The concept of America’s responsibility is to provide aid to the rest of the world is ridiculous considering our current economic situation. Almost 50 million Americans are living below the poverty level, according to the Census Bureau.
We currently provide billions of dollars in foreign aid to dozens of countries including Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, Jordan, Kenya, Afghanistan, Mexico, Iraq, Colombia, Nigeria, Sudan, and South Africa, according to Congressional Reports. This money is used to fund weapons purchases, education, medical care, fight AIDS, and teach abstinence programs, among other things. According to Forbes Magazine, the U.S. gives over $58 billion in foreign aid every year — that’s almost $200 per year for every man, woman, and child in America.
Although the level of poverty in America cannot compare to the level of desperation in Third World countries the fact is that if we don’t take care of the people in our own country and start repaying our massive debt, America could become one of those countries. Call on our representatives to stop foreign aid and begin fixing the problems within our own country by creating jobs, putting caps on insurance and medical care costs, and making sure that every American has access to food, shelter, medical care, and education.
Zoey Fairbrother
Vancouver