Kinsley
High School
Kinsley,
Kansas
Teacher: Dr. Galen R. Boehme
By
Alexis K. Dill
Grade 12
The
MCA will have merit providing that we have global cooperation, that we
concentrate more on a mutual benefit rather than a "me-first"
attitude, and that we set attainable benchmarks.
The
existing problem of foreign aid is that the money is sometimes misused and that
the money is not directly given to the people who need it the most.
The MCA hopes to resolve this problem.
Banks are going to provide grants rather than loans so the people in need
will not have to repay the money. Also,
tax dollars will be used to fund more NGOs and grassroots organizations rather
than only government-sponsored organizations.
Using the funds for NGOs and grassroots organizations will allow the
money to go more directly to the source in need.
The
MCA will have more merit if we continue to stress global cooperation, especially
with faith-based groups such as the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
The UMCOR uses cooperation to respond to crisis situations.
The UMCOR works in partnership with Churches Together International to
fulfill their goals. The Church
World Service also uses cooperation as a key to produce partner relationships
around the world. When people
cooperate with each other they have more strength and knowledge to accomplish
goals. Working in partnership
requires talking, listening, learning and sharing ideas.
The CWS considers cooperation important by increasing the commitment of
the local people.
The CWS also encourages individual and community
participation to continue the development process. The CWS has 350 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Kandal, a province
of Cambodia. The SHGs work to
encourage community decision-making, planning, and monitoring of activities.
The SHGs have monthly meetings to share information, exchange ideas,
discuss problems, and collect savings. Each
group member agrees to save a certain amount of money each month.
The funds that are raised are used to make loans for members. SHGs do not rely on the CWS for decisions about savings,
loans, or interest payments. Therefore,
the SHGs have potential for working and functioning on their own.
The UMCOR and the CWS programs show merit because they show that money
and progress will be made with cooperation.
We
must also concentrate on mutual benefit rather than a “me-first” attitude.
Partnership has to be based on trust and mutual benefit.
Mutual benefit requires both sides supplying and working towards the
goals. In an increasingly interdependent world, no one has a future
unless we learn to work together. We
must equip everyone with enough voice and security to participate in shaping
alternatives. No government should
have exclusionary power over the people of its jurisdiction.
Mutual
benefit concentrates more on benefiting all nations rather than just the United
States. If the United States helps
developing countries, then we may have the support we need to fight terror.
Using mutual benefit will also increase cooperation.
By increasing the cooperation all nations will benefit by decreasing
poverty, increasing the work force, and increasing development.
These benefits create a chain reaction.
When one goal is met, more benefit comes from that goal and will soon
help to accomplish all of our goals.
The most important concept is setting attainable benchmarks.
When benchmarks are unclear money will not be disbursed soon enough to the
poorest countries, thus leaving the people in hunger and poverty for a longer
period of time. Money should be
focused primarily on reducing poverty in the poorest countries.
Money should also be used for economic reforms, corruption, human rights,
and a just government. United
States development assistance programs sometimes fail to meet their stated goals
or benchmarks. The MCA needs to
adopt policies that advance economic freedom and not decrease the development. The MCA will not replace existing development assistance
programs, but it should complement foreign aid programs that are successfully
working.
Benchmarks
allow us measure the progress that has been made and allow cooperation in
setting and achieving goals. The
MCA has merit for setting the goals, but the goals are not realistic.
The United States is to raise $10-$15 billion per year for 15 years.
This goal may put a burden on citizens of the United States.
Taxes may go up and some citizens may not be able to afford the increase.
For sufficient development we should take one step at a time instead of a
very large step all at once. Raising
$10-$15 billion per year by 2025 would be a more realistic goal.
Setting realistic goals will increase cooperation between citizens and
countries.
The
MCA is a step in the right direction, but we need to focus on global cooperation
to raise money and set attainable benchmarks for gradual development.
Selected Bibliography Page
Bush, George W. “Millennium Challenge Account.”
Paper in Singer Packet, 2003. pp.
1à 5 January 16, 2003.
http://singerfoundation.org
“CWS
Income and Expenditures-Fiscal 2002.” Church
World Service. April 15, 2003.
http://www.chruchworldservice.org/cambodia/2000anual
report/self-help.html
Edwards, Michael. “Future Positive: International Cooperation in the 21st Century.” April 21, 2003. http://www.futurepositive.org/perface.html
“Ethiopia
Famine: UMCOR’s Response.” April
20, 2003.
http://gbgm-umcor/emergency/ethiopia.cfm
Faith
Acton for People-Centered Development Policy.
“Testimony before the Foreign Operations Subcommitte Appropriations
Committee U.S. House of Representatives.”
May 7, 2002, Singer Packet 2003. January
16, 2003. http://singerfoundation.org/current%20Contests/EssayContests/morerequiredreading2003.html
Fitzgerald, Sara J. “The Millennium Challenge Account: Linking Aid with Economic Freedom.” April 21, 2003. http://www.heritage.org/Research/TradeandForeign Aid/bg1602.cfm
Mekay,
Emad. “Delight and Puzzlement
Greet U.S. Aid Hike.” April 17,
2003. http://www.commondreams.org/headlines
“New Perspectives and Foreign Aid.” April 21, 3003. http://scmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/sph/popfam/npd/goals.html
“Remarks of Vivian Lowery Derryck, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Africa.” April 16, 2003. http://www.usaid.gov/press/spe_test/spee...
“Working in Partnership.” Church World Service. April 15, 2003. http://churchworldservice.com/annualreport2002/partner.html
Question #1: President Bush claimed that most funds
for development do not come from international aid. He mentions three things that do fund development.
What are they?
·
President
Bush says development assistance should come from domestic capital, foreign
investment, and trade. Domestic
capital is important because we can use the money we already have in the United
States for development and the money will not leave the country.
Foreign investment is important because if the United States invests
money into a business of a foreign country and that business makes money, then
we will also make profit. If the business in the foreign country is not a success, then
we should withdraw our money. Trade
is probably the most important because we are not only helping ourselves, but we
can also help other countries as well. For
example, if the United States gives a foreign country money to help start a
business, then in return, we can have the products the business produces.
As a result, the foreign country is making money and so is the United
States by selling the products this country sells to us in return.
Question
#2: President Bush reminded his audience that successful development in a third
world country requires more than funds. What
two items did he mention in this regard?
·
President
Bush suggests that for successful development citizens must be literate,
healthy, and prepared and able to work to obtain successful development.
For a developing country to become developed, the people in the country
must be educated. People in
developing countries should offer equal education to everyone. Developing
countries also need to maintain their health.
Today, the United States is providing money for food and also to fight
the AIDS disease. Finally, these
developing countries need to be prepared and able to work to support themselves
financially. These three criteria
may allow more successful development than funds.
Question
#3: When is money sometimes counterproductive, according to President Bush?
·
Money can
be counterproductive because of corruption, unprotected property, closed
markets, and negative fiscal policies. When
money is counterproductive it pays for bad policies, delays reform, and crowds
out private investment. This makes
progress for poverty slim when the nations do not enact sound policies.
These reasons are valid because these reasons involve outright cash.
When one country gives another country outright cash the money is given
to them with no strings attached. Too
frequently, the money is misused.
Question
#4: Describe the Millennium Challenge Account and include in your description
what is anticipated from donors and recipients.
·
President
Bush’s challenge is to help developing countries become self-dependent by
focusing on free market, democracy, and rule of law by using the Millennium
Challenge Account. Accepting this
challenge will hopefully take people out of poverty and expand opportunities for
development. The Millennium Challenge also is concerned about terror. Terror
involves development because when terror controls people, people do not
generally work to improve their lifestyles.
The United States serves as a donor to help developing nations, or the
recipients. By stressing economic security and just governments, the program
hopes to unite the interests of the political, economic, and social unity of the
people of the world.
Question
#5: What are the three broad standards that President Bush expects the leaders
of the developing nations to adopt?
·
By using
the Millennium Challenge foreign countries must live by these criteria: Ruling
justly, investing in their people, and encouraging economic freedom to receive
more aid from the United States. Foreign
countries must live by ruling justly, a stable government.
Foreign countries also need to invest in their people by providing jobs.
By providing jobs, people will have a way of supporting themselves.
Foreign countries must also encourage economic freedom by providing jobs
and money for their people to do as they please.
These are all important factors because these factors all lead to
development. As these countries
develop, they become more self-reliant.
Question
#6: Describe President Bush’s challenge to development banks and explain why
or why not you favor it.
·
President
Bush’s challenge is to have the banks provide half the funds for developing
nations in the form of grants instead of loans. This thinking gives the developing nations a second
opportunity to rebuild their lives. By
our giving the money in the form of grants, developing countries are not
obligated to repay the money, as they would have to do if the money were given
as a loan. Grants will give developing countries the opportunity to buy food and
clothes for themselves and their children.
By continuing this development the adults in developing countries will be
able to find jobs. The children in
the developing countries will be able to go to school and earn an education. The
grants will allow developing countries to stay out of poverty.
Question
#7: What percentage of our national income (GNP) do you think the United States
government committed to foreign aid in 2002?
First answer this question and then use the Internet to fine the answer.
·
My
estimated percentage of the United States' income for foreign aid in 2002 is
about 20 percent. My reasoning for this is the United States is committed to
help developing countries. The United States is still aiding countries from past
wars. The correct percentage of
income for foreign aid in 2002 is less than one percent. President Bush’s 2002
budget allots about $11.4 billion in economic assistance and about $4.3 billion
for peacekeeping operations. A
survey polled shows that most United States' citizens estimated that about 24
percent of the national income is contributed to foreign aid. Our people have an unrealistic understanding of the amount of
foreign aid actually given.
Question
#8: Describe and defend a “Me First” attitude.
·
The term
“me first” describes the United States’ attitude towards foreign aid.
In order to help the developing countries the United States must be
developed as well. The United
States is the most developed country, but we still have people in poverty and
are still fighting against terror. Our
country is helping developing countries for our own benefit.
We are trying to draw in support from other countries to fight against
terror. To do this, we must first
give a little and the developing countries will give back.
The United States and the developing countries will become close and
cooperate with each other. This
will make development easier for all nations.
Question
#9: Describe and defend a “Mutual Benefit” attitude.
·
The
“mutual benefit” attitude relates to the “me first” attitude of the
United States. The “mutual
benefit” concentrates more on benefiting all nations rather than just the
United States. One point is that we
need to give to the developing countries before we can have anything in return.
If it works out as planned we will have the support we need to fight
terror. All nations will benefit by
decreasing poverty, increasing the work force, and increasing development.
These three benefits all lead to one another.
The decreasing of poverty will take homeless people off the streets and
give them jobs to support themselves. The
increase of the work force will allow more development to occur.
The development will allow more businesses to form and more money to be
brought in to the nations.
Question
#10: Describe three unsuccessful foreign aid programs operated by the U.S.
government or private American citizens.
·
Three
unsuccessful United States based foreign aid programs are the National Security
Strategy, the Overseas Enterprise Funds, and U.S. AID.
First,
the National Security Strategy’s focus is on United States’ foreign
assistance and to those countries suffering political turmoil.
President Bush released the NSS in 2002.
The NSS does not secure failing governments because it does not offer
vision, policies, or new resources to counter threats.
For a new strategy of “nation-rebuilding” in global crisis zones, the
United States needs to be more aggressive and more intelligent.
The United States needs to assist failed and developing countries through
targeted development and counter-terrorism assistance.
Next,
the Overseas Enterprise Fund is used for generating more private investment in
developing countries. Private fund
managers used taxpayer dollars as operating funds and investment capitol.
Taxpayers have committed $2 billion in guarantees and grants to the
enterprise funds. Foreign
enterprise is encouraged as a way to “privatize” the delivery of foreign
aid. The Enterprise Fund has been
mishandled and has had had little money in return.
Last,
the U.S. AID has had its problems. The
United States has provided more than $1 trillion to foreign assistance since
WWII. In doing this, the United
States has no evidence that our foreign assistance has created economic growth
for developing countries. In 1996
the United Nations reported that aid recipients had less money than they started
with in 1980. Forty-three of those
countries were poorer than they were in 1970.
One occurrence was an investigation by the Office of the High
Representative in Bosnia, which noted that about $1 billion of the
“artificial” nation’s public money was previously stolen since 1995, while
the West was contributing $5.1 billion in aid.
Artificial means that the government of the country is not intentionally
recognized.
These
three programs have obviously tried to contribute foreign assistance, but have
not yet met their goals.
Question
# 11: Describe three successful foreign aid programs operated by the U.S.
government or private American citizens.
·
Three
successful United States based foreign aid programs are connected with the
Church World Service.
First,
the Emergency Response Program is used for expanding the Iraq Humanitarian
Crisis Appeal. The program does this by joining other groups like the Mennonite
Central Committee and the Jubilee Partners National Council of Churches and
Sojourners. These groups work
together to provide heath assistance for children.
They aid children that have been involved in the Gulf War of 1991.
The number of children who have died from the effects of the Gulf War
range from 500,000 to 1 million. The
CWS believes that the children are our hope and future for the world.
Next
is the Immigration and Refugee Program. This
program has helped the 35 million people that have been uprooted from their
homes by war, poverty, and natural disaster.
All of these people have been taken away from their loved ones.
The CWS provides sponsors for the refugees.
These refugees are taken to refugee camps for these unfortunate people.
The refugee camps provide tent materials, food, and clean water.
They also put together groups to educate people.
CWS helps people begin new lives.
Last
is the Sustainable Development Program. This
program aids people who are in poverty and are trying to escape powerlessness.
The program also provides education and innovation for all people.
This program is designed to help people help themselves.
It teaches people to make decisions that will positively affect their
lives.
These
three programs are successful because they have accomplished goals they have
set.
Question
#12: Steve Radelet, senior Fellow at the Center for Global Development, believes
we can do both- take care of our own people and lend a helping hand to citizens
of less developed countries. Explain
why you think we can or cannot offer aid to both.
·
Radlet
suggests that the United States can take care of our own people as well as
helping the citizens in developing countries.
The United States is very capable of doing both.
Although we are not yet financially secure, we do have enough resources
to continue the development of our country and assist developing countries as
well. By helping developing
countries, they will help the United States in our time of need to fight
terrorism. The developing countries
may also assist the United States with financial matter.
This support results in mutual benefit.
Question
#13: What do you think about Mr. Radelet’s assertion that “the
administration is leaning towards a system in which eligible countries would
write proposals describing their objective and strategy, how they would use the
money, the benchmarks used for evaluation.
Giving recipient countries this responsibility is a revolutionary change
in US foreign assistance.”?
·
I favor
Radelet's suggestion. By requiring
developing countries to write proposals to receive financial assistance, the
United States can wisely invest their money.
If the United States insists on aiding developing countries, then we must
require these proposals. The
developing countries must describe how they will use the money to develop
themselves. They must also describe
what references they will use for evaluation.
The proposals ensure the United States that we are helping the people who
need it the most.
Question
#14: Which of Mr. Radelet’s three concerns regarding the MCA concerns you and
why?
·
Of the
three concerns regarding the MCA, number one concerns me the most.
If the United States wants to aid developing countries we should aid the
poorest countries first. Developing countries that have sound development strategies
should be helped first. These
developing countries are trying to make a difference in their development.
Other developing countries are not trying to make a difference, but are
still in need of assistance. By
helping the poorest countries that are already trying to help themselves, the
process of development will proceed faster.
The United States can then move on to other countries in need.
Question
#15: There is evidence of an increase in negative world opinion towards U.S.
foreign policy, not necessarily the American people.
To counter this negative perception of the U.S. some people want the U.S.
to concentrate more on weapons of mass assistance and less on weapons of mass
destruction. Please comment.
·
The
United States should concentrate more on weapons of mass assistance.
WMA includes money, volunteer work, education, heath care, and awareness.
These factors will benefit foreign policy. Weapons of mass destruction include chemical welfare and
bombs. If the United States wants
to help developing countries, we must make sure these countries do not have WMD.
The United States needs to ensure the safety of our people.
Question
#16: What does the World Band recommends as the United State’s “just and
appropriate share” to reach the millennium Development Goals by 2015? Do you think our citizens can afford that kind of increase?
Defend your views.
·
The
United States "just and appropriate share" is about $10-$15 billion
per year for 15 years. Our citizen
may not be capable of affording this increase.
The sudden increase may put pressure on the citizens.
Our taxes may go up and individual citizens could run low on money.
A cooperative group may be a better idea. If
everyone comes together more money and progress will be made.
Question
#17: What do you think about the request of faith Action for People Centered
Development Policy’s request that tax dollars be used to fun, not only
government-sponsored foreign aid programs, but “that funds also go to NGOs and
grassroots organizations.”?
·
I favor
using tax dollars to be used to fund NGO's and grassroots instead of only
government-sponsored foreign aid programs.
The funds should go to the NGOs and grassroots organizations because the
money goes more directly to that organization.
If the money goes to the government first, the money has to change hands
many times before the money reaches its destination. Because the money changes
hands frequently, people must be paid for handling the money.
Therefore, more money is lost than gained before it goes to the
organization in need.
Question
#18: How many countries would be affected positively by heath-related
investments according to the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health?
·
Eighty-three
countries will benefit from heath-related investments.
This benefit will give these countries a chance to be better educated.
By having more education these people will learn how to live a more
sanitary lifestyle. A sanitary
lifestyle and an education will allow these people to find jobs and become
financially secure. Heath-related
investments will surely benefit people who are in need.
Question
#19: According to the CMH, how much would be gained annually between 2015-2020
due to saved lives and increased economic growth, if an increased investment
were made in global AIDS and other heath services?
·
Between
the years of 2015-2020, $360 billion will be gained annually that we invest in
heath-related services. This is a
lot of money, but if we invest now, the investment will soon pay for itself.
Of the $360 billion to be paid, the United States will provide $2.5
billion. This amount is reasonable
because as we save lives and increase economic growth, the amount of money the
United States provides each year will go down.
The more people who are helped, the less money we ultimately have to pay
each year. The more productive
these people actually are, the more likely they become self-sufficient.
Question
#20: Use the Internet for your research and name the two congressmen who
introduced H.R. 4524. Give a 2-line
synopsis of that bill.
·
Congressmen
Chris Smith, representative for New Jersey and John LaFalce, representative of
New York, introduced the H.R. 4524 bill, which is the Debt Relief Enhancement
Act of 2002. No competent country would pay more than five percent of its budget
on debt service annually or ten percent if the country does not have a heath
crisis, if the reasonable terms of this legislation were accepted.
In doing this, it would almost double current debt relief, cutting an
additional $1 billion in debt service payments.
In return for the debt reduction the country is to use extra money to
combat HIV/AIDS and poverty issues. In addition, the country is to incorporate
anticorruption measure. This act is
from the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.