What Would Happen if the United States Refused Aid to Other Countries?

I think it should maybe be given a try because I think of all the aid that goes out and is pocketed by those in command of the countries instead of going to help the poor peole that it was intended for. When I think of things like this the 2 people that spring to my mind are Ferdinand & Imelda Marcos. They took most of the aid from the USA to make themselves multi- millionaires. When they felt like getting more she would toddle off to the USA and tell them what they wanted. A good book about these 2 is "Waltzing with a Dictator." Thank goodness they are no longer ripping off the American taxpayers but there are others in the world doing it.

Great discussion topic. It certainly would be very interesting to see the response of the countries currently receiving aid from the USA. Many would have a lot of problems. Certainly, many people would be dying of starvation. Political unrest would follow and many governments would crumble. Interesting thoughts. I am keen to hear what others have to say.

If we did that and continued to wage war in the Middle East, everyone would hate us, including aliens from other planets. But let's say, we have a theorethical world, the fighting in the Middle East and everywhere else in the world ends. Okay, it is a mythical world. But if we stopped fighting and stopped sending aid, then we would be voted the most selfish people in the world. The way the whole world sees it, we must continue to give aid to everyone and I really don't have a problem with that but I would like to see more aid at home too, we have too many uninsured and underemployed and working poor. But back to the topic, we have to give aid to the world and if these same people blow up our embassies or hijack our jets and crash them into buildings or kill innocent people, the world expects us to turn the other cheek, our heads will be spinning like in the exorcist. i think some other countries may send some aid, but nothing like we have - I think it is time that we take care of our own.

Oh, yeah. I wish the government would send less aid to governments, at least the ones that do not improve the human rights in their countries. How in the world did China get the favored trade category? Their civil rights record is terrible. And some of the places we send aid are better off financially than the US. Makes no sense to me. I understand that trade and aid are necessary for good will. But we've done enough to destroy good will toward us in the past six years that no amount of money is going to fix. Let's look at the system and fix it.

I think that if America refused aid to countries in need it would not only look bad on the good old US of A but I believe that the other countries around the world would take up the slack after all the U.S.A. isn't the only world power.

If the United States stopped giving aid to other countries you would see crowds screaming even louder about how sefish the United States is. Think about it. When the United States has a crisis like Hurricane Katrina or 911 how many countries helped the United States? Not one other country offered to help. Yet, they are willing to hold their hands out for the United States to come help them out. United States should be giving better care to its own citizens then what it does. Maybe the United States should use the billions of dollars they use to aid other countries to remove illegl immigrants. Then we could solve two problems at once.

Hello ParaTed, Foreign Aid money equates to bribe money. It always has! The USA uses foreign aid to try to sweet talk other nations into being friendly and cooperative with us, and the rest of the civilized world. Look where it's gotten us? We have two communist nations, South of the Border who are openly aggressive toward the USA. Then there's Mexico, who would rather teach their emmigrants how to get into the USA illegally, than to fix their own corruption and economic problems. We've got Putin convincing his masses that the USA is looking to back them into a corner, so as to re-open the arms race. We've got China, who is the most two-faced government on the planet. They're loving the money that capitalism brings into their borders, yet they still bash the ideology, and it's home -- the USA. They're so caught up in new found monetary inflow, that greed had crept into the hearts and minds of the government and the people. Of course they're excited at the prospects that capitalism brings them. Look at the new auto sales figures in China over the last five years. Yet, China has turned a blind eye to responsible international trade, and stewardship. Poisoned dog food, poisoned toothpaste, raw sewage in the fresh water supplies, that irrigate food stores. Monopolizing natural resources, to the detriment of their international trading partners, and their own citizens. ETC... I could go on and on. So, if foreign aid is just bribe money, then I think we ought to insist that it continues -- with conditions. Who ever is elected President in Nov. '08, ought to put a temporary freeze on all foreign aid, and ititiate a review of the recipients. Now, what private foundations wish to do, as far as aid, is their own business, unless they are a tax exempt organizations. If they are tax-exempt, then their gifting needs to be in line with any restrictions mandated by the US Gov't. Restrictions with legitimate reasons!!! If they're not tax-exempt, then they're free to do with their money whatever they please. However, they will have to pay US taxes on it before it's distributed overseas, and their gifting will be open to IRS scrutiny. But, it's important to remember that many people across the globe do not dislike the American People. They may not like the government, but they seem to separate the individual, from his or her flag. And, charitable aid is a bridge of understanding. It helps those of different cultures to hone in on their similarities, rather than just their differences. And, we Americans like to build bridges. If they end up being bridges to nowhere, meaning we're bribing pretentious partners, then nix the aid, and open the spiggot back up only after demonstrable changes in their Human Rights records, level of international cooperation, etc ... carrots, for tangible results!

it is indeed a good humanitarian cause that the US is serving the under-developed nations of the world. And it would really hit these countries very hard if US stops doing so. But rather than providing aid to these countries, a better option is to make them stand on their own feet, i.e. to make them self-sufficient economies. And I am sure that US can play a major role in making these countries self-sufficient economies so that they do not depend on other bigger economies of the world.

I think it would be funny as hell, and would teach a lesson that would not soon be forgotten. These countries and governments want to blame America for their troubles, then let's just get out of the international welfare business entirely. Let's just sit back and watch how well all of these countries do without our "interference", and let's call the notes on all of those who owe us money, instead of forgiving their debts. Americans would be a lot better off, our national debt might actually decrease...and the rest of the world could just stand on their own, or perish. Personally I am tired of the complaining and badmouthing from the countries that we have helped.

I am not against helping people world wide, but if we helped our on citizens to become productive we would soon have more money to help other countries. The US never abandoned slavery, they just exported it to other countries and rich people take advantage of those in the country illegally paying the very low wages. We are losing the middle class while creating a sub lower class and a wealthier upper class.