Medicine Lodge High School
Medicine Lodge, Kansas
Teachers:  Devra Parker and Steve Germes

 

Foreign Aid:  Help or Hindrance
By Jessica Reynolds
12^th Grade

 

When I was little, I always had a babysitter while my mother was at work.  As soon as she came home, she picked me up and took me home.  I went to school during the mornings and I went to my grandparents on the weekends.  No matter what, there was always someone there to take care of me and to give me aid when I was in need.  I was completely dependent, and for a child, that was fine. 

Now, I have grown older, and I am capable of surviving on my own.  I have a job and I go to school.  There is no need in my life for a babysitter.  No one needs to hold my hand for every step that I take.

I do not believe that the United States should increase foreign aid spending.  They Millennium Challenge Account is, in fact, a step in the wrong direction.  As a nation, we give above and beyond what we should have to already to the world population.  Yes, foreign aid is a wonderful idea, but the United States can go a little too far.  Everyone can use a little help starting off, but after a while, people should be able to hold their own.  If we have helped a certain nation for an extended period of time, and there is no real progress coming from it, then there is no point in continuing the effort.  Giving foreign aid to countries for the sole purpose of keeping them afloat is senseless.  It is much like picking the sick puppy in a pet store because you feel sorry for it, and a week later, the helpless creature dies in your arms.  He is no better because of your efforts.

Yes, there are people in other countries that are dying of starvation right and left, but here in the United States, there are children who only get fed because of school lunch programs.  Right here in the United States there are many of the same kind of homeless and helpless people that we see in other countries.  Why, then, are we spending all our excess money, time, and effort on other nations?  We have our own problems to contend with and our own people to protect here in our homeland.

The American public views on various television commercials the hungry children in Mexico or South America or even Africa that play in garbage and panhandle for money.  What they refuse to see are the same children on the streets of our American cities.  These children are just as hungry and just as destitute as any child seen on television in far away foreign countries. 

 I do not mean to sound cold hearted because I know that these starving nations need our help, but we cannot be there forever.  We cannot, as a country, lead them around by the hand, always hoping that someday they will grow up and be able to take care of themselves.  We do help them.  Every year, a portion of our budget goes to foreign aid (and when I say portion, I mean billions of dollars).    There is absolutely no need to increase these already outrageous amounts.  If our country is longing to spend money so badly, maybe it should consider its own people first. 

Statistics show that one out of every five children that are less than three years old live in poverty in the United States.  That does not seem like much, but look at it this way.  If you were in a school filled with three hundred people, at least sixty of those kids would be poor.  Sixty children who only have old raggedy clothes that other families give them, and sixty children who eat a school breakfast and lunch because they have learned that if they eat those two meals, then they can make it without supper.  These same kids work full time at night, so they can get the extra money their families need to stay above starvation. 

This condition is sad for such a wealthy, industrial nation such as America.  I believe in helping others when they are in need, but sometimes one must help themselves first.  The Millennium Challenge Account is a good idea in theory, but we cannot afford to neglect our own citizens in order to take care of people that are not our responsibility; people that do not always take care of themselves. 

Since the beginning of time, survival of the fittest has ruled the land.  If a population of people was meant to survive, then they did, and if they were meant to come to ruin, then they did.  We cannot change the hands of fate.  Our help is good and it is kind, but it means nothing in the long run.  If actions speak louder than word, then they speak louder than money too.  We need to teach these countries how to fend for themselves rather than do the job for them. 

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 Millennium Challenge Account and include in your description what is anticipated from donors and recipients.

A.  In the Millennium 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.   Planet Aid collected used clothing and operated used clothing stores but is under investigation because it is believed that the persons running the organization are actually a cult called Tvind.

The World Villages for Children were suppose to help children get away from a life lived in poverty.

Aid to Israel  was really unsuccessful and unpopular, especially after 9/11.

 

Q 11.  Describe three successful foreign aid programs operated by the U.S. government of private American citizens.

A.  International Service Agencies give all kind of help to the poorest of the poor in other countries.

The Blanket Project offers free coats and blankets to the needy in cities.

The Isaac Foundation works in whatever area that help is most needed.

 

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.  Back