LETTER TO THE HOLLAND SENTINEL: Holland, MI —Approximately 1 billion people around the world live in dire poverty, and the ongoing economic crisis is putting ever greater numbers in desperation. Even here in Holland, a community which prides itself on its strong religious roots and ethic of giving, food pantries are struggling to meet growing requests for assistance.
Yet, less than 6/10 of 1 percent of the 2008 federal budget is dedicated to poverty-focused foreign aid, and only about 2.05 percent of the 2007 federal budget was spent on domestic food assistance. In terms of gross national product, U.S. foreign aid has historically been lower than almost every other industrialized nation. Moreover, only about half of U.S. foreign aid is used to alleviate poverty; the rest is used to pursue other aims such as influencing domestic policy of recipient nations.
Yet, less than 6/10 of 1 percent of the 2008 federal budget is dedicated to poverty-focused foreign aid, and only about 2.05 percent of the 2007 federal budget was spent on domestic food assistance. In terms of gross national product, U.S. foreign aid has historically been lower than almost every other industrialized nation. Moreover, only about half of U.S. foreign aid is used to alleviate poverty; the rest is used to pursue other aims such as influencing domestic policy of recipient nations.
RSS Feed
