OPINION – The beneficial effects of the US Foreign Aid program are both underrated and misunderstood. Often times, citizens see foreign aid as a flawed program, or as a purely charitable one. While the efforts of foreign aid are noble and helpful to individuals in developing nations, the truth surrounding foreign aid is, while the program can be improved, it is one of the most mutually beneficial programs that our country has to offer.
Foreign Aid Programs help to build developing countries, which in turn creates global consumers, consumers of United States exports, and strengthens the citizens in developing countries by providing education, infrastructure opportunity and opening free market enterprises. These strategies not only strengthen developing countries, but they also inevitably stimulate the economy in the United States. After all, one in five United States jobs are export related and 45% of our exports are going to developing nations. These nations, especially ones in Africa, are the largest untapped consumers on the globe.
Supporting legislation which increases and improves foreign aid is an exemplary way to invest in the future of impoverished and developing nations, as well as the future of the United States. The Borgen Project is currently working with representatives in Utah to support such legislation. Constituents can learn how to get involved at borgenproject.org
Submitted by Darrah Jones, Southern Utah District Representative for the Borgen Project
Letters to the Editor are not the product of St. George News, its editors, staff or contributors. The matters stated and opinions given are the responsibility of the person submitting them; they do not reflect the product or opinion of St. George News.
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Letters to the Editor are not the product of St. George News, its editors, staff or news contributors. The matters stated and opinions given are the responsibility of the person submitting them. They do not reflect the product or opinion of St. George News and are given only light edit for technical style and formatting.
Like every government program, foreign aid has idealized objectives with which few would object. The author’s letter to the editor is loaded with these ideals. But like every government program, practical implementation virtually always falls far short. For every example of a successful foreign aid project, another with poor or deleterious results can be cited. In particular, most would agree that helping Africans get a “leg up” is a noble and worthwhile objective. But with very few exceptions, African countries sadly have corrupt and incompetent governments. A disheartening percentage of our tax dollars end up benefitting government officials and their cronies with too little reaching those it was intended to help. And like all government programs, a bureaucracy in our county has grown up around the program, creating people who have a vested interest in expanding the program…and their careers. Foreign aid is a mixed bag.
Foreign aid is where we give Pakistan tens of billions and they still want more than ever to kill all Americans… real cute scenario…
Okay, now I’m really starting to think you’re a troll.
It could be a good thing, but way too high a percentage of war machines and terrorist networks throughout recent history would be nowhere without our dollars, including mis-directed foreign aid, ‘invested’ through various channels while we are thinking we are being generous. We need to stop questionable contributions and convert to only the most promising where those in need actually receive it. No more pampering and arming the despots!
American Foreign Policy is unfathomable. It’s either the primary tactic used expand the American Empire or the slickest way to divert attention from the amount of death and destruction America rains down on struggling, and unsympathetic, governments.
I hate getting snared into an “if-you-don’t-do-it-the-way-I-tell-you-then-you-ain’t-listening” arguments. Our “If-you-don’t-do-it-our-way-we’ll-arm-someone-to-overthrow-you” argument seems downright Hitlerian.
Our do-gooders go off to fill foreign babies malnutrition-swollen bellies with food while East St. Louis’ malnutrition-swollen bellies go unatttended. Our do-gooders come back with Ebola.
Our warriors are THE dominant military force in over 150 countries whether or not that country wants our presence, ask Okinawa. The “foreign aid” that pours into those countries to support, supply, arm, and protect those warriors is all GNP AND their young men and women don’t have to fight their resentful neighbors.
Let’s end the American Empire before it ends us the way it ended Alexander, Caeser, Genghis, and King George III. Let’s use our warriors to close all but the front door of our borders. Let’s use our combat engineers and Seabees to rebuild New Orleans and the east coast from Katrina and Sandy. Then let’s open the steel mills and car manufacturing plants in Pennsylvania and Michigan and put our people to work. Let’s spend our foreign aid solving cancer, aids, autism, poverty, and mental illness. America does not need to make war anymore, let’s choose healing and let the rest of the countries make whatever choice they choose; I doubt any of them will choose to attack America. All Osama wanted was for us to mind our business and I hate the way he got our attention.
trust me, if we weren’t killing them they’d be trying harder than ever to kill us.
I was with you up until you sided with Osama. That’s a terrible way of persuading people to your opinion.
Foreign aid is when you give American dollar$ to some other country and there is no accountability as to how those dollar$ are $pent. Meanwhile, Americans are going without food, shelter and much needed medical attention. Americans are forced to buy health insurance or face a penalty because we sent our dollar$ elsewhere and don’t have enough to take care of our own sick and elderly.
Agreed. The vast majority of foreign aid is given to dictators or countries that use it corruptly, and not for the good of their people (anymore than most federal dollars are spent for the good of the American people). All foreign aid should have massive strings attached, defining how the money will be spent, tracked, and reported so there is definite accountability and transparency. But transparency and accountability on anything would be a first for the federal government. This article is nothing more than an advertisement for someone with their hand out or a government bureaucracy trying to justify their existence. It reminds me of a “feed the children” non-profit my Mom worked for, until she found out who they really were. The two top people lived lavishly, spent the money left and right on themselves and posh parties, and the crumbs went to the kids. It was all a big con.
Why don’t we just stop giving money to foreign countries, like Pakistan who hate us…..and let them hate us for free?? The money could be put to better use helping Americans first!!
Barrack Hussein Osama…. LOL’d
If you’re unhappy with where our foreign aid goes, call your representative in support of the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act.
https://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/2638
Darrah, thank you for the resource to check out the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act. Who are the writers of the act? While I agree with some of the points the distractors are making, it is clear that helping the least of among us both nationally and internationally will make everyone stronger. The issue is, how do we make sure the least among us actually receive the help that our generous Americans hope they will receive? An age old question and perplexing problem. To maneuver around the greed and power mongering of officials and administrators receiving the aid is where the rubber meets the road.
Washington County Assessor’s Office is out of controll. We need a county
commissioner who will hold them accountable. Too much big government.
They run it like a police state and we are the subjects. Abuse of the public trust.
Please clean up the Assessors office.