Redistributing U.S. wealth globally is socialism and doesn’t
work; End foreign aid now
By Grace Vuoto
As America heads towards bankruptcy, Republicans and Democrats should be
looking to slice one part of the budget whole hog: foreign aid. We cannot take
care of our own citizens, let alone giving away money to help citizens of other
nations. This is a luxury we can no longer afford.
The summer of 2011 has been marked mostly with
an increasing awareness on Capitol Hill and around the country that America’s
skyrocketing debt and deficit must be tamed. Republicans are insisting that in
order to lift the current debt ceiling they want the White House to sanction
massive spending cuts, especially to entitlement programs. Democrats have in
turn been scaring voters with dire scenarios of draconian cuts to social
programs. They generally prefer reductions in military spending and tax
increases on the wealthy as a means of attempting to curb the $1.5 trillion
budget deficit. Yet, both sides can begin by taking a hard look at foreign aid
and drawing a line right through all of it.
The American people do not want their tax dollars diverted to other nations.
A March Bloomberg National Poll found that 70 percent of Americans think cutting
foreign aid will make a significant difference in taming the deficit. In 2009,
America was the world’s largest bilateral donor, according to the latest
comprehensive statistics compiled by USAID, the federal agency that disburses
foreign assistance, in an annual report for Congress titled “U.S. Overseas
Loans and Grants.†Approximately $34 billion went to economic assistance and
$11 billion for military assistance, said the report. This is a total of $45
billion. The top recipients of these funds were Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel,
Egypt, Sudan and Pakistan.
EXCERPT:Americans should demand the immediate end to all foreign aid and a constitutional amendment declaring the practice to be a violation of the social compact erected by our Founding Fathers. In fact, foreign aid is in breach of the Constitution and the founding principle that all taxation be based on representation and accountability; when funds are sent overseas accountability is difficult if not impossible.
The new mantra is one our Founding Fathers would applaud: American tax dollars for American citizens, no excuses and no exceptions.
Dr. Grace Vuoto is the Executive Director of the Edmund Burke Institute for American Renewal.
SOURCE:World Tribune
EXCERPT:Americans should demand the immediate end to all foreign aid and a constitutional amendment declaring the practice to be a violation of the social compact erected by our Founding Fathers. In fact, foreign aid is in breach of the Constitution and the founding principle that all taxation be based on representation and accountability; when funds are sent overseas accountability is difficult if not impossible.
The new mantra is one our Founding Fathers would applaud: American tax dollars for American citizens, no excuses and no exceptions.
Dr. Grace Vuoto is the Executive Director of the Edmund Burke Institute for American Renewal.
SOURCE:World Tribune
