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Why so much foreign aid ??

Originally posted by: spherrod
P&N? but what is 19 Billion as a percentage of US Gross National Income?

As a percentage of GDP or something like that, we're pretty low on the list of developed countries in terms of foreign aid I believe.

Why so much? Goodwill.
 
Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos
PR

as long as were giving away money people forget that we bombed, are bombing, or going to bomb them.

heh, i like this answer 🙂

it's funny because it's true
 
Actually, foreign aid is like helping ourselves. The foreign aid that the US gives out is not entirely cash. Sometimes it can be planes, trains, cars, and other US goods. It's like saying, hey, here's a Ford Escort for you and now you owe me for it.

But truly though, everytime there's a diaster anywhere, everyone seems to come calling to the genorisity of U.S. citizens. When we get hit by a diaster, they're like dancing in the streets (9/11) or saying we're unprepaired to address natural diasters (like Katrina).

Frankly, I'd would refocus foreign aid to domestic aid.
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: spherrod
P&N? but what is 19 Billion as a percentage of US Gross National Income?

As a percentage of GDP or something like that, we're pretty low on the list of developed countries in terms of foreign aid I believe.

Why so much? Goodwill.

Yeah, I thought I'd heard something like that - I think one of the scandinavian countries contributes the greatest percentage.

Foreign aid is given by countries not only as a goodwill and a PR gesture but also to help back up foreign policy objectives
 
Originally posted by: CocoGdog
Actually, foreign aid is like helping ourselves. The foreign aid that the US gives out is not entirely cash. Sometimes it can be planes, trains, cars, and other US goods. It's like saying, hey, here's a Ford Escort for you and now you owe me for it.

But truly though, everytime there's a diaster anywhere, everyone seems to come calling to the genorisity of U.S. citizens. When we get hit by a diaster, they're like dancing in the streets (9/11) or saying we're unprepaired to address natural diasters (like Katrina).

Frankly, I'd would refocus foreign aid to domestic aid.

Many foreign governments offered assistance when Katrina hit.
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: CocoGdog
Actually, foreign aid is like helping ourselves. The foreign aid that the US gives out is not entirely cash. Sometimes it can be planes, trains, cars, and other US goods. It's like saying, hey, here's a Ford Escort for you and now you owe me for it.

But truly though, everytime there's a diaster anywhere, everyone seems to come calling to the genorisity of U.S. citizens. When we get hit by a diaster, they're like dancing in the streets (9/11) or saying we're unprepaired to address natural diasters (like Katrina).

Frankly, I'd would refocus foreign aid to domestic aid.

Many foreign governments offered assistance when Katrina hit.

Yep - there were many offers of assistance
 
Originally posted by: spherrod

Yeah, I thought I'd heard something like that - I think one of the scandinavian countries contributes the greatest percentage.

Foreign aid is given by countries not only as a goodwill and a PR gesture but also to help back up foreign policy objectives

Right, that's what I meant when I said goodwill. We give them money so they're beholden to us basically. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: spherrod

Yeah, I thought I'd heard something like that - I think one of the scandinavian countries contributes the greatest percentage.

Foreign aid is given by countries not only as a goodwill and a PR gesture but also to help back up foreign policy objectives

Right, that's what I meant when I said goodwill. We give them money so they're beholden to us basically. 🙂

:beer:
 
It's called "tied foreign aid" where they have to purchase US goods with the money they recieve (often for more than if purchased on the open market, foodstuffs especially)

Oh and the US is last among the developed nations in aid to GDP percentage at 0.13% Text

Not that it is not appreciated. Definately credit is due where money is given to lower income nations (and all first world states should be doing much more) although looking at absolute numbers and patting oneself on the back is not the whole story...

Analagous - If a millionaire gave $1000 to charity does that make him more generous that the family with a $100,000 income giving $100? Or if the family gave $300, does the larger percentage make as much difference anyways? Starving nations don't care about how much in percentage comparisons to total income, they just need food and $1000 can buy more than $300.

That's why credit should be given to the US. Keep up USAID but don't think that it is leaps and bounds more "generous" than other G8 nations.
 
Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Originally posted by: boggsie
I know U.S.A. is great and all, but 19 billion.

Are you stupid or something? Japan has the population of California, and you're complaining that the entire US spends twice as much?

wtf are you smoking? according to the CIA factbook, they are at 125million people.
 
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Originally posted by: boggsie
I know U.S.A. is great and all, but 19 billion.

Are you stupid or something? Japan has the population of California, and you're complaining that the entire US spends twice as much?

wtf are you smoking? according to the CIA factbook, they are at 125million people.

Yeah, Wiki has them at 127 million
 
before all the 'europe is great' circle jerk starts up, i'd like to ask what the private giving rate is? if US individuals donate at a high rate then the US as a whole gives at a higher rate, potentially higher than the rest of the western bloc.
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: spherrod

Yeah, I thought I'd heard something like that - I think one of the scandinavian countries contributes the greatest percentage.

Foreign aid is given by countries not only as a goodwill and a PR gesture but also to help back up foreign policy objectives

Right, that's what I meant when I said goodwill. We give them money so they're beholden to us basically. 🙂

Exactly. Most foriegn aid has strings attached, with votes for or against UN resolutions being the most well known. Many (most?) of the "yes" votes made by the UN security council on the failed vote to invade Iraq were made by countries receiving large amounts of US aid. I believe the US held threats to cut foreign aid over Turkey's head when it came to allowing us to use their airspace (or something similar) with regards to Iraq.

The sadest thing is that of all the aid we give, about 1/6th, or $3.1 billion, goes to Israel, the majority in military aid. That's a hair less than the $3.2 billion we give to the entire continent of Africa. Israel has a population of just over 6 million, while Africa has a population of 800 million. That's $516/person to Israel and $4/person to Africa. :disgust:
 
Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Originally posted by: boggsie
I know U.S.A. is great and all, but 19 billion.

Are you stupid or something? Japan has the population of California, and you're complaining that the entire US spends twice as much?

Actually, Japan has 127+ million people (less than half of the US) in a land mass about the size of California. And only something around 60% is habitable due to the mountainous region. So why don't you not call someone stupid when you are the ignorant one.
 
Originally posted by: spherrod
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Originally posted by: boggsie
I know U.S.A. is great and all, but 19 billion.

Are you stupid or something? Japan has the population of California, and you're complaining that the entire US spends twice as much?

wtf are you smoking? according to the CIA factbook, they are at 125million people.

Yeah, Wiki has them at 127 million

i rounded down to 125 😉
 
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
Originally posted by: spherrod
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Originally posted by: boggsie
I know U.S.A. is great and all, but 19 billion.

Are you stupid or something? Japan has the population of California, and you're complaining that the entire US spends twice as much?

wtf are you smoking? according to the CIA factbook, they are at 125million people.

Yeah, Wiki has them at 127 million

i rounded down to 125 😉


what difference does a couple of million make? 😉:beer:
 
Originally posted by: Lifted
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: spherrod

Yeah, I thought I'd heard something like that - I think one of the scandinavian countries contributes the greatest percentage.

Foreign aid is given by countries not only as a goodwill and a PR gesture but also to help back up foreign policy objectives

Right, that's what I meant when I said goodwill. We give them money so they're beholden to us basically. 🙂

Exactly. Most foriegn aid has strings attached, with votes for or against UN resolutions being the most well known. Many (most?) of the "yes" votes made by the UN security council on the failed vote to invade Iraq were made by countries receiving large amounts of US aid. I believe the US held threats to cut foreign aid over Turkey's head when it came to allowing us to use their airspace (or something similar) with regards to Iraq.

The sadest thing is that of all the aid we give, about 1/6th, or $3.1 billion, goes to Isreal, the majority in military aid. That's a hair less than the $3.2 billion we give to the entire continent of Africa.

Yeah and the next two after Israel are Egypt and Columbia, with both being almost all military aid.
 
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