I Site Research Essay
INTRODUCTION:
Between 1946 and 2004 the U.S. government disbursed about $1.629 trillion (2004 dollars) in foreign aid ("Foreign Aid." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia). My name is Tyler Frisbee, and I am writing about whether or not the United States has social or moral responsibility to the rest of the world. For example: disaster relief military support, and financial support. I chose this topic because I think it is outrageous how much the U.S. helps other countries financialy. How does all this help affect the economy? Is our help making the country weaker? Or does it change the world for the better? By looking at the money and lives wasted, it will be seen that America giving to much help to other countries in war and natural disasters is a major problem in the U.S. and the world.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Many countries, including the U.S., use foriegn aid to help other countries. Foreign aid refers to the money, goods, or services that governments and private organizations give to assist other nations and their people. Both private groups and governments give aid to help less developed countries fight poverty, disease, and other problems. Governments give foreign aid for three main purposes: (1) to promote security and stability; (2) to improve economic conditions; and (3) to achieve political objectives, including humanitarian goals ("Foreign aid." World Book). This topic has two sides: people who think we should continue foriegn aid, and people who think we should stop forieghn aid. That is the basics of what you will need to know.
THE ECONOMICS:
In 1992-1997, the U.S. spent more than $14,052,000,000 in foreign aid to help other countries ("Foreign Aid." Dictionary of American History). This shows just some of the money the U.S. wastes on other countries that could be spent on problems back home. We are currently spending a lot of that money on Afghanistan, which has trillions of dollars worth of natural mineral resources. They could be using those to make money, but instead they remain one of the poorest countries in the world and sponge off of foreign aid. "Afghans need," as one wrighter stated, "to be taught to catch fish, rather than being gifted" ("Dependence on Foreign Aid! Until When?"). Spending all of this money not only drastically damaging our economy, but the worlds as a whole because we still have large debts to pay off to other countries.
THE DEATH TOLL:
As of may 23, 2011, there have been 1,570 deaths in the war in Afghanistan and 4,444 deaths in the war in Iraq ("Military Casualty Information"). Helping other countries in war and costs a lot of unnecessary casualties. We may be helping them achieve freedom, but not only American lives are being lost. During the war in Afghanistan, 300,000 children were killed as a result (Afghanistan). We do have to somewhat help or else we would be inhumane and cruel, but at some point we have to draw the line.
OPPOSING VIEWPOINT:
There are two sides to every topic. Here is the oposing side. Some people think that foriegn aid helps for promoting our countries security and political goals abroad, supplying it in exchange for rights to use military bases, for votes in the United Nations, to solidify spheres of influence, and to persuade warring parties to stop fighting and negotiate peace agreements. ("Foreign Aid." Encyclopedia Americana). And that without foriegn aid, our national relations would not be as strong as they are now.
REBUTTAL:
Not to contradict myself, but there is some truth to that last paragraph, but only some. It is true that Foriegn Aid, to some extent, strengthens foriegn relations. But, when we help one country, we may be making other countries that are rivals either angry or jealous. And, we do have to draw the line somewhere with how much were spending. Between 1946 and 2004 the U.S. government disbursed about
$1.629 trillion (2004 dollars) in foreign aid ("Foreign Aid." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia). That is a ridiculous amount of money that could be used for Cancer research, ways to help homless people, solve the energy crisis, and other various problems in the United States. Also, the national debt totals about $8 trillion, and more than half of it is owed to other countries("Miles and miles of debt." USA Today). We have to pay of that debt and not spend millions and millions of dollars on foriegn aid.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED:
During my ISite essay, I have learned a lot. I have learned that I was slightly wrong with what I said earlier. Instead of cutting help 100%, I think we should reduce how much we help other countries. I have also learned that foriegn aid isn't totally bad because it strengthens foriegn relations. Also that war and natural disaster help is more humane than not helping at all. And finally, I have also learned the ridiculous amount of money we spend on foriegn aid.
Between 1946 and 2004 the U.S. government disbursed about $1.629 trillion (2004 dollars) in foreign aid ("Foreign Aid." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia). My name is Tyler Frisbee, and I am writing about whether or not the United States has social or moral responsibility to the rest of the world. For example: disaster relief military support, and financial support. I chose this topic because I think it is outrageous how much the U.S. helps other countries financialy. How does all this help affect the economy? Is our help making the country weaker? Or does it change the world for the better? By looking at the money and lives wasted, it will be seen that America giving to much help to other countries in war and natural disasters is a major problem in the U.S. and the world.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Many countries, including the U.S., use foriegn aid to help other countries. Foreign aid refers to the money, goods, or services that governments and private organizations give to assist other nations and their people. Both private groups and governments give aid to help less developed countries fight poverty, disease, and other problems. Governments give foreign aid for three main purposes: (1) to promote security and stability; (2) to improve economic conditions; and (3) to achieve political objectives, including humanitarian goals ("Foreign aid." World Book). This topic has two sides: people who think we should continue foriegn aid, and people who think we should stop forieghn aid. That is the basics of what you will need to know.
THE ECONOMICS:
In 1992-1997, the U.S. spent more than $14,052,000,000 in foreign aid to help other countries ("Foreign Aid." Dictionary of American History). This shows just some of the money the U.S. wastes on other countries that could be spent on problems back home. We are currently spending a lot of that money on Afghanistan, which has trillions of dollars worth of natural mineral resources. They could be using those to make money, but instead they remain one of the poorest countries in the world and sponge off of foreign aid. "Afghans need," as one wrighter stated, "to be taught to catch fish, rather than being gifted" ("Dependence on Foreign Aid! Until When?"). Spending all of this money not only drastically damaging our economy, but the worlds as a whole because we still have large debts to pay off to other countries.
THE DEATH TOLL:
As of may 23, 2011, there have been 1,570 deaths in the war in Afghanistan and 4,444 deaths in the war in Iraq ("Military Casualty Information"). Helping other countries in war and costs a lot of unnecessary casualties. We may be helping them achieve freedom, but not only American lives are being lost. During the war in Afghanistan, 300,000 children were killed as a result (Afghanistan). We do have to somewhat help or else we would be inhumane and cruel, but at some point we have to draw the line.
OPPOSING VIEWPOINT:
There are two sides to every topic. Here is the oposing side. Some people think that foriegn aid helps for promoting our countries security and political goals abroad, supplying it in exchange for rights to use military bases, for votes in the United Nations, to solidify spheres of influence, and to persuade warring parties to stop fighting and negotiate peace agreements. ("Foreign Aid." Encyclopedia Americana). And that without foriegn aid, our national relations would not be as strong as they are now.
REBUTTAL:
Not to contradict myself, but there is some truth to that last paragraph, but only some. It is true that Foriegn Aid, to some extent, strengthens foriegn relations. But, when we help one country, we may be making other countries that are rivals either angry or jealous. And, we do have to draw the line somewhere with how much were spending. Between 1946 and 2004 the U.S. government disbursed about
$1.629 trillion (2004 dollars) in foreign aid ("Foreign Aid." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia). That is a ridiculous amount of money that could be used for Cancer research, ways to help homless people, solve the energy crisis, and other various problems in the United States. Also, the national debt totals about $8 trillion, and more than half of it is owed to other countries("Miles and miles of debt." USA Today). We have to pay of that debt and not spend millions and millions of dollars on foriegn aid.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED:
During my ISite essay, I have learned a lot. I have learned that I was slightly wrong with what I said earlier. Instead of cutting help 100%, I think we should reduce how much we help other countries. I have also learned that foriegn aid isn't totally bad because it strengthens foriegn relations. Also that war and natural disaster help is more humane than not helping at all. And finally, I have also learned the ridiculous amount of money we spend on foriegn aid.