Do people mistakenly believe that if USA stopped giving foreign aid, poverty would decrease among UScitizens?

Question

I have noticed, that some people believe that statement to be true.

Am I reading this right or is that some kind of "factual common sense" (in quotes to represent sarcasm)?

Any body in Yahoo! Land, please explain.

I had no idea that government handouts created wealth. I thought it was the individual.

heidi- LOL sometimes I have to laugh at your responses. funding government programs does not alleviate poverty!

Answer 1

Here is the problem with just giving people money: many poor people have abysmal money management skills. In fact, a lot of people are "poor" because they fritter their money away.

I saw a tv show in which three separate people had their money problems scrutinized by a money management expert. The "poor" person was making an admittedly modest salary, but was wasting about 30% of it. This "poor" person insisted on having coffee every day at Starbucks, and considered luxuries like cable tv and restaurant dinners as completely normal.

People look at the money given to foreign countries and say, "If they took that $180 billion and distributed it among the poor, the problem would be solved". Well, you know what often happens when people get money like this? They spend it frivolously and get in a bigger financial bind than before. For example, a person might decide he could suddenly afford a better apartment and car. Then he starts spending the money hand over fist and soon he can't pay his rent or mortgage. His car gets repossessed. He runs up huge credit card debt.

I have absolutely no doubt that, if the government was ever stupid enough to give "reparations" for slavery, we would soon be reading many cautionary tales about recipients who ended up bankrupt because they went overboard with spending, and got in over their heads.

Answer 2

Poverty doesn't decrease through aid. It is a truth, there will always be poor.

But that is a big sheeple talking point, if the government didn't spend so much on (foreign aid, wars, defense, etc...) then there would be more money for (the US, healthcare, education, etc...)

That's why we have pro's run the government. And you're right, wealth is built by the individual, but a collective of individuals working their best for society and getting paid according to their needs.

Answer 3

I don't know how Israelis feel about it. However, the Dimona Radar Facility is an American-operated radar base in the Negev Desert (Southern Israel), which staffs 120 military personnel. Now, you can argue that Israel lets America use the Port of Haifa (for the U.S. 6th Naval Fleet) while maintaining control of it, but there is a base there. I don't think that we should give foreign aid to Israel (or some of the other countries in the region) because I don't think that we could afford aid to first-world economic countries and it seems like bribery or material support of obsolete weaponry.

Answer 4

The reason we think those funds would be diverted to the needy in our country is because since George W bush has screwed up the republican party so bad, a democrat is going to win the White House and democrats will continue to control both houses, therefore, the common man will benifit in opposed to the republican way of doling out corporate welfare by the trillions

Answer 5

Government programs give people an excuse not to work. Why work, when good ole' uncle sam will just pay for your food, and shelter. The practical people agree with you. Money can't be thrown at a problem to solve it.

Answer 6

it would make living more appropriate if we didnt have any war going on. the government doesnt actually handout free money but keep in mind the money we pay towards tax is supposed to be used to build better roads and stuff for a better living, instead its being used to buy guns and bombs.
and as a result the gas prices are going high. who is to blame for that?

Answer 7

If they would spend that Foreign Aid money on improving schools and raising teacher salaries enough to make it attractive for bright people to want to do, if they would ACTUALLY fulfill their "No Child Left Behind" promises?

Then these better educated kids can go to college and get degrees which should help them get better jobs, pay more taxes and help the NEXT set of Americans coming.

Giving Aid to those who use it to attack us and spit on our values is not a good financial deal for the US.

Answer 8

Poverty would not decrease but that money sure as hell would solve the Social Security solvency problem huh?

Answer 9

Sorry, maybe you are confusing 'decreasing poverty' with 'getting rich'. If we have a hard time funding programs to help americans, maybe we shouldn't give money to other countries. Hope this helps you understand better...

Answer 10

I think they do. Why they think those funds would even be used for the poor is beyond me.