I'm not against this, understand, but where is the $2.5 billion for OUR schools to help OUR middle class?

Question

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_dade/story/252913.html

"Latin American countries and the Caribbean -- but not Cuba -- would get an infusion of $2.5 billion over the next 10 years to help reduce poverty and expand the middle class under a bipartisan Congressional proposal that has the support of the Senate's two Cuban-American lawmakers.

Republican Mel Martinez of Florida teamed up with Democrat Bob Menendez of New Jersey on Thursday to introduce a bill they said would fund programs to improve education, housing, healthcare and economic development in a region where 40 percent of the population lives below the poverty line."

What do you think?

Answer 1

You are but one of the few people that has seen just how people get into High Government and State offices and turn their interest to their own countries. Next time people set out to vote, look at the back ground, and special interests of the person running for office. Our children and the school systems are taking a back seat to special interests group and what there needs are.

Answer 2

Cuba was not included probably because Fidel's brother has been out in the streets, and in his announcements, asking the people of Cuba to come and have an honest, open, but realistic discussions on what is wrong with their country. He has told them that he wants feedback on anything they want to say or discuss to resolve the country's problems.

Some have openly on the news, said that the problems were fixed before, and then went back to the same as before. Others are hopeful that they are really ready and willing to listen to the citizens concerns. So hopefully they are looking to turn things around for their people. They have already been told the Cuban peoples wages are too low.

And I too am against sending any money out to other countries, until the issues of funding our own programs to improve education, housing, health care and economic development are addressed.

Bottom line, I don't think anymore of American Taxpayer dollars should fix other countries problems. Not unless America itself over sees what is needed for one. And the Tax Payers over see how the money is spent for two.

Let's just stop handing over money to other countries and "assume" that they will do with the money what it is or was intended for. That will cut back on the corruption that we know exists.

Answer 3

I'm always suspicious of any money going to third world nations. Sometimes it's a way to fund dictators with out openly stating it. Sometimes the money is given so they will buy American products. These products are not always useful for the people who they are given. It's often a hidden way to have tax payers support certain industries or companies. I think it's pointless to give these countries any money uinless we oversee how the money is spent. Some dictator would probably hire their cousin to build a school with it that will never be completed.

Answer 4

I would have liked to be shown what countries in Latin America are to get this money. I also am confused at the site it says , 2.5 billion may be sent to Americans,this certainly does appear to be very misleading.This story is saying these countries contain, American citizens and they are part of America and this money is going to help Americans how?

Answer 5

Oh no. Until they fix the schools of this nation, I don't want to see my tax dollars diverted for this. It is the responsibility of every nation to provide education.
When they fix our schools, and there's surplus funds, then send it to aid the 50th poorest nations in the world for education. The only nation in the North or South American continents and the nearby islands on that list is Haiti.

Answer 6

Iraq.
But they'll make it up to us.

No,

Really.

Okay. All fecetiousness aside, our schools are a MESS. Our kids and grandkids are learning at the rate of the slowest learner in the class, but at the end of the year they are expected to pass the tests for that grade level without ever having been taught the material.

Answer 7

I AM against this....

Ok, we have a housing market that is in serious trouble, our schools are a mess, our middle class is being crunched into oblivion, and the answer is to send funding to other countries instead of taking care of their own citizens?? Do our representatives even have a brain? When are they going to start to represent the citizens of THIS country as they were elected to do? This is simply outrageous...

EDIT- btw, this is the same answer I posted in the comments section of the article..

Answer 8

Money isn't needed for our schools. They are extremely wasteful and the average cost per student per year is WAY over $10,000. That is plenty of money. It just needs to be spent on the right things.

As for sending money to other countries schools that is so silly that it just makes me laugh. What is wrong with our lawmakers that they feel this expenditure is required.

This is OUR money they are spending!!! We really need to clean house (and senate) on these fools!!

Answer 9

remember when president clinton created the dept. of education and yanked it away from the states? well,everytime there is an appropriate of money to schools, the very top priority is for cost of living increases for all federal employees(teachers and administrators) first, then what is left over is for salary, then the needed supplies

Answer 10

I think they should have matching funds to hire border guards and inspectors of imported goods.