Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Unofficial Poll
"According to a University of Maryland poll taken in 2002, Americans think the United States should spend $1 on foreign aid for every $3 it spends on defense." (from The Wisdom of Crowds by James Surowiecki).
When most Americans are polled they think that we're spending too much on foreign aid.
How much do you think we spend? For every dollar spent on defense, how much is spent on foreign aid?
Part B of this question is, how much do you think is the ideal ratio?
(I'll post the real number on Friday)
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7 comments:
I believe that if we spent a greater amount on aid than we spent on defense, our "need" for defense would decrease. The world may view us as less of a self-centered, self-righteous, super-power, and more of a generous neighbor willing to help carry the load of others in need.
Wouldn't that be lovely?
well put... JG.
it would be lovely, but i think it is a bit idealistic. or perhaps i am just cynical. i honestly don't think it would help relations any. they would still say that since we are so rich we should be giving more. one of those, it is never enough situations. also it could look like we are trying to buy good relations and that implies weakness, which opens us up for more attacks. geez, i am cynical.
gotta go with beth on this one... no matter what we do with our money, people won't like us simply because we have the money...
what if we just gave our elected officials salaries to foreign aid as a start?
hear! hear! the man from michigan has a great idea!
okay...a day early, but here's the number:
for every $1 that goes to foreign aid, $19 goes to defense spending.
Of course, Chris tried to convince me that what we're doing in Iraq is foreign aid...
(I'm just baiting him to dig himself a hole again!!!!)
i have to back Chris up on this one....
truth be told (not just what the news media reports) we are doing foreign aid in Iraq. That coming from friends who have been over there for extended periods of time. yes, there are also a lot of other things going on over there that are not good. BUT, our objective is good. whether or not we are completely meeting it is another post. we are a lot closer than the media would let on.
I'm with Dave. And Chris. And Beth.
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