At 2:12 I thought that guy made an interesting point about aid being judged by results. Too many countries receiving foreign aid it seems have been getting aid for a long time. Why is that?
Of course Foreign Aid works! Its a great way to launder money. Have you ever met a poor retired politician?
Foreign aid is like bandaids to fix a severed artery. It can help certain situations in emergencies but a lot of it is misappropriated, wasteful, over bureaucratized, inefficient and doesnt address the long term wider problems which cause the need for the aid. There are similar deficiencies in regards to most of the big charities.
1% of the federal budget goes to foreign aid. The Marshall Plan that lasted from 1947 to 1953 rebuilt Europe and stopped the spread of communism. Today, up until now, we have been helping Ukraine defend its country from invasion by a foreign dictator. We help south Korea defend its land from the communist dictator to the north. The Alliance for Progress helped stop the spread of communism in Latin American. We fought the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa helping to stop its spread around the world. The Berlin Airlift stopped the Russian attempt to starve West Berlin. etc., etc.
Seems to me that Trump has serious problems with the concept of Soft power. Or at least it looks like that, never sure what is real and what a smokescreen with him. Not everything goes down to basic "balance books". Creating a positive image in a place can mean much less money spent on direct influence or military action later. Same as "wasting money on protecting this or that" - being the world policeman also means having an outsized influence, hands during UN votes to count on, etc, which, in turn, creates better trade opportunities, better military cooperation, better access to resources, and easier implementation of strategic political schemes on a global scale.
Renaming the Gulf of Mexico is one of the signs of micro-managing that I have seen with many former bosses and supervisors. Childish at best. Loony toons at worst.
Foreign aid can work if we provide it to nations that support the ideals of the United Stated. The only problem is that our ideals are a moving target changing every 4 years.
It's called "foreign aid," but I'm fairly certain the US is a mutual beneficiary in any foreign investments. That's why the current administration feels entitled to Ukrainian natural resources.
Foreign Aid is just bribes for the countries elite to co operate with the countries providing the aid ( trade deals, military bases, research programs that would be illegal elsewhere, all kinds of scientific tests, experiments that likewise would be frowned upon if openly aware of by the public. It is never about the poor and needy. Smoke and Mirrors.
Never is a strong word. In 1812 the U.S gave $50,000 for disaster relief food aid to Venezuela. In WWI the U.S. sent $387 million worth of food to Belgium. It also sent money for relief to other European countries fought typhus in Russia and sent $20 million for famine relief in Russia. Etc. Foreign Aid is never about the poor and needy? Pure BS.
Crumbs ... do not solve the problems - occassional genuine assistance happens but it is still smoke and mirrors
Do a head count of all the dictators and horrific leaders the US has supported who were greedily and nastily a great part of the problems in those countries - the list is long. Basically aid and abet the bastards then jump in with guns and bandaids to oust them then "fix" the mess.
Do a head count of all the democracies and honest leaders the US has supported who were humane and honorable (and worked to alleviate) a great part of the problems in those countries - the list is long. Basically aid the legitimate causes then jump in with food and medical aid to help them then "fix" the mess.
