do it all without my hard-earned tax dollars. The technology of our military is a big reason you don't see the wars like you did pre-20th Century. Let them see what happens without the bad 'ol USA to kick around.

Answer 5

The US spends more than all other countries combined in killing people. On the other hand, it is one of the countries in the industrial world that gives less foreign aid as a percentage of GDP.
The US consumes a Third of the world's resources but holds less than ONE percent of its population. The countries it does help with aid are generally forced into trade agreements that profit the US many time more than the aid given.
As George Kennan stated, keeping such inequities as the rule require the use of force to put down those who may want to overturn US dominance of foreign affairs. The consequence is war and terrorism.
Why should the US spend less on ways to murder us all and more on ways to feed and help others? well, if the US acted more like a good neighbor there would be less people desperate to attack it.
You can close your eyes if you want, but fact is the US makes it self vulnerable by taking resources from third world countries by force and keeping those countries poor by providing aid with structural adjustment strings.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, right?

Answer 6

I know. Finally someone who understands. We need to stop spending all our money on other countries. Let them handle it. It's their country, their responsible for their own problems. Theres a section in Louisiana wher almostall the people are poor, can't read, and don't have very good healthcare. We should help them, instead of sticking our noses in to other country's business. We should seriously start having more concern for our OWN nation than OTHER PEOPLES nations.

Answer 7

I agree with you 100%, but few people agree with me. I say take care of all the americans first before we spend a dime on foreign countries. Same with illegals. When our unemployment rate is less than 1% then we can let some in. Free market, low unemployment is how you drive up wages, just opening the flood gates isnt going to do it.

Answer 8

I say no more foreign aid until we take care of our own. New Orleans is still a shambles, to hell wwith the rest of the world, we have people of our own starving and living in tents.

VOTE OUT ALL INCUMBENTS

Answer 9

I'm going to have to disagree, to some extent.

The poorest people in America are rich compared to most of the Earth's population. Everybody in America gets enough to eat.

That doesn't mean I think we should give more to other countries, or that I think America is selfish. I don't.

We're chided, in large part, because we listen. We're nice people, and it's easy to work on our sympathies.

Answer 10

They are stingy and spoiled, they have problems and they want to blame the American governemtn for them. They think that money is the answer. Where they want money for food, they should be taught how to farm. And I am refering to the American citizens.