Why not Detroit? Because we're bailing out Somalia???

Why not help out the economic crisis in Detroit?? Or, perhaps we could invest more in education; or, extend unemployment benefits to people who have tried to find work for a year.  Maybe we should cut out the new taxes on the Affordable (Really??) Care Act.  Or, maybe we should reduce the national debt?  Or, give incentives to grow our economy?  Or, maybe....  I know I could use a few more bucks.

Do you know how much money the United States, a country that is $17 TRILLION in  debt, disburses in economic aid to foreign countries on an annual basis?  Let's take a look.

Top 25 Recipient Countries of U.S. Foreign Aid FY 2012, Reported in $US millions, Obligations 
CountryU.S. Total Economic and Military Assistance FY 2012, $US millionsEconomic Assistance FY 2012, US millionsMilitary Assistance FY 2012, US millionsAid received per person recipient FY 2012
Afghanistan12,886.603,325.509,561.10423.63
Israel6,175.1025.106,150.00813.50
Iraq2,792.10783.502,008.6089.69
Egypt2,705.40102.602,602.8032.33
Jordan1,438.90831.60607.30221.07
Pakistan1,219.701,137.7082.106.41
Ethiopia871.50864.606.909.56
Kenya751.60745.606.0017.47
Colombia686.00543.90142.0015.16
Haiti510.60510.200.4052.10
West Bank/Gaza457.40457.400.00105.57
South Sudan445.10395.5049.7041.89
Russia440.90339.00101.903.09
Somalia419.60274.90144.7041.61
Tanzania402.70399.303.508.58
Congo (Kinshasa)388.90370.5018.405.28
Uganda353.20349.403.9010.50
Nigeria337.80330.906.901.99
Lebanon302.60141.30161.2073.07
Sudan298.10298.100.008.72
Ukraine282.20207.3074.906.29
Yemen279.60237.4042.1011.29
South Africa276.20272.603.705.66
Mozambique274.40273.500.9011.67
Bangladesh260.00246.5013.501.61
Notes:
  • Sources: U.S. Overseas Loans and Grants, U.S. Bureau of Census (BUCEN) International Database.
So, let's talk Russia, a country who is threatening us in the Ukraine and seems to have a horrible human rights record.  Does it make sense that we are sending $400  million to Russia, admittedly a small portion of the total, but still sounding like a big amount, to a country that is housing our fugitives and blocking democracy?
Or, take a look at Somalia, whose renegade outlaw pirates hijack ships and kill people in their region, and inspired the movie, Captain Phillips.  That country received almost as much as Russia.
Yemen houses terrorists groups and Libya, where our ambassador and his staff were attacked and killed, didn't quite make the list above, but still has received $200 million+ in the last couple of years. 

Jordan, where 85% of the people dislike the United States and what it stands for, got $1.4 Billion (yes, with a B). And, even though they hate us, they took our money.  Luckily, all these other countries love us.
Maybe some of the folks in Detroit who are losing their pensions in the City's bankruptcy proceedings, would show some appreciation for some aid.  Some of those Detroiters actually support the U.S.
And, now one public service announcement.  For anyone that doesn't know the difference between the national deficit and the national debt, here you go:

Federal Deficit

  • The federal deficit refers to the federal budget deficit which is simply the difference between the amount of U.S. expenditures compared to the amount of U.S. tax collected.

Federal Debt

  • The federal or national debt is the amount of money the U.S. Government has borrowed from and owes to lenders.

So, when your congressman tells you we'll cut the deficit, we know it's not true; but even IF Congress were to cut the deficit, all that does is slow down the increase in the debt.  Let's cut the debt instead...   Or, send a few bucks to Detroit... or McCrabby.


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