Aid to Foreign Countries

[mhallam85]

Not sure if this goes in the politics section but just curious to know what everyone thinks about the United States giving so much away in aid to other countries instead of using it here for us in America to help pay off our deficit, build better infrastructures, create jobs, etc.. I know we give the most out of all countries but is it worth it? I know giving aid to countries like Haiti after the earthquake is a good thing but how much is to much compared to other countries that give aid. BASICALLY I really dont know much on this topic the pros and cons and what not and just wanted some info and opinions.

[Bad324]

I'm a selfish asshole in this regard so you won't be surprised by my answer...

Screw mostly everyone else, most of them hate us anyway so let them spiral into third world country status while we prosper

[John]

top 5 recipients of US foreign aid:

1. Israel $2,400 million - Virtually all of this money is used to buy weapons (up to 75% made in the U.S.)

2. Egypt $1,700 million - $1.3 billion to buy weapons; $103 million for education; $74 million for health care; $45 million to promote civic participation and human rights.

3. Pakistan $798 million - $330 million for security efforts, including military-equipment upgrades and border security; $20 million for infrastructure.

4. Jordan $688 million - $326 million to fight terrorism and promote regional stability through equipment upgrades and training; $163 million cash payment to the Jordanian government.

5. Kenya $586 million - $501 million to fight HIV/AIDS through drug treatment and abstinence education and to combat malaria; $15 million for agricultural development; $5.4 million for programs that promote government accountability.

Edited October 22, 2010 by John

[RFM]

Research the subject of US foreign aid versus the rest of the world...

Then look at what the aid is mostly on. The US is hardly blowing our budget on altruistic benevolence.

[obesityrules]

Research the subject of US foreign aid versus the rest of the world...

Then look at what the aid is mostly on. The US is hardly blowing our budget on altruistic benevolence.

googled it for ya

[Americans] are regularly told by politicians and the media, that America is the world's most generous nation. This is one of the most conventional pieces of 'knowledgeable ignorance'. According to the OECD, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the US gave between $6 and $15 billion in foreign aid in the period between 1995 and 1999. In absolute terms, Japan gives more than the US, between $9 and $15 billion in the same period. But the absolute figures are less significant than the proportion of gross domestic product (GDP, or national wealth) that a country devotes to foreign aid. On that league table, the US ranks twenty-second of the 22 most developed nations. As former President Jimmy Carter commented: 'We are the stingiest nation of all'. Denmark is top of the table, giving 1.01% of GDP, while the US manages just 0.1%. The United Nations has long established the target of 0.7% GDP for development assistance, although only four countries actually achieve this: Denmark, 1.01%; Norway, 0.91%; the Netherlands, 0.79%; Sweden, 0.7%. Apart from being the least generous nation, the US is highly selective in who receives its aid. Over 50% of its aid budget is spent on middle-income countries in the Middle East, with Israel being the recipient of the largest single share.