Foreign Aid

Foreign Aid is something that is expected of countries that are prosperous and powerful and are in a postition to help others. United States, being the most dominate and wealthy country in the world, is not exempt for that duty. Some people have a hard time comprehending forgien aid and others are major supporters of it. So what do the two major sides of the issue have to say?

People who support foreign aid often feel as though it is our duty as Americans to help other countries. They often suggest that we have more than enough in our lives as Americans, and even some of the poorest people that live in our country live like kings compared to the average person in places such as Samalia. It is important that we distibute the wealth and the luxeries that come with being in American with the rest of the world. Even if your the poorest of the poor in the United States you still are able to get health care, often free meals and a place to sleep.

People who are against foreign aid often think that it is wrong that not everyone in the United States has a roof over their head and food to eat every night so why are we sending money and supplies over seas when it could be used in the United States? We are also in an ecomonic downfall so why are we spending millions and millions of dollars as giant charity to other country. We aren't even talking care of our own!

These are the two main sides of the Foreign Aid issue. Do you agree or disagree with Foreign Aid? Do you think that Foreign Aid takes away from those in our country that need help?

Tis the Season

It's the holiday season once again. This means for most people that they will be buying gifts, putting up lights and decorations, and getting ready to host friends and family or getting ready to go to friends and families homes. Another important part of the holiday season, that is often forgotten, is giving to others. People often contribute by giving to chartitible donations. That sounds great and all, but what if I told you that a rediculously small percent of the money you donate acually goes to the cause in some of the most popular and wellknown charities?

A lot of cheritable donations have great commericals and ads that say that if you donate to their organization, your money will go to some great cause, and for a lot of organizations, this is true. For others though, some of their ads are a bit misleading. Take UNICEF for example, only 4.4 cents of every dollar you give goes to the acual cause.

Some people may argue that the reason for so little of the money going to the cause is because the charity has to pay for shipping of goods and other expenses, which is fine. My question is though, as the presedent or founder of a charity, shouldn't you start a charity to help others, not too make money? Aparently some people forget this because people like Marsha J. Evans, who is the President and CEO of the American Red Cross, makes a salary of $951,957. Another person that makes a large some money every year is the United Way President, Brian Gallagher. He makes a base salary of $675,000 plus numerous expense benefits. And last but not least, my personal favorite, Caryl M. Stern. She is the CEO of UNICEF. She make a salary of $1,900,000 a year plus all expenses including Rolls Royce. Makes you think twice before you donate to any charity, right?

In my opinion, if you want too donate to anyone this season, you should donate to organizations such as America Legion, Veterans of Forein Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Military Order of Purple Hearts, or Vietnam Veterans Assocication. All of these charitable donations give 100% of every dollar to their causes, and on top of that, each National Commander earns a salary of $0.00 a year.

I'm not saying that the organizations that don't give %100 of every dollar are evil. All I'm saying is that if you want to donate money for others in need and know that all of your money will go directly to the cause, than I would do some research on where your donating first.

Military World Spending

Having a military is essential for any world superpower to continue supremacy above the rest. The United States being today's world superpower is not exempt from that fact, but is it really nessassary to spend billions of dollars on a military, especially in a time of recession?

The world overall spends aproxmimately 1.63 trillion dollars on military efforts each year as of 2010. Of that money, the United States spends 41 percent of that on our military. This is far more than any other country. The closest to the United States military spending is China 8.2 percent of the total spending. Not only is the gap between military spending in the United States and the rest of the world concerning, but also, the fact that the United States is expirencing a huge economical downfall. Places like China and Russia (third in world military spending) have economies are growing, therefore wouldn't that allow them the oppertunity to expand their military and their spending budget?

This logic doesn't exactly apply to the United States. Even though the United States is going through an economic recession, and budgets are being cut in various categories, the budget for the United States military is actually going up.

The other part of the raised budget for military spending that could be argued, is that if the United States wants to keep up their supremacy above all other nations, should our military not be superior to all other militaries? If let other nations catch up to our militaries advancements that we have now, would that not make us more of a target to other nations that wish to go to war with us in order to earn superiority above all other nations. The fact that we have a military that is so much more deadly and advanced than other nations militaries, is a deterrent for anyone to declare war or attack us as a nation.

Do you think this amount of spending on military makes sense? Do you think the money could go to better use. Do you think this raised budget is attributing a vast amount in our constant increasing national debt?