Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

leveymg

(36,418 posts)

1. A French Maid is a "foreign aide." What do you offer them? Chocolates and Champagne are nice.

Reply to Aerows (Original post)

Sat Dec 1, 2012, 01:23 PM

Dec 2012

To your point, foreign aid is usually given because the recipient is perceived to have some foreign policy or economic interest to the U.S. There are some instances of purely humanitarian aid, such as famine relief, but most of it has to do with other considerations, such as opening up markets for US exports, etc. or to please some domestic constituent group.

I know, the serious response is boring, but accurate.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

30 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Why do we offer foreign aid [View all] Aerows Dec 2012 OP

A French Maid is a "foreign aide." What do you offer them? Chocolates and Champagne are nice. leveymg Dec 2012 #1

Typo corrected Aerows Dec 2012 #2

Please see my response on edit. leveymg Dec 2012 #3

What is the difference Aerows Dec 2012 #4

In effect we subsidize their healthcare AND in many cases give them a free military for their TeamsterDem Dec 2012 #5

Amen! Aerows Dec 2012 #6

Foreign aid is a tiny fraction of our resources pinboy3niner Dec 2012 #20

My point bellow nadinbrzezinski Dec 2012 #23

I think the US needs a major reordering of priorities to meet basic human needs, inc. health leveymg Dec 2012 #7

As a taxpayer Aerows Dec 2012 #8

I agree. Until we meet basic human needs here, we aren't even close to being a civilized country. leveymg Dec 2012 #9

Exactly Aerows Dec 2012 #10

Well, we can safely assume that it's not altruism. Tierra_y_Libertad Dec 2012 #11

Sadly, we can Aerows Dec 2012 #12

If it was for altruism I'd be supporting it. Tierra_y_Libertad Dec 2012 #13

It is an investment in good will actually nadinbrzezinski Dec 2012 #14

Israel receives more foreign aid from the US than any other nation TomClash Dec 2012 #16

Somebody posted the actual numbers the other day nadinbrzezinski Dec 2012 #17

Links LeftInTX Dec 2012 #21

Yes, wiki is throwing all of foreign aid into one packet nadinbrzezinski Dec 2012 #22

Of course because aid is mostly fungible TomClash Dec 2012 #25

It s not fungible to the kid getting a mosquito net nadinbrzezinski Dec 2012 #26

You misunderstand TomClash Dec 2012 #29

Read what I wrote about the budget nadinbrzezinski Dec 2012 #30

The countries that receive money are far worst off gravity Dec 2012 #15

Oh yes I can... there are areas of the US nadinbrzezinski Dec 2012 #18

Think: reverse mob protection racket. nt rDigital Dec 2012 #19

The official reason is to help third world countries build their infrastructure and Cleita Dec 2012 #24

My god...I have seen those foreign service workers nadinbrzezinski Dec 2012 #27

My dear, the workers do their best. Cleita Dec 2012 #28