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Bronson Bass
Dr. Bagley
11/7/13
Reflection Paper
Foreign Aid
The US is the worlds largest foreign aid donor, but also one of the least generous in
percentage of the economy given to aid (Maurizio p.537). The US only provides for countries
that are properly governed, invest in their people, and encourage economic freedom. Maurizio
states. Before the countries are given the funds they are expected to set-up concrete plans in
which they consul a non-governmental organization and other types of private representatives of
the civil society. There is no deadline on the disbursement of the funds, but it would depend on
how fast the country is able to set-up this plan. The government of the country is responsible for
the implementation of the compact while the MCC monitors the activities to make sure the
financial responsibilities are being met.
Many Americans oppose lending money and resources to foreign nations. It is a key
debate which constantly comes up in presidential and congressional campaigns as a major
decision maker on which candidate to vote for. Americans complain that foreign aid is affecting
their personal financial standing, however there are no strong studies to clearly state this as a
fact. Conservatives often use this unsupported argument as a way to sway voters into assuming
their personal money and taxes are being targeted as a way to fun other nations. (Snyder p.735).
Another view on this topic is that America has issues that need to be addressed for
Americans, such as starvation, a homelessness population on the rise, and education. Just looking
around Portland, homelessness is everywhere and it is prominent as of the struggle. Take away
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modern day comforts, such as a warm bed or a roof over our heads, and these problems become
surreal. Starvation is another huge issue in America and, once again, right here in Portland.
Having been without food for a solid twenty four hours may make you aware of what is really
needed in life. Education is another topic of debate that needs more funding. Right here at
Portland State University only 12% of our awarded financial aid is given from the federal
government. As a need based student here at PSU scholarships and grants are why I am writing
this paper right now. Making education ready-available would make more than just the American
economy grow, it would help the entire world.
The same can be said of undeveloped countries though. In education, especially, they
dont even have proper facilities of the school and the supplies necessary to provide an education
worth something of value. Certain places have been lucky enough to be involved in programs,
through foreign aid, to that assist in teaching, building, and educational resources. This is a major
problem that can only be solved in time, with such a small number of organizations and materials
in these undeveloped countries it will take time in order to assist in these conditions. (Maurizio p.
540)
Apart from what we still are suffering in the US, we have a huge debt hanging over our
country constantly. Americans believe that we should pay-off our own debts before assisting
others (Woods p.397). Despite the disbelief when America assists another country that is in
need, after the needy country has gone through the application process and is awarded the funds
and uses them to their advantage, that country can help us in the long run. There may be some
undeveloped countries that do not know what the US does as a country assisting with need. Once
we gain their trust and confidence, they help us in trade with something, such as natural
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resources, or as an ally. Overall when you put your money and efforts into a country they will
counteract in a helpful manner.
Occasionally these funds that are raised go to countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
This makes some of the American population concerned as of whom is making the decisions of
where our money goes. The money that is going there is to for the better of the general
population, but most people have a prodigious towards the middle-east, so they are often concern
with the aid being given there.
Foreign aid is a good thing by the way it develops rural countries. Helping a country in
need is a very good thing to do for our economy. It helps us when we are in need of allies,
natural resources, and other such items; this allowing the world economy to speed up. Foreign
aid also assists in medication, thus causing worldly diseases that kill thousands of individuals
each year to be treated.
Foreign aid has more sides to it, but these are some of the biggest topics of debates of
most American citizens. The well-being of others, even in other countries, has an impact on our
lives here in America. Even with debts, the US continues and will continue to give aid and
assistant to foreign countries.
In my personal opinion, foreign aid is a topic that has so many different side-categories,
such as health, wellbeing, poverty, etc. that I fell biased for picking a side. But with the
information provided in this essay I would have to stay on the giving side. I like doing charitable
deeds, and there are ways that Americans can give back to people, and if that means giving tax
money to countries in need, then so be it. I see it as they are in more of a need than us.
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Works Cited:
Maurizio Carbone Review of African Political Economy , Vol. 31, No. 101, An African
Scramble? (Sep., 2004), pp. 536-542 Published by: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. Article URL:
http://www.jstor.org.proxy.lib.pdx.edu/stable/4006972?seq=2
Snyder, Donald W. "Foreign Aid and Private Investment in Developing Economies." Journal of
International Development 735-745 8.6 (1996): 735-45. 4 Dec. 1998. Web. 6 Nov. 2013.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.proxy.lib.pdx.edu/doi/10.1002/(SICI)1099-
1328(199611)8:6%3C735::AID-JID345%3E3.0.CO;2-8/pdf.
Woods, Ngaire. "The Shifting Politics Of Foreign Aid." International Affairs 81.2 (2005): 393-
409. Military & Government Collection. Web. 6 Nov. 2013. http://web.ebscohost.com
.proxy .lib.pdx.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=ff0fe6dc-3cb4-45e4-9be6-
650697573174%40sessionmgr13&vid=2&hid=1