Letter to the editor:

Cut foreign aid, get our house in order

Bill L. Wilson, Henderson

Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008 | 2:02 a.m.

I realize they are not directly related, but with all of the country’s financial problems, shouldn’t a cutback in foreign aid to certain countries be considered?

We can continue helping others only after we get a handle on our own finances.

Discussion: 2 comments so far…

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By tokaloshe

Oct. 8, 2008

7:59 a.m.

Suggest removal

Our governments bureacratic approach would probably end up costing us more money to stop spending than if we just left it alone.
Corporate america is probably a tick worse than our government, look at the AIG fiasco with the lavish party they had after getting their 84 billion. If we had any kind of efficiency on the money we spend our problems would be over.
McCain has stated many times and has asked that
we enact a spending freeze now. Do we even have a chance at recovery?
By frenchie

Oct. 8, 2008

1:47 p.m.

Suggest removal

A common misperception is that foreign aid constitutes a large portion of the federal budget. Currently, foreign aid makes up less than 1% of federal expenditures. Only one third of that is developmental aid going to assist developmental programs that are targeted at the world's poorest citizens. The United States has one of the lowest rates of GDP dedicated to foreign aid (.1%) By comparison, Danemark contributes 10 times more of its' GDP to foreign aid.
Foreign aid is vital to securing American interests overseas. The elimination of foreign aid to Pakistan in the 1980's and 1990's led to a sharp decline in secular schools, especially in poor rural areas. This, in turn, led to the rise of madrassas, where the current generation of jihaadists were indoctrinated into radical Islam.
A nation has two types of power: Hard power (as exemplified by the military) and soft power (such as foreign aid). Both types must be used effectively to secure our national interests.