US spending on foreign aid

SPC Charles Brown — Sat, 10 May 2014 21:11:35 -0400

What do you feel about this particular statement? I can't wait to see some of the responses to this picture.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made May 10 at 2014 9:39 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Sat, 10 May 2014 21:39:33 -0400

The United States has problems, but I don't think that scapegoating is helpful. Less than 1% of the US budget is used in the form of direct foreign aid... not to mention that such aid surely leads to increased US influence over important interests.

Cutting foreign aid is probably a good idea in some places, but it wouldn't have any real effect on our actual budget.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made May 10 at 2014 10:00 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Sat, 10 May 2014 22:00:14 -0400

I can make a poster that says the exact opposite and still be true.
In America
1. We have programs that feed our homeless and provides them shelter
2. We have government programs that supply our elderly and low income families with medicine
3. Our troops have the best and most advanced equipment in the world
4. Millions of Vets are treated every day and see some of the most advanced doctors in the world for muscular skeletal, burn injuries, and many others.

Blanket statements like this are purely propaganda and self serving.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made May 10 at 2014 10:11 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Sat, 10 May 2014 22:11:59 -0400

Don't blame me for sharing a post that happens to echo my sentiments. Or are we as a nation to the point where we are going to start shooting the messengers?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2014 10:12 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 May 2014 22:12:19 -0400

The word I object to the most on the poster is "donate." Foreign Aid is a strategic maneuver, not charity. Are we doing it right? That's a much more complicated question that you didn't ask, but what do I think of the statement? In a word: misinformed.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made May 10 at 2014 11:08 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Sat, 10 May 2014 23:08:48 -0400

CPL Brown,

Ever hear 'winning the hearts and minds'?

I'd recommend researching WHY America spends (so much) on foreign aid.

Response by SFC A.M. Drake made May 10 at 2014 11:13 PM

SFC A.M. Drake — Sat, 10 May 2014 23:13:26 -0400

CPL Brown,

I think you just got "shot" and "scape-goated" I think as a society we are going the way the Romans went, slowly from within, however we still have the best thing going right now and that freedom of speech..just my two cents...

Response by SFC Douglas Eshenbaugh made May 11 at 2014 1:53 AM

SFC Douglas Eshenbaugh — Sun, 11 May 2014 01:53:29 -0400

The problem is no one what's to educate themselves in the details. They just see billions of dollars leaving the US and don't realized that it's only 1% of the total budget or that it goes to promote stability in certain regions (so we don't end up with more dead Soldiers) among other things. Is $37.6B a lot of money, yea. Does our government need to do a better job of managing that money, oh yea. Should they stop trying to promote our interests across the world, no.