Rockridge High School
Taylor Ridge, Illinois
Teacher: Barb Downey

No New Programs
By Carolyn Gillman

When the average American hears the words “foreign aid,” he or she immediately begins thinking of the Peace Corps and Feed the Hungry campaigns.  However, foreign aid is so much more than that.  Countries help each other get back on their feet through industrialization and trading, not just by handing out food and clothing.  Our nation has given a great deal of foreign aid to many countries that are in need.  President George W. Bush gave a speech on March 14, 2002, stating that all of the help was not enough.  He spoke of a program that would enable these poor countries to get back on their feet, to increase their trade with other nations, and to begin ridding these countries of disease and hunger.  This plan, the Millennium Challenge Account, may be a good idea and a noble program, but it has many faults.  The United States can afford to increase its commitment to foreign aid, but the Millennium Challenge Account is not a step in the right direction.

The United States can afford to increase its foreign aid because of the status of our great nation.  As one of the richest countries in the world, the United States should give the most foreign aid, and it does.  Though we give more government funded aid than any other nation, we do not give enough.  The United States is low on the list of nations when it comes to the percentage of Gross National Product (GNP) given to foreign aid.  At this moment, we, as a nation, only give .1 % of our GNP.  If other nations can sacrifice more, then our nation most definitely can.  The American people can raise this money, but it would most likely be done by raising taxes. This is a problem.  Raising the taxes through this new program to meet the quota would become a damaging tactic.  The United States needs all of its citizens to be behind the foreign aid that goes to other countries.  By increasing taxes, foreign aid would become a bother to the common taxpayer, and it soon would become another thing needing change.  The taxpayer already gives enough to the government to better our own country as a whole, and the Millennium Challenge Account would be asking for more money from the taxpayer.  The taxpayer would make the sacrifice.  Charity should be given from the heart, not drawn out of hardworking jobholder’s paychecks.  If the United States government wants to increase its foreign aid to other nations, then money needs to be cut from other programs to compensate for the loss in funds.

Many think that by using this program, the world will begin to look at the United States’ foreign aid policy a different way, as though it were moving toward a new, positive direction.  The Millennium Challenge Account will move us in the exact opposite direction by showing the United States as a superior nation.  Once again, the United States would look like the parent taking care of its child.  As a child, it is almost impossible to feel independent, and a country tied down by this program would not feel independence either.  Even though much of the aid given would be grants, there are still loans.  The United States would be in charge of deciding which countries would fall under the program, determining how much aid they would receive, and making sure they spend it right.  These may be good tactics for the United States, the nation giving the aid, but would not make other countries look at our foreign aid policy any differently.  We would still be the parental figure.

While other nations are looking at the lack of government aid from the United States, they are not looking at the private organizations that are thriving in our nation.  Programs such as the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, World Opportunities International and Population Communications International are successful programs that are working all over the world to improve education, bring peace between religions, and help build support for Israel.  The United States should not be worrying about making our nation look superior by saying, “look at us, we gave the most,” but should be supporting these other organizations that already exist.  Instead of creating the Millennium Challenge Account, a program with many faults, the United States government needs to help bring income to already established organizations.  Our government must increase awareness of foreign aid to help the public determine which of these organizations are genuine. Then, the average American can give to those in need without force from the government.  Government funded rallies and television commercials can help raise that awareness, and the American people can start to give the charity that our world needs.

The United States is on the right track with the idea of increasing its foreign aid.  It is a great idea, but the Millennium Challenge Account would be a step in the wrong direction.  To fund the Millennium Challenge Account, taxes would have to be raised. By doing this, the American people would become disillusioned about the program, which would cause problems in the future.  Also, trying to change other nations’ points of view about our foreign aid will not work through this program.  It will just stress the superiority of our nation.  Private organizations provide better care for these suffering nations, and with government help, these programs can increase the amount of foreign aid from the United States without starting a Millennium Challenge Account.  With the support of the American people, our nation can make a difference.

Bibliography

“International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.” On-line. Internet. 3 Feb. 2003.
Available WWW: http://give.org

“Population Communications International.” On-line. Internet. 3 Feb. 2003.
Available WWW: http://give.org

“World Opportunities International.” On-line. Internet. 3 Feb. 2003.
Available WWW: http://give.org

Questions

Q1- 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 claims that the three things that are funding development are domestic capital, foreign investment, and international trade.

Q2- 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?

Successful development in a third world country requires the country’s security and literacy.

Q3- When is money sometimes counterproductive, according to President Bush?

The money can become counterproductive when nations refuse to enact sound policies.

Q4- Describe the Millennium Challenge Account and include your description what is anticipated from donors and recipients.

The Millennium Challenge Account is being used to aid poor, corrupted countries.  This program would help these countries rid themselves of poverty, hunger, and corrupted government.  The donors of the money will provide the developing nations with the tools that they need to seize opportunities.  The recipients of the money will in turn adopt the reforms and policies that make development effective and everlasting.

Q5- What are the three broad standards that President Bush expects the leaders of the developing nations to adopt?

These leaders must rule justly, invest in their people, and encourage economic freedom.

Q6- Describe President Bush’s challenge to developmental banks and explains why or why not you favor it.

President Bush challenges the banks of other countries to increase their amount of foreign aid to help the private investment of these poor countries.  He also challenges them to send more of their foreign aid in the form of grants instead of loans.

I do not agree with the grant part of this deal.  With free money that keeps being given, who would want to better their country with it and in time, end the aid?   The money should be kept as a loan.  If the money is later turned into a loan because a country wishes it, then I believe that the country has a right to do so.  Developing banks should only give out more money if they can afford it.  There is no point to help another country’s business at the expense of your own.

Q7- What percentage of out national income do you think the United States government committed to foreign aid in 2002?  First answer this question and the use the Internet to find the answer.

I guessed that the United States spent 15% of its gross national income but our country only used .1%.

Q8- Describe and defend a “Me First” attitude.

A “Me First” attitude implies that the United States should focus more on its problems and issues, and not spend as much time and money on other countries until all of the United State’s problems are taken care of.  By doing this, the country can develop at a faster pace and can pull even further ahead of other countries.

Q9- Describe and defend a “Mutual Benefit” attitude.

A “Mutual Benefit” attitude is thinking that the whole world would be better off if countries that are in need are given help from wealthier countries.  By doing this, the gap between countries is lessened over time, and helps all of the people in need.  By helping out these countries and their people ahead of time, they can help themselves through industry and education that is funded by wealthy nations.

Q10- Describe three unsuccessful foreign aid programs operated by the US government or private American citizens.

The HOPE worldwide organization gives help to children through healthcare, and also helps them with mentoring and education.

The World Society for the Protection of Animals hopes to “prevent the suffering of animals worldwide and to provide rescue and relief programs for animals that do become victims of suffering.”

The B’nai B’rith International Organization hopes to “Unite the persons of the Jewish faith and to enhance Jewish identity through strengthening Jewish family life and the education and training of the youth.”

All three of these organizations are unsuccessful because they have more expenses than the amount of money that they bring in for foreign aid.

Q11- Describe three successful foreign aid programs operated by the US government or private American citizens.   

The Population Communications International is a program that helps people of other nations determine the right choices by braodcasting television programs that show good family values and characters with strong morals.

The World Opportunities International program donated over twenty-six million dollars of supplies and medical equipment to countries around the world.

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews is a program that promotes worldwide peace between these two groups all over the world, and funds the relocation and absorption of needy Jews and their transportation to Israel.

All of these programs have raised great amounts of money to support their organizations and are thriving.

Q12- Steve Radelet, Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Development believes we can do both – take care of out 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.

I believe that we can afford to do both.  Only .1% of our nation’s Gross National Product is used for foreign aid.  This can be greatly increased yet still be able to develop our country and its people.

Q13- 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.”?

I think that this is a revolutionary change, because now we know that people are stepping up and using the money and aid with responsible decisions that are written out and defined.

Q14- Which of Mr. Radelet’s three concerns regarding the MCA concerns you and why?

I believe the make-or-break requirement may unnecessarily eliminate some countries from receiving aid.  The guidelines to become eligible are strict but there are needy countries that don’t meet the guidelines. How can you correctly gauge the amount of corruption in a country and weigh that against the corruption of another country to decide who receives aid?  I believe the requirements may need to have a less demanding corruption level.

Q15- There is evidence of an increase in negative world opinion towards US foreign policy, not necessarily the American people.  To counter this negative perception if the US some people want the US to concentrate more on weapons of mass assistance and less on weapons of mass destruction.  Please comment.

Yes, I believe we should concentrate on weapons of mass assistance but we cannot stop making good defensive weapons for our country, for that would be endangering the American people.

Q16- What does the World Bank recommend as the Unites States’ “just and appropriate share” to reach the Millennium Development Goals by 2015?  Do you think our citizens can afford that kind of increase?  Defend you views.

The United States would be giving ten to fifteen billion dollars per year.  That amount of money would not affect the American people that much.  This is the just share that the US can afford.  More than that is given out yearly by private organizations so I believe the government can afford to increase its aid to match the private organizations.

Q17- 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 go to NGOs and grassroots organizations.”?

I believe that the United States needs to give aid to these programs, because even though the Millennium Challenge account finances industry and companies, youth groups and grassroots organizations feed the mind and souls of the people.  These clubs and foundations are needed just as much as aid for industrializing to help the people of these poor nations.

Q18- How many countries would be affected positively by health related investments according to the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health?

Eighty-three countries are affected.

Q19- According to CMH, how much would be gained annually between 2015 through 2020 due to saved lives and increased economic growth, if an increase investment were made in global aids and other health services?

Three hundred and sixty billion dollars would be gained annually. 

Q20- Use the Internet for your research and name the two congressmen who introduced H.R. 4524.  Give a two line synopsis of that bill.

The two congressmen are Chris Smith and John LaFalce.  This bill was passed by the 107^th congress in order to ensure that the Enhanced Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative achieves the objective of substantially increasing resources available for human development and poverty reduction in heavily indebted poor countries.  In other words, this bill will help other countries relieve themselves of debt.
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