Foreign Aid, who needs it...

[gsmoove23]

"We give all this money in foreign aid and this is how they repay us?!" For the last couple of years I have constantly been hearing this question and it began to get really annoying, so I looked it up. Turns out that the US does give the most aid... since 2001. Before that Japan had been on top(the change coincides with major economic troubles in Japan that had been going on for awhile and major increases in US dollars to Pakistan). In one depressing year, 1995, Japan, Germany and France all beat us out.

Even worse though, the US currently scores behind 21 other nations when its expenditures on foreign aid are calculated as a percentage of GDP. Thats even behind strugglin countries like Ireland and Portugal. Depressing.

http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/avi/3.html

and for a far more technical link with lots of colorful charts and such...

http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Debt/USAid.asp

[Ted Striker]

Nonetheless, it is interesting to note for example, per latest estimates, Americans privately give at least $34 billion overseas -- more than three times U.S. official foreign aid of $10 billion:

That's a pretty good article that doens't paint a black and white picture. It looks at the pitfalls and agendas of aid.

[GePap]

Yeah, it is sad that so many Americans think the foreign aid budget is a significant cut of US spending when it is actually a comparatively small sum.

The othert things is that two of the biggest aid recipients, israel and Egypt, use most of their aid money to buy weapons, usualy from US companies (Well, the egyptians buy only american, the Israelis get to buy some of their own), so it hardly reaches those in need.

The US can best spend its money via larghe NGO's or UN agencies, both of which spend their money better than sending it through goevrnments, and the money is most needed in primary education and health services.

[gsmoove23]

I know, believe me I looked for a more black and white article, just couldn't find one and this one was too good to pass up.

[Az]

even behind strugglin countries like Ireland and Portugal. Depressing.

Ireland is NOT struggling.

[MarkG]

Isreal gets foreign aid? what for?

[DanielXY]

For their military of course

[Rogan Josh]

Foreign Aid, who needs it...

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by MarkG
Isreal gets foreign aid? what for?

Israel is the BIGGEST receiver of US aid inthe world.

Washington just beefed it up to 10 bil. dollars.

[Eli]

Washington just beefed it up to 10 bil. dollars.

The invasion of Greece is a costly matter.

[Bereta_Eder]

of course.

[Az]

10 billion dollars?! I can stop working.

[MRT144]

I find it funny americans support funding the military to go in and **** with other countries when there is no domestic gain to it, but decry benevolant aid as being useless.

[Bereta_Eder]

pah,
socialists

[Az]

there is plenty of domestic gain. Defence contractors get money.