Why does the United States even bother to feed millions (perhaps billions) of people on this planet...

[Random Variable]

when in return we're treated like we're the devil?

 

[minendo]

Personally I feel as though those people just dont realize how important the US is to their survival.

 

[Passions]

cuz its just a cover so we can pimp their oil from them. oil makes the world go round and round.

 

[Viper GTS]

Because the bleeding heart liberals think we ARE the devil if we don't.

I'm all for helping out, but the US is NOT responsible for the fate of each & every individual in this world.

Viper GTS

 

[pyonir]

resources and goods. (diamonds, silk, etc)

 

[busmaster11]

<< Because the bleeding heart liberals think we ARE the devil if we don't.

I'm all for helping out, but the US is NOT responsible for the fate of each & every individual in this world.

Viper GTS >>



Being responsible is one thing... Being morally obligated is another...

 

[SCSIfreek]

because idiots in the government thinks we are the big brother and big sister of other nations? They prolly dont have anything better to do than sit on their fat asses and think of something to do. They should solve the hunger problems and homeless problems in our country before going to others. :|

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

not every person outside of the US is out to get us.

 

[MacBaine]

It's all money. We export something to the extent of 80% of the food we grow domestically (can't remember how much exactly). It is major factor in our economy.

 

[Random Variable]

Don't get me wrong, though. I don't think we should stop our humanitarian efforts. I just wonder how many people realize that millions upon millions of people would starve to death if tomorrow we stopped all of our efforts.

 

[Double Trouble]

The US is not a single entity. There are good and kind people in the US and it's government, and there are bad people. The US does a lot of good around the world, but it also does a lot of bad things around the world, as any superpower tends to do. We help feed people because it's the right thing to do. However, if you were one ot eh people getting 'aid', and you were convinced that the US is the very reason you don't have food to begin with (as many of those people do), then you wouldn't be happy and grateful to the US, now would you??

As with everything, there is no easy answer. Keep in mind that a lot of the "humanitarian" things the US does are not really humanitarian at all, but rather serve to further some agenda or have some strategic benefit. Aid often comes with lots of strings attached, not just from the US, but from any country offering 'aid'. Unfortunately many of the good things that the US and it's people do often get overshadowed by the perception of the US as the schoolyard bully (right or wrong).

 

[busmaster11]

<< when in return we're treated like we're the devil? >>



Who treats us like the devil? We do have the most prosperous, powerful, yet isolationist and arrogant government since I can remember...

We stick our nose in everyone's business, throwing our weight around for our selfish good, preventing other (mostly hostile) countries from doing whatever they want... But hey, we sure have Isreal and Kuwait on our side, right?

 

[Random Variable]

<< It's all money. We export something to the extent of 80% of the food we grow domestically (can't remember how much exactly). It is major factor in our economy. >>


Money? Who's paying us?

 

[ToBeMe]

I agree, we have the capabilities to do so, so we are obligated to help out where help is warranted. Having said that though, I do feel that if a country which we send enormous amounts of aid to decides to threaten us, it should be within our means to withold some the aid............

 

[rahvin]

Food aid is bought from american farmers. The Marshal plan (revitalized europe after WWII) did more to stimulate our own economy through government purchase of good delivered outside the country than any other government stimulus project up to that time. Food aid is great, we get the bonus of feeding people (and it does make people like the US, regardless of what the press tells you) and keeping our agriculture viable.

 

[gopunk]

vespasian - i'm noticing a very distinct trend in your posts...

why does the u.s. do *insert thing* when nobody likes us

personally, i wouldn't post the same topic more than a few times, but that's just me.

 

[glen]

I think it is complicated and kind of evolved.
Basically, Jefferson who had a lot of influence, back in the day, believed it was fundamentally important for the Nation to be agrarian. The Nostalgia for farming exists today. Our government subsidizes farming to a huge extent. So, what the heck else are they going to do with all the food? I also think we do it for PR. I also think we do it partle because we genuinely don't want to see other humans suffering.

 

[SpecialEd]

because we have too much freakin food in this country... why do you everyones soo fat!

 

[Random Variable]

<< vespasian - i'm noticing a very distinct trend in your posts...

why does the u.s. do *insert thing* when nobody likes us

personally, i wouldn't post the same topic more than a few times, but that's just me. >>


I'm think I'm just a little angry because there has been a flood of editorials in recent weeks about how awful the United States is.

 

[Bellgoody]

The govt. buys surplus food from the mega AgraCorporations - subsidizing profits while maintaining artificially inflated prices at home.
The rich get richer and the ignorant believe that the U.S. is chairitably "feeding the world."

 

[Random Variable]

Futhermore, virtually everybody on here enjoys attacking the United States. And I figure that someone needs to stand up for his or her country, otherwise everything gets so distorted.

 

[sandorski]

How about some reality here?

1) Every foreigner isn't out to get or hates the US
2) The US isn't the sole nation in this world who gives aid across the globe
3) The US isn't perfect, ie: there are very legitimate ctiticisms that can be made of the US
4) some people bash the US relentlessly to be sure, but others in this bash foreigners(see thread starter) relentlessly as well
5) if the US ceased to exist, the world would suffer a setback, but it wouldn't go to hell. Aka, get over yourself already.

 

[gopunk]

<< Futhermore, virtually everybody on here enjoys attacking the United States. And I figure that someone needs to stand up for his or her country, otherwise everything gets so distorted. >>



it's about 50/50, i don't know where you come up with "virtually everybody"...

 

[bigdog1218]

<< And I figure that someone needs to stand up for his or her country >>



so its like people should agree with a country just to support it, but they shouldn't say anything bad, even though thats their opinion and they have every right to say whatever the hell they want to, sounds like a friggin communist nation



<< I just wonder how many people realize that millions upon millions of people would starve to death if tomorrow we stopped all of our efforts. >>



i just wondered if you realized that this great nation thats feeds so many people allows their own people to starve and live in poverty, even though they have so much food to throw around the world

 

[darkjester]

<< I'm all for helping out, but the US is NOT responsible for the fate of each & every individual in this world. >>


EXACTLY. Granted, we (the U.S.) have interests in some countries (oil, etc), but why bother trying to help countries who are barren wastelands if we just get spat on? It's not our job to save everyone. We should do it because we need what those people can provide (again, oil, etc.), or at the very least because those people will appreciate our help and will call us friend. Otherwise, why bother feeding our enemies? We save their lives so they can potentially take ours?