Thread: Trump wants to add $54 billion to defense and cut social spending

Originally Posted by Judy

I just think Africa still needs our help. I really do. I don't know if the money we provide them is being spent wisely or appropriately, but I still support helping Africa. Africa is such a beautiful country, but it is so fragile. It just still needs our eyes, help and money, seems to me. We probably need to spend the money and provide the help in better more productive ways. We need to make sure it doesn't line the pockets of dictators and government officials but actually reaches the people, and there are ways to do that, if not, then pull it in those areas where it's not reaching the people. And not forever, just help them a little bit longer, because I believe until proven wrong, they still need it.

You still haven't given a legitimate reason for giving Africa our hard earned taxpayer dollars. You may win me over if you're suggesting we should help the African nature preserves (I'm all for stopping the poaching of elephants, lions, monkeys, etc.) or go in to smash Boko Haram. However, this money should go directly to the cause because I have no false illusions regarding their various governments that are, to varying degrees, corrupt and capricious. Let Oprah build all the girl schools she wants in Africa and allow any other private citizen to help as they see fit, but IMO sending our tax dollars there is like throwing it into an empty well. Private funding, yes, billions in taxpayer dollars, no. I'm not necessarily suggesting we end all foreign aid, but I am saying it's past time to consider some serious cuts. Should we really be buying someone like Egypt tanks? I use that as an example because it seems I recall that very thing happening.

Any discussion on how to help Africa is very complex. I believe we're giving them billions annually now just to fight HIV/AIDS. That is only part of it. If I remember correctly we were giving over 50 billion or so to foreign countries around 5 years ago. I'm not sure what the amount is now. I don't pretend to have all the answers, but it's hard to believe we give that much away to other countries annually, yet we can't even build an efficient wall (fence) to protect our own nation. Yep, I'm scratching my head.

No money for African Nature Preserves. We need to update our 100+ year old water pipes in our inner cities. Build more reservoirs and look ahead to our impact and needs on our resources for the future. Our population growth. What if we have a volcano or serious earthquake? Another Hurricane Katrina or Sandy? Look at all the Tornadoes, Floods, mudslides, we have and drought.

No money to Africa...period. We have given them BILLIONS. No more money to their Ebola or AIDS. Clean up your cesspool.

Africa has received boatloads of money...only to squander it. They do not invest in their own people or land.

They only look to the next 48 hours of their future with their hands out for our money and oatmeal.

Time for tough love...you are on your own.

Yes, I would like to help the park rangers who protect their natural preserves to stop the awful poaching!!

I would also like to help the women with birth control and abortions should they choose so they aren't burdened with childbirth of children born to die from starvation.

I would also like to help them with fresh water treatment facilities, sewage treatment facilities and solar energy items for heat, cooking and lights, so the women don't have to walk miles and miles carrying water jugs on their head only to have to scavenge for wood and sticks to make a fire to cook dinner, and so they can have some light to study for school, plug in a fan to get some cool or a heater so they won't be cold at night in the winter.

And for some food when there are shortages.

There is so little real news about Africa, many Americans still don't understand how difficult and primitive life is there for so many of the people. Yet, they almost never complain, they never whine, they have great dignity and acceptance of their fate. I admire them tremendously for that. And that depends on the country. Not all the countries are the same. It's tribal, good tribes, bad tribes. I would like to help the good ones.

But it's true we're broke. I would like to see whatever we have been spending stay in the budget for Africa, cut everybody else off. And maybe if the money we do spend is spent more wisely, in a few years, we won't need to do any more for them either.

In fact I don't even think we should give the money to the governments, we should give it our companies and send them down there to build some nice facilities and hand out some nice solar products and family planning options for the women and of course food when there are shortages.

Good grief Judy...they do it to themselves. Free vasectomies and tubal ligations will get them out of poverty and starvation. They accept their fate because they do not have two brain cells to rub together. Tribal mentality and decades of inbreeding.

No money! Let Oprah and Hollywood help them. It all boils down to keeping your pants ZIPPED.

The only thing for real they will do with Africa IS TOO DIG IT UP, MINE IT UP AND DESTROY all HABITAT FOR CREATURES while the workers eat the last wild gorillas on earth - soon only in zoos. Money money $$$$$. Stocks, stocks.

SOS hillary promoted fracking everywhere with our technology/chemicals - what do you think mr exxon tillerson will do?

I think we should cut out all foreign aid. If we want - or need - to help the people of a country, do it directly to the people.

It shouldn't be through the so called 'charities' or some church either.

Foreign aid seems to be just a means for foreign governments to either buy American military goods, or to grease the palms of rulers to allow American corporations to operate, as they wish in the country, or allow NGO's to do more harm than good, while lining their own pockets.

We should cease and desist all funding to any organization - period.

No more 'grants' for this organization for art, music, to build bike paths, museums, etc., etc.

We should use taxpayer dollars to operate the government - nothing else.

Close all departments except those that are actually part of the federal government's mandate. I'm thinking cutting Education, HEW, Agriculture - and more. Those that are necessary are best handled by the states.

We could pay off the national debt in jig time.

Yes, I think our companies should hand out the aid to Africa. I trust them more than many of the governments in Africa. I think the companies would do it smart and make sure it got to the people in ways that actually make a more permanent difference. And just for a short time. It doesn't need to be a long term project. Just doing a few right things to jump start some things, then the people of Africa will take the ball and run with it.