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Essays, Opinion, & Commentary |
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Something to Think About
by Gordon Francis Corbett
One of our leaders' most controversial policies is foreign aid. Proponents think that foreign aid builds foreign trade and helps poor nations. Opponents denounce its cost, its imperialism, and its un-Constitutionality. Foreign trade is best built by bankers and merchants. Poor nations' natural resources and cheap labor attract them because, with their help, these things can make money. Helping poor nations is best done by private charity. Private charities use their money much more effectively than governments do theirs. Much "foreign" aid really goes to American companies, creating streams of income that they maintain by lobbying Congress, just as munitions manufacturers do. We grumble when the Pentagon buys unnecessary weapons; but, grudgingly, we pay, because some future crisis might make those weapons unexpectedly needful. What could make us want to pay higher taxes to give Kenyan honchos Cadillacs? Almost forty years ago, our money did buy Kenyan officials extra wives. Very often, we pay foreign aid to make governments obey us. That is wrong. If we pay them not to violate our citizens' rights, we pay tribute; and paying tribute generates more demands for more payments. If we pay foreign countries to do or not to do peaceful acts, we create an empire. Either one is stupid or worse. Our Constitution grants our government no power to give foreign aid. If it did, I would oppose it. We must not let force do what voluntary efforts like commerce and charity do better. We must not let our paid public servants violate our rights so that they can bribe foreigners not to do it. Foreign aid is wrong. When you hear a candidate for the Federal House or Senate promise to vote for its abolition, please consider voting for that individual.
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Something to Think About Index |
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