Why so much foreign aid ??
- Thread starter boggsie
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OrganizedChaos
Diamond Member
- Apr 21, 2002
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PR
as long as were giving away money people forget that we bombed, are bombing, or going to bomb them.
as long as were giving away money people forget that we bombed, are bombing, or going to bomb them.
spherrod
Diamond Member
spherrod
Diamond Member
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.
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.
spherrod
Diamond Member
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
spherrod
Diamond Member
spherrod
Diamond Member
Originally posted by: mugs
Right, that's what I meant when I said goodwill. We give them money so they're beholden to us basically.
:beer:
Are you stupid or something? Japan has the population of California, and you're complaining that the entire US spends twice as much?
mrSHEiK124
Lifer
- Mar 6, 2004
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Bono romped on Bush in a CNN article a week ago, he said the US gives less than 1% of its budget for foreign aid.
EDIT: http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/02/bono.bush.ap/index.html
EDIT: http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/02/bono.bush.ap/index.html
Toonces
Golden Member
- Feb 5, 2000
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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.
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.
spherrod
Diamond Member
- Mar 20, 2000
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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
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:
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.
spherrod
Diamond Member
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
i rounded down to 125
what difference does a couple of million make?
:beer:Originally posted by: Lifted
Originally posted by: mugs
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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