Kinsley High School
Kinsley,
Kansas
Teacher:
Dr. Galen R. Boehme
Cooperation
Drives the MCA
By
Jennifer Fuller
Grade
12
Even
though the Millennium Challenge Account proposal may have unrealistic financial
goals and lack a valid definition of corruption, the MCA has enough merit for
the American people to implement providing that existing successful programs
remain supported and improved.
The
MCA plans to help developing countries. However,
the financial expectations of the account are unrealistic. When we deal with
these countries, a helpful step would be to cancel the countries’ unpayable
debits. President Bush proposes
that by year 2010, $10 billion will be collected annually to fund the MCA. The
original target was to have $15.5 billion collected annually by year the 2007.
If the MCA maintains the $10 billion target, every tax paying person in
the U.S. will pay approximately $52. IF
more money were needed, the increase would go to meet the needs of the homeless
people, the migrants, and the poverty-stricken people.
Homeless, migrants, and poverty stricken people generally look for
shelters for protection. Shelters are usually funded by government money.
President Bush may decide to raise taxes if funds are not provided for the MCA.
To put this financial issue into perspective, the U.S. has enough problems
currently to deal with. Poverty,
homelessness, and migrant issues plague our country as well as other developing
countries. President Bush should reconsider his proposed plan. We should help
developing countries. The amounts that he feels are needed could be reduced in
order to help the United States out as well.
A
country must prove to be somewhat “just” to receive assistance from the MCA.
How does one country prove to be more or less corrupt than another?
Corruption is defined as impairing integrity, virtue, and moral
principles. Corruption erodes the
fabric of a society, makes social rights vulnerable, retards development, and
denies certain groups, particularly the poor, the freedom to prosper. Developing
countries must show that their people are being hindered by not having proper
education or educational resources as well as proper health care and nutrition.
Funds for the MCA will be distributed to developing countries that
demonstrate a strong commitment to better themselves. In dealing with
corruption, we must provide good governance.
We must root out corruption, bringing forth a more democratic government.
Fighting corruption involves defending and strengthening worthy ethical values.
In order to begin the fight against corruption, we must invest in
education, health care and immunization to provide healthy, educated citizens
who will with the proper nourishment become agents of positive development. To rule out corruption, we need to establish financial
benchmarks to check if the money is being used for the proper reasons.
Making benchmarks would allow the country to aim toward smaller goals in
order to obtain the large goal, which is essentially to reduce corruption and to
help economics to prosper.
Many
programs could work in conjunction with the MCA. Most programs that accompany
the MCA are non-profit, usually church-affiliated organizations. Successful
organizations provide help in areas such as these: education for all people,
stronger fiscal policies for developing countries, health assistance to
children, improved family planning services, and secured food supplies in
developing nations. These programs
are successful because they allow quality distribution of goods, humanitarian
efforts, and services to less fortunate people.
One
of the successful programs is the Washington Office on Africa (WOA) this
organization focuses on the United States living up to the statement, “liberty
and justice for all.” The goal is for all types of people to come together for
policies that promote justice, reconciliation, and the reduction of poverty
worldwide. WOA addresses overseas development of quality, structure and
development of goods such as fruit. WOA is a recipient of finances that are
eventually received by foreign developing nations. A second successful program
is Group Watch, an international voluntary service that can be compared to the
UMCOR Heifer project. Group Watch works to end hunger, poverty, and human
suffering in third world countries such as Mexico, Central America, and the
Caribbean. The American Life League
(ALL) a third group, provides services to less fortunate families and
individuals throughout the world. This organization provides awareness of all
kinds of major life decisions. ALL
deals with subjects such as health care, gay rights, injustice, and abortion
just to name a few. ALL also
provides medications to elderly people and young adults that cannot afford them.
The sole purpose of this organization is to make people aware of situations and
to help them through major life problems. These programs work nicely as long as
they are accompanied by strong willed people who will stand behind the
organization. These programs are not listed in the MCA, but these representative
organizations that work to end poverty and suffrage in developing countries.
Certainly
the MCA has merit providing that international cooperation exists.
Selected
Bibliography Page
“American Life League.” Communiqué. March 27, 2003. www.all.org/communiqué
“Group Watch.” International Voluntary Services Inc. March 27, 2003. www.publiceye.org
“The Lima Declaration Against Corruption.” General Melting Pot. September 11, 1997. www.meltingpot.fortuencity.com
“Millennium
Challenge Account Update.” USAID. June 3, 2002.
“Opinions
5.” Over Development Institute. February 2002.
“Remarks by Andrew S. Natsios.” Administrator, U.S. Agency of International Development.” October 18, 2002. www.usaid.gov
“Testimony
Before the Foreign Operations Subcommittee Appropriations Committee U.S. House
of Representatives.” Faith Action for People-Centered Development Policy.
May 7, 2002. www.singerfoundation.org
“Unfinished Business.” Jubilee 2000 Coalition. September 1999. www.jubilee2000.org
“Working Paper: Corruption—A Violation of Human Rights?” Transparency International. June 1-2 1998. www.Transparency.org
Question
#1: President Bush claimed that most funds for develop-ment do not come from
international aid. He mentions
three things that do fund development. What are they?
President Bush believes three sources of
developmental assistance are trade, foreign investment, and domestic capital.
Many dollars are spent on imports from developing countries. Trade is part of
the foundation for developed countries. This
is a major way the developed country receives all the resources that it does not
have. Foreign investment is money coming from other places instead of inside the
country only. Domestic capital is money that comes from within the country for
help with the problems such as poverty that the country faces. President Bush
has proposed a $5 billion plan to help developing countries.
The plan is called the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). Bush believes
that with the help of the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C.
the United States can help these needy countries.
He proposes that we encourage these countries to use the money for the
benefit of their health and education purposes. If these countries are more
developed, the world will have less hatred and terrorism.
Question
# 2: President Bush reminded his audience that successful development in third
world country requires more than funds. What
two items did he mention in this regard?
Successful development in third world countries
requires literate citizens, healthy citizens, and people prepared to work. The
people must be able to read and understand instructions as literate citizens.
The population must be healthy in order to survive. President Bush turns to the
Inter-American Development Bank for their support. With the help of the bank we
can help fight poverty and infectious diseases, such as AIDS.
Infectious diseases now plague many teachers in foreign countries as well
as students taught. Helping solve the problem of poverty will relieve a lot of
unneeded stress among the people of developing countries.
Citizens must be healthy in order to make money. These people must make
money so their families will remain healthy. In order to ensure that the chain
stays healthy, President Bush would like to strongly regulate the money to help
countries develop successfully.
Question
#3: When is money sometimes counterproductive, accord-ing to President Bush?
President Bush makes a valid statement when he says
that sometimes money is counterproductive. He believes that money is tampered
with. When one country gives another country money this money, is called
“outright” cash. Bush has valid reasons because countries do not always use
the money the ways they are supposed to. If the money is given to the country
“outright” no way exists of telling where the money has gone. Giving the
money “outright” means we could be supporting bad policies.
We should track the money to make sure it is going to the proper place.
Protecting countries from poverty works if the money is actually being
used properly.
Question
#4: Describe the Millennium Challenge Account and include in your description
what is anticipated from donors and recipients.
President Bush has proposed a bill called the
Millennium Challenge Account to help developing countries. He suggested a $5billion plan to help these counties.
The Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C. was addressed for
the funding for the bill. The Millennium Challenge Account is to extend the
education opportunities, and health services for people of developing countries.
President Bush feels that this bill will help the whole world in this global
struggle against terrorism. If we help these countries now, it is possible that
some day they will be able to rely upon themselves. They will have a system of
just government and a sound financial policy.
Question
#5: What are the three broad standards that President Bush expects the leaders
of the developing nations to adopt?
President Bush expects leaders of developing
nations to adopt a growth agenda. Leaders should increase support for private
sector enterprises. The focus should be more on education. Bush proposes the leaders of developing countries enforce a
growth agenda to calculate financial growth within the nation. A growth agenda
would show a plan of action to enhance money among international countries.
Bush also proposes that leaders adopt a support system for private
businesses. Support for private
businesses would bring more income to the community.
Focusing on education would allow leaders to count on more intellectual
population. Higher educated people will be able to bring in more revenue for the
community. Leaders should support
these areas in order to become a developed nation.
Question #6: Describe President Bush’s challenge to development bank and explain why or why not you favor it.
President Bush’s challenge to the World Bank is
to support his $5 billion plan to help developing countries. I favor this thinking. These countries need support in the
form of grants. Grant money is
helpful for developing countries because the money does not have to be paid
back. Grant money is trust from the providing country to the receiving country
to use the money wisely. The
developing country can use the grant money to help improve living conditions as
well as further education for children. I believe the banks should support the
$5 billion bill for developing nations.
Question
#7: What percentage of our national income (GPN) do
you think the United States government committed to foreign aid in 2002?
First answer the question and then use
the Internet to find the answer.
I believe the percentage of our national income
given to developing countries is relatively low.
To estimate I would say about 3 to 5 percent of the national income for
2002 was donated. My answer
compared to the Internet was high. The
actual figure is 0.7 percent of the national income.
This percent of money is used for reducing global poverty.
The 0.7 percent was used for meeting the Millennium Development Goals by
year 2015.
Question
#8: Describe and defend a “Me First” attitude. (Use your head--- you won’t
find the answer in the required reading.)
All developing nations want help. The “me first” attitude is what they must have.
If these countries sit back and wait for their chance to receive money,
their chance may never come. These
nations must fight for what they want and need.
These developing countries need assistance in education.
If children receive the proper education now, that will make for a more
intelligent population. The next
generation will again be more independent because they have acquired the skills
to be independent. With a smarter
nation, the country will be more independent and self-reliant. With the “me
first” attitude, the country will excel in providing services and education.
Question #9: Describe and defend a “Mutual Benefit” attitude. (Use your head--- you won’t find the answer in the required reading.)
Providing foreign aid is good for the contributing
country and the developing countries. When
a developed country helps a developing country, the two will build a tighter
bond with each other. The developed
countries may call on these countries that they have good relations with to help
in time of need. The United States is currently in a war like situation.
We could use the help of these countries if they are already developed
nations. Helping each other out in
time of need will be remembered as doing a good deed.
The “mutual benefit” attitude is true because the developed and the
developing nation with both benefit.
Question
#10: Describe three unsuccessful foreign aid programs operated by the
U.S. government or private American citizens. (Do not use the programs discussed
in the testimony of Faith Action for People Centered Development Policy included
in your required reading. Conduct research using the Internet. Duplicate
examples from the same class will not be accepted.)
These programs are unsuccessful because they lacked
structure in agriculture, lacked response to challenges, lacked the correct
focus.
Africa Tomorrow is a United States-based organization. This organization is a private voluntary and non-governmental organization. The U.S. tried to help Africans use technology in agriculture. The problem with the organization is that the roles of the program are not clear and are not consistent. The organization was started and then fizzled out. A lack of support expected from providers within the U.S. did not come about. The people helping with the organization were not consistent with their teachings. The African people had trouble understanding the leaders and what they were trying to teach the local people. The organization would have been beneficial if the organization had more structure.
USAID
provided a foreign assistance act. The
1961 Foreign Assistance Act was prompted by dissatisfaction with foreign
assistance. Many other foreign
assistance programs provided by USAID have dwindled as well.
The Act did not work because of the failure of Americans to respond to
world challenges. Actions to help
were unsatisfactory and were not suited for the developing need the United
States was helping. Another problem
was the collapse of developing countries during treatment by the U.S.
United
Nations Association was supposed to provide support and foreign policy to
overseas developing nations. Providing
assistance to Columbia for funding to family planning was also supported. The
problem with the program was that floor members argued if the need for funding
Columbia’s family planning was necessary.
Members believed terrorist attacks of September 11 should be the focus of
funding for the time being. Before
support for Columbia or any other nation, the focus should be national security
due to terrorist attacks.
Question
#11: Describe three successful foreign aid programs operated by the U.S.
government or private American citizens. (Do not use the programs discussed in
the testimony of Faith Action for People Centered Development Policy included in
your required reading. Conduct research using the Internet. Duplicate examples
from the same class will not be accepted.)
These programs are successful because they allow
quality distribution of goods, humanitarian efforts, and services to less
fortunate people.
The Washington Office on Africa (WOA) focuses on the United States living up to the statement, “liberty and justice for all.” WOA is a people centered program. The faith action policy represents Protestant and Catholic religions. The goal is for all types of people to come together for policies that promote justice, reconciliation, and the reduction of poverty worldwide. WOA addresses overseas development of quality, structure and development of goods such as fruit. This organization wants to extend beyond all U.S. government-funded aid programs. WOA is involved in the “Millennium Development Goals” which are goals intended to provide a focus for the World Bank Groups’ efforts. The World Bank’s focus is providing finances for developing countries. WOA is a recipient of finances that are eventually received by foreign developing nations.
Group
Watch is an international voluntary service provided by the United States. This
organization can be compared to the UMCOR Heifer project. Group Watch is a
charitable organization. This
organization is private, nonprofit organization. Group Watch engages in
humanitarian efforts. The purpose of this organization is to end hunger,
poverty, and human suffering in third world countries.
They help countries such as Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
The American Life League (ALL) provides services to less fortunate families and individuals throughout the world. This organization provides awareness of all kinds of major life decisions. ALL deals with subjects such as health care, gay rights, injustice, and abortion just to name a few. Even though this organization has met resistance from "conservatives groups" the organization feels that people should be aware of situations such as teenage pregnancy and other life changing occurrences. ALL provides a program called Communiqué, which is the organization that allows people to be aware of situations.
ALL
also provides medications to elderly people and young adults that cannot afford
them. The sole purpose of this organization is to make people aware of
situations and to help them through major life problems.
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.
Can the United States provide for our country and
for citizens of less developed countries? Offering aid to other countries is
ethically correct. However, the
United States needs the financial support.
In the U.S. we have homeless and poor people walking our streets, but is
this supposed to be one of the wealthiest countries? How can we support another
country's people if we cannot take care of our own population? First, we must
help ourselves before we can help others. We
should devote more money to families and poverty-stricken people within the U.S.
Eventually, we can help these countries, but not at the present time.
The United States needs to have a stable economy before helping less
developed countries.
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 (or business plans) describing their objectives and strategy, how they would use the money, the benchmarks used for evaluation. Giving recipient countries the responsibility is a revolutionary change in US foreign assistance.”?
Developing nations should write their own proposals
for how they would use foreign aid money. Letting
the country decide what they will use the money for, will make the people and
the government more aware of the problems that they need assistance for.
The United States should review the developing nations' proposals and
modify the plans if they need to be changed.
The countries should have the opportunity to be responsible. The U.S.
should not make total decisions as to what the countries need. A way to check
the country’s responsibility of the foreign aid is establishing benchmarks.
Benchmarks allow certain criteria to be met by a specific date. These are
goals for the country to have met with the aid of foreign assistance.
With a way to check on the foreign aid provided to the developing country
from the United States, the U.S. should allow the developing country to be
responsible with the money.
Question #14: Which of Mr. Radelet’s three concerns regarding the MCA concerns you and why?
1. as more
countries in this income range become eligible, there will be fewer MCA funds
available for the poorest countries that are implementing sound development
strategies.
2.
the make or
break requirement may unnecessarily eliminate some countries.
3. the
separation of US foreign assistance into two agencies could lead to a lack of
coordination and overlapping functions.
The statement regarding the make or break
requirement concerns me. Compared
to some countries, other countries may need major help.
Some of these countries may not be noticed because there is not a huge
need for aid, although they do still need help. This inequality may not allow complete assistance to all
countries in need. Countries may be eliminated because they do not meet
requirements in someone’s eyes. The
challenge is to analyze each country by itself and not compare the country to
any other country. Reviewing each
country separately will allow the United States to see where the most foreign
aid is needed.
Question
# 15: There is evidence of an increase in negative world opinion towards U.S. foreign policy, not necessarily the American
people. The counter this negative
perception of the U.S. some people want the U.S. to concentrate more on weapons
of mass assistance (WMA) and less on weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Please
comment.
The negative opinion toward the United States
foreign policy needs to be reduced. The
U.S. must concentrate on eliminating weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in other
countries. By handling WMD’s
appropriately, this may make the opinion more positive.
While taking WMD’s such as nuclear weapons out, the U.S. must replace
them with weapons of mass assistance (WMA) such as stronger services to relieve
poverty, strengthen education, and provide health care. These services will be
more helpful than harmful. By
replacing the WMD’s with WMA’s the response from people will be more
positive than negative.
Question
#16: What does the World Bank recommend as the United State’s “just as
appropriate share” to reach the Millennium Development Goals by 2015? Do you
think our citizens can afford that kind or increase? Defend your views.
The World Bank recommends the United States donate
a considerable amount of money to developing countries. The World Bank proposes that the U.S. give $40billion to
developing countries by the year 2015. This means the U.S. should donate
$10-15billion per year. This program is wonderful, but we must consider the
struggling people in our country. Can
we really afford to give this money away? If would be a wise decision to address
the problems right here in the United States before we provide for other
countries.
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 fund, not only government-sponsored foreign aid programs, but “that funds also go to NGO’s and grassroots organizations.”?
Faith Action for Centered Development Policy states
the United States should fund government sponsored foreign aid programs as well
as programs that address the problem. The U.S. money should be used to fix
problems within the developing country. Money
should not go to the government. The
government would take over the money and only allow little amounts to filter
down to the problem sites. The
United States should track the money to make sure the money goes to the problem
areas. The money should be used to
lessen poverty, and strengthen education. The money should not be used on the
government.
Question # 18: How many countries would be affected positively by health- related investments according to the Commission Macroeconomics and Health (CMH)?
Health related investments from the Commission on
Macroeconomics and Health (CMH) would positively affect 83 different countries.
The CMH studied the effect of health on development, including the
response to the spreading of AIDS. The CMH proposes $15.5 billion for the fiscal
year 2007 to help provide money to cure diseases. This year (2003) is the start
of the money saving of $10 billion each year. The CMH found that 8 million lives
could be saved by the year 2010. Eventually, CMH projects that the increased
economic health will pay for itself.
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 health services.
Due to saved lives and increased economic growth,
the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health believes there will be an annual
gain of money. The CMH projects
that 83 countries will be affected positively.
Out of 83 countries, 8 million lives could be saved by the year 2010 by
investing in health services. Between 2010 and 2020 at least $360 billion could
be gained because of increased economic growth and the number of lives saved.
This year (2003) the United States should donate $ 2.5 billion to stop global
AIDS. This seems like a lot of
money now, but the United States will receive this money back. This program will
more than pay for itself in the long run.
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.
On April 18, 2002 the bill H.R. 4524 was introduced
by Congressmen Smith and LaFalce in the House of Representatives. These bills
were introduced to amend the existing Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC). The
bill would reduce the debt that a receiving country would have by directing the
money invested to health-related services, including HIV/AIDS treatment.
The bill failed to leave the committee.