Why does the US give so much foreign Aid?

I had a thought on this.

Think Macro and Micro.

Why is there a welfare system? Why does the US have all these systems in place?

Now apply that to the funneling of our tax dollars to the rest of the world. Are we doing it for them, or us.

I think it applies the same for both scenarios. It has nothing to do with benevolence, it has to do with control.

Like always it comes back to control.

Cannot have a self sufficient populace just like you cannot have self sufficient countries.

Make sense?

Some of it, indeed, is humanitarian goodwill. We are not completely sinister.
And although times are tough, we are not on the brink of disaster, and have far more than many other countries.
Sitting idly by and doing nothing in times of trouble is not our style.

reply to post by Annee


Anne,

I am curious as to why you haven't been back to mouth off about why UNITED STATES is last on an alphabetical list. Seems odd to me, that you would have such a strong opinion and then walk away when you get pie on your face... You have been on, and posted since I replied and basicly owned your investigative skillzzzz (type in google and copy and paste first thing that you think supports or proves your point). I thought you had more character than that.. I truely understand the embarassment of jumping to conclusions and posting something that is humor at best. I have been there, but was able to suck it up and face my mistake.

reply to post by saltheart foamfollower


Are you implying they are secretly promoting the outsourcing to put americans out of work, forcing them to rely on govt assistance? This would also make them abide by "rules" and "stipulations" to be on assistance. Then they become more and more reliant on govt. aid, that they no longer can prosper without govt. "assistance" ::::cough::::: Control!

I would completely buy into that - That is a real possibility - Definetly deserving of some thought.

I imagine when you apply for any assistance they need a boat load of your personal information. At that point, your "in the system." Every (or most) financial and personal tid bits that pertain to you.

reply to post by Mobius1974


Okay, look at our giving of grains and the like to undeveloped countries.
To keep our supply of grains not too high causing a drop in our prices, we ship humanitarian aid to other countries. Now we do not give it, we sell it to recoup the cost of shipping. This subsidizes our farmers keeping the prices higher here, and at the same time puts a price reduction in these other countries. Hence it causes a problem for producers there.

Also it helps to diminish the possibility of a future competitive country.

Also it makes the country we are "helping" to be dependent upon us in the future.

Just as what I think that a welfare system creates here in the states. Instead of people being self sufficient, it makes them dependent upon the government.

reply to post by Mobius1974

Why does the US give so much foreign Aid?

It is nothing more than another way to give money to the corporate friends of the politicians. Virtually all of the money given in "foreign aid" comes back to the corporations, who then give contributions to the representatives that "voted" for the foreign aid. ....and so the cycle continues.

reply to post by ProfEmeritus


That is another component.

Crony capitalism using tax dollars to line the pockets of their campaign fund donators.

Originally posted by Traydor
you shouldn't be so negative about yourselves, alot of people do like america and it's people, i would say that this is the impression that your last government has created for themselves. we know exactly who is to blame for this reputation but we don't 'hate' the american people, but for those who do just haven't even bothered to get to know any.

as for the money, to be fair, there may be some motives behind this but i would like to think that it's because america actually does care about the world they are apart of. america may be a great country but it does share the world with everyone else....

edit on 29/9/2010 by Traydor because: (no reason given)

edit on 29/9/2010 by Traydor because: (no reason given)

you rock dude!

this is the fairest post i've read here.

reply to post by coolhanddan


So now you can see why the industrial-military complex needs to keep finding excuses to use the weapons, therefore needs to find excuses to launch wars - otherwise their very lucrative arms industry will cease to be needed, and the income of these flithy rich would dwindle to nothing.

Note that the enormous profits made by the industrial-militlary complex is then used to control government - financial support for campaigns, bribes, corruption, etc. Through this control of government they then have the ability to keep engendering wars.

And so it goes round and round.
.

Originally posted by ProfEmeritus
reply to post by Mobius1974

 

Why does the US give so much foreign Aid?

It is nothing more than another way to give money to the corporate friends of the politicians. Virtually all of the money given in "foreign aid" comes back to the corporations, who then give contributions to the representatives that "voted" for the foreign aid. ....and so the cycle continues.

Yep, wheels within wheels, the war machine continues, the only objective being profit - and that is what millions and millions have and still are dying for. Normal citizens are literally only canon fodder, necessary collateral damage in the money making business of the industrial military complex.

It's the basic human idea that a good intention brings a good result.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

I am glad that someone called Annee's pathetic error out as I thought I was the only one who noticed that. Do folks even READ anything any more or do they just GLANCE at stuff for a fraction of a second?? Unreal.

And America does NOT need to be giving money out. Especially OUR MONEY!! We the peoples money who DO NOT want it leaving the country. Especially a BROKE country. UNACCEPTABLE!!

Originally posted by coolhanddan
I got the information from here:
www.parade.com...

Who Gets U.S. Foreign Aid
The U.S. will give an estimated $26 billion in foreign aid in 2008—70% more than when President George W. Bush took office (the figure doesn’t include funds related to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan). More than 150 countries get financial assistance from the U.S. Here are the six that received the most this year.

COUNTRY AID PURPOSE
1. Israel $2.4 billion Virtually all of this money is used to buy weapons (up to 75% made in the U.S.). Beginning in 2009, the U.S. plans to give $30 billion over 10 years.
2. Egypt $1.7 billion $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.
6. South Africa $574 million $557 million to fight TB and HIV/AIDS; $3 million for education.
7. Mexico $551 million Click here for details.
8. Colombia $541 million
9. Nigeria $491 million
10. Sudan $479 million

Great post - now for the Country Aid REALITY

1) Israel. Used to fund weapons buying to keep tensions high with Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, and Syria. Ignores the fact that they are a non signatory to the NPT. Also ignores ongoing apartheid practices against Palestinians. *Probably* also gave Israel nuclear fuel used in their reactors and later turned into Nuclear Bombs.
2) Egypt. Used to fund weapons buying to keep tensions high with Israel.
3) Pakistan. Used to fund weapons buying to keep tensions high with India. Ignores fact that they have developed nuclear bomb and sold that technology to North Korea. Ignores the fact this is a military dictatorship that regularly hides terrorists inside their borders, while pretending to be helping fight the war on terror.
4) Jordan. Used to fund weapons buying, but generally one of the most stable regimes in the Middle East.
5) Kenya. Corrupt Government, corrupt military, enough said.
6) South Africa. Widely used to buy weapons, in the past these were used to good use by the Government who also developed a nuclear bomb, with technology stolen from Israel.
7) Mexico. Where do I start. Ignores the fact that the Mexican government turns blind eye to masdsive illegal immigration to the USA, drug smuggling, and gang violence.
8) Columbia. Money supposed to go towards fighting drug cartels, but more likely goes towards weapons buying to put down FARC rebels. Drug shipments from Columbia and Mexico are at an all time high.
9) Goes towards weapons to fight rebels who are fighting against a military dictatorship, and goes to support oil companies who are massively exploiting this area. A corrupt regime, corrupt military, and nearly every internet scam comes from Nigeria
10) Sudan. Oh, Where to start with Sudan. Money goes to weapons used in genocide in the Darfur region. US refuses to condemn or sanction Sudanese Government for this genocide, mostly due to lobbying by the Coca Cola company (REALLY - if you buy Coke you are supporting Sudan's Genocide in Darfur). Coca Cola uses an ingredient that ONLY grows in the Darfur region (doesn't grow ANYWHERE else in the world) and they are the ONLY users of this product.

Don't even get me started on aid to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Originally posted by Mobius1974
reply to post by Annee

 

Anne,

I am curious as to why you haven't been back to mouth off about why UNITED STATES is last on an alphabetical list. Seems odd to me, that you would have such a strong opinion and then walk away when you get pie on your face... You have been on, and posted since I replied and basicly owned your investigative skillzzzz (type in google and copy and paste first thing that you think supports or proves your point). I thought you had more character than that.. I truely understand the embarassment of jumping to conclusions and posting something that is humor at best. I have been there, but was able to suck it up and face my mistake.

What are you drivelling about? Uited States isn't last on the alphabetical list of countries? What about Venezuela, Yugoslavia (okay, that one's a stretch as they don't exist anymore!), Zaire, Zimbabwe, and probably a lot of others I can't think of at 8:30 on a Saturday morning!

Originally posted by henriquefd

Originally posted by Alxandro

Originally posted by henriquefd
"Why does the US give so much foreign Aid?"

A: To get something in return.

..but that doesn't work anymore, so it's time to stop.

Thanks to Bush the rest of the world hated us and they were angry.
Now, they still hate but they are laughing at us too.

Who says it doesn't work? I don't think the US government gives foreign ad just to be liked. That money goes directly to the hands of those governing the countries. There is something the US is getting from those countries. You and I just don't know what it is, but it is naive to think the US is just giving money away. No sir. They are actualyl BUYING something and that foreign aid is the price.

Yes, you're right. They use 'foreign aid' to blackmail countries. Foreign aid is sometimes a loan. When the loan cannot be paid back, which is almost always the case as the Gov knows, if not they can screw things so the country can't pay it back, then they send in the heavies and obtain rights to install military bases, control of oil, etc.

This 'foreign aid' is basically blood money.

I understand that some countries truely need our assistance.. I am not ruling out giving them the food to survive.. BUT... Israel/Pakistan/Japan/South Korea/ Mexico/ and on and on.. These countries have become dependant on MY money.... Why?? I dont care about kick backs.. We need to take this country back.. How in the hell do we justify sending MONEY to other countries when we are borrowing that money from china..WITH INTEREST!!!! It is rediculous

Why so much foreign aid? That's an easy one. The USA wants to keep wearing that white hat that makes us feel like we're the world's most powerful country even though we are knee deep in crap with two wars that we won't win, we can't take care of our issues but we are always first to provide for others.

This generation won't live to see our deficit lower and now all these little BS countries that would have never even thought about messing with the US are now even having the balls to threaten our country. For example N. Korea, Iran, Pakistan.

The world has seen us getting our butts whooped by insurgents in two different countries. Now they all want in.

Just my 0.02

reply to post by babybunnies


Ok genius .. Did you even bother reading her post before you decided to open your peter peelers and berate me?
She posted an ALPHABETICAL list and stated that she thought it was pertinent, that we know that United States was last on the list.. Implying that the list was in order, from most aid to least.

Apparently you and anne have the same investigative skills... NONE!!!

Now, be gone.

Was anyone aware of this? Since 1995, the United States has provided North Korea with over $1 billion in
assistance, about 60% of which has paid for food aid and 40% or so paying for energy
assistance.

WOW .. I wonder if DimJongShrill was saying "We will destroy America" as he was cashing our check...
Pathetic.. No wonder everyone is losing respect for the US... We are basicly a welcome Matt for the world..
USA

The only valid assessment of a country´s effort in foreign aid can only be
the per capita contribution.

In that, for many years already, the US lies far behind at the end of of the
22 wealthiest donors´list.

see www.answers.com...
and
www.moyak.com...

Years ago, in a published letter to our European editors, I pointed out that
the US (0.11 % of aid of GNP at the time) by using the unpaid difference of
0.59 % from the OECD-targeted 0.7% could comfortably afford itself a number
of aircraft carriers per year to keep the empire rolling.

On the other hand the Dutch (at over 0.7% at the time) could have built up
in ten years an army of more than 2,600 German LEOPARD II tanks, had they
not invested the difference to the US in foreign aid.

The Countries leading the list (Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and
Luxembourg, now all at + 1.00%), are donating for humanitarian relief only
as compared to the US aid, where two thirds of the aid are going into Israel´s
and Egypt´s military.

"The World Bank also points out that at the World Economic Forum in New
York, February 2002, (U.S. senator Patrick) Leahy noted that two thirds of US
government aid goes to only two countries: Israel and Egypt. Much of the
remaining third is used to promote US exports or to fight a war against drugs
that could only be won by tackling drug abuse in the US."