Medicine
Lodge High School
Medicine
Lodge, Kansas
Teachers:
Devra Parker and Steve Germes
Whatever
My President Asks
By
Allison Foulkrod
12th Grade
Americans
are very concerned with the welfare and financial status of other countries.
Many commercials plead for money for the starving children in many foreign
countries. They impose guilt on us to give by showing dirty, poorly dressed,
barefoot children playing in the streets and telling us about their horrible
living conditions. Giving is, of course, a choice of individual American
citizens, but what happens when the government of our entire country gets
involved? Is the United States as a country too concerned with foreign aid, or
are we just doing our part?
I
personally am undecided on this issue because I can see both sides of the
situation. If we choose to commit our dollars to other nations, we may ignore
those in need right in our own nation. However, the plight of other nations
may be more desperate, and helping could save us from the terrible reputation
we have obtained in other parts of the world as selfish, money-hungry,
insensitive fools.
If,
as in the first situation I described, we ignore the needy right here in the
United States of America, we may turn our nation to poverty. Need breeds the
mindset of doing whatever is necessary to survive. Many of our very own people
turn to crime, as is shown by the constantly increasing crime statistics. Of
course, welfare programs are designed to help our needy, but many people feel
that the government is not doing enough to help. Why else do people not want
to increase foreign aid? Sometimes the money that is spent on foreign aid is
wasted. Our government may give without adequate organization and end up
paying enormous sums to programs that are not even helpful and are only
wasteful. The money we expect to be used to feed the hungry may be used
instead to provide condoms. This may be very helpful in trying to prevent
diseases, but the people would probably rather have food. People with this
point of view would argue that we need to cut or redirect our foreign aid
expenses and form more extensive American aid programs.
Many
people in other countries have a very low opinion of Americans. If we increase
our foreign aid expenses, it could help end some of the hatred towards the
United States and lessen terrorism. They think we are insensitive and driven
only by money. We are thought to be a very economically sound country, and
they think that we are being selfish. In fact, compared to most countries, we
are a very rich country. We may have some poverty, but it is not nearly as
extreme as it is in other nations. Some nations are made up almost entirely of
poverty-stricken inhabitants. Those who see this point of view would argue
that we do not have nearly as many needy people as other countries and that
we should increase our foreign aid expenses.
So,
what do I think? I believe that both points of view are valid. I think we need
to make changes in both local aid and foreign aid policies.
I do not think that either program is immune from wasting money. They
both need to be more extensive and thorough. I believe that both local aid
organizations and foreign aid organizations need to be more closely monitored
to prevent waste and abuse.
If
I had to choose, though, I would not want to increase foreign aid spending. I
think that we cannot afford it with so much money being spent on the war in
Iraq. I know that we are already far in debt, and I do not believe that trying
improve our reputation is worth putting us even further in debt. Our national
security would, in my opinion, not be bettered by giving more money. In fact,
some of the countries that we are trying to help may even be using the money
to develop weapons to use against us. We
have increased our foreign aid to Afghanistan and its neighboring countries
since September 11 to help them be prepared for the economic downfalls in the
aftermath of war. These countries and others, such as
Colombia, Indonesia,
the Philippines,
and Yemen,
still house terrorists who could get their hands on the money and use it
against us.
I
do not agree with the Millenium Challenge Account, but I will be a loyal
American citizen and do what my President asks of me.
Questions
Q
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?
A.
The three items that fund development are domestic capital, foreign
investment, and, most of all, trade.
Q
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?
A.
Besides needing financing, the development of a third world country
also needs education and health care in order to be successful.
Q
3.
When is money sometimes counterproductive, according to President Bush?
A.
Money can actually be counterproductive if it subsidizes bad policies,
delays reform, and crowds out private investment.
Q
4.
Describe the Millenium Challenge Account and include in your
description what is anticipated from donors and recipients.
A.
In the Millenium Challenge Account, among other efforts, the fight
against AIDS will be expanded. Also,
computer instruction will be brought to professionals in developing nations,
African businesses will be aided in selling goods abroad, textbooks and
training to students in Islamic and African countries will be provided, and
the power of science and technology will be applied to increase harvests where
hunger is greatest. The goal of
the donors is to provide people in developing nations with the tools they need
to seize the opportunities of the global economy.
In return for this commitment from the U.S., the recipients are
expected to adopt reforms and policies that make development effective and
lasting.
Q
5.
What
are the three broad standards that President Bush expects the leaders of the
developing nations to adopt?
A.
President Bush expects leaders of developing nations to rule justly,
invest in their people in education and health, and to encourage economic
freedom.
Q
6.
Describe
President Bush’s challenge to development banks and explain why or why not
you favor it.
A.
President
Bush challenges development banks to provide up to half of the funds devoted
to poor nations in the form of grants, rather than loans.
I think that this is a good idea since these third world countries have
very little money, and have enough debt to repay as it is.
Q
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 find the answer.
A.
Originally, I guessed that the United States spent 13% of their GNP on
foreign aid. After researching,
however, I found that we spend only .1%.
Q
8.
Describe
and defend a "Me First" attitude.
A.
I believe that people who defend a "Me First" attitude
believe in only looking out for the interests of people in the U.S.
In some ways it makes sense, as many of our own people are homeless and
starving, and could use more aid than what they are already receiving,.
Q
9.
Describe and defend a "Mutual Benefit" attitude.
A.
People
who defend a "Mutual Benefit" attitude believe that by helping other
nations we are also helping ourselves. This
attitude also makes since because by helping other nations we make more
alliances, creating less enemies and further protecting our homeland security.
Q
10.
Describe
three unsuccessful foreign aid programs operated by the U.S. government of
private American citizens.
A.
One
unsuccessful foreign aid program was the Clinton administration’s effort to
help former Eastern Bloc nations. It tried to teach Polish people to achieve
local democracy, but instead seemed more concerned with helping Americans feel
better about themselves for helping instead of actually helping. The Polish
people said that the American consultants were being paid a lot to do little
and were causing more trouble than help.
Another
unsuccessful program is the aid provided to Africa. According to the General
Accounting Office, “The large number of donors and their administrative
requirements place a considerable burden on recipient governments and strain
their already weak administrative capacity.” Basically, they are not
equipped to handle the aid that we give them.
Another
unsuccessful program is the aid provided to Central America. According to
Manuel F. Ayau, former president of the
Universidad Francisco Marroquin in Guatemala City,
“[Foreign aid] has been spent putting governments in the business of power
generation and distribution, telecommunications, railroads, shipping or other
ventures that invariably end up charging monopoly prices and losing money to
boot. These ventures not only produce no wealth for their countries, but they
also tax economically productive enterprises to cover their losses.” This
basically means that the aid has been used to provide unneeded projects that
end up losing money.
Q
11.
Describe
three successful foreign aid programs operated by the U.S. government of
private American citizens.
A.
One
very successful foreign aid program is the Peace Corps because it sends people
to help people in other nations instead of just sending money. The people can
make sure that good is being done and money is not wasted. It also helps
promote a positive image of Americans. Plus, it has been around since 1961,
and it would not have lasted if it were not successful.
Another
successful foreign aid program is the Marshall Plan. It occurred during 1948-
1951, and it distributed $12 billion throughout Europe to help recovery after
Wold War II.
Another
successful foreign aid program is the Point Four Program. It was started to
provide technological skills, knowledge, and equipment to poor countries.
President Truman used it to win support during the cold war.
Q
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.
A.
I believe that we can do both, but we must have our priorities straight
first. We should offer aid to
other countries, but before we do this, we must first offer aid to people in
our own country.
Q
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 this responsibility is a revolutionary change in US foreign
assistance?
A.
I
think that this is a good idea because under this plan we can evaluate who
needs the money the most, and also can be sure that the money goes where it is
supposed to.
Q
14.
Which
of Mr. Radelet’s three concerns regarding the
MCA concerns you and why?
A.
I
am most concerned about the fact that there are two different foreign
assistance programs. If a lack of
communication would occur between the two, there is a
chance that people who need the money the most would miss out on
valuable aid, while others who are not in so much need might receive more than
their share.
Q
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 (WMA) and less on
weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Please
comment.
A.
I
believe that if we concentrate more on Weapons of Mass Assistance, we will be
able to reinforce our alliances with other countries, thus reducing our need
for Weapons of Mass Destruction. However,
due to recent attacks on our homeland security, it would be wise to maintain
our production and maintenance of these Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Q
16.
What
does the World Bank recommend 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.
A.
The
World Bank recommends that the United States should give an additional $10-$15
billion dollars to the Millennium Development Goal.
I believe that the citizens of the United States could afford this
additional contribution to foreign aid, but also that we should not be
expected to give it. Instead, I
believe that we should use the money donated to foreign aid more wisely.
Q
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 NGOs
and grassroots organizations.”?
A.
I think that the government should help these non-governmental
organizations, but that the government -endowed money should be carefully
monitored to make sure that it is used effectively.
Q
18.
How many countries would be affected positively by health-related
investments according to the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health (CMH)?
A.
According to this commission, 83 countries would benefit because of
these investments.
Q
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?
A.
According to the CMH, $360 billion would be gained annually.
Q
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.
A.
Christopher
Smith of New Jersey and John LaFalce of New York introduced this “Debt
Relief Enhancement Act of 2002”. This act was created to release the burden
of highly indebted countries. Its
main goal, however, is to fight AIDS/HIV through human development.
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