Americans Think Foreign Aid is 28% of Federal Budget

Depends on whether you count military spending as "foreign aid", I guess .

 

In terms of their similar impact and contribution yes. But Americans plainly and vocally praise one and complain about the other in contrasting enough tones too, uh, mootify that qualification.

 

My fellow Americans can be woefully misinformed.

 

Not surprising. The actual breakdown of how the government spend tax dollars would likely surprise everyone who sees it for the first time. I know I was floored when I first saw it.

 

I hear complaints about both, which is which in your post?

30 billion in teh aidz huh? Anyone have a breakdown by country? Curious how much went to Mexico, I think they should move up the list a bit. (not Hispanic)

Also we spend more than 9 other counties on that table combined. Misleading as hell chart.

 

Woeful ignorance about foreign aid has been the rule for a long time and will remain so indefinitely. Facts just don't matter on this one.

 

Well, it is a bit foolish to borrow money and then give it to charity. It is just the perception of literally handing over cash.

 

I'm sorry that you're having trouble reading the chart, since it's laid out there easily enough in a nice bar graph. The amount of money is not the point. The point is that we are spending a fraction of the foreign aid that we used to spend, and that numerous countries are spending a lot more than we are, when you compare their wealth to ours.

 

No, Deckard, the dollars DO matter. The amount DOES matter.

Foreign aid is a miniscule fraction of what we spend. But for some odd reason too many people think that if we just cut that portion of our budget then we can balance it. One could only think that if they had no idea what we spend on entitlements every year - there's no other way to explain it.

I just shrug my shoulders when I run into anyone who rages about the foreign aid spending. There's not much to say to them that will work itself into an intelligent conversation.

 

Imagine how pissed you'll be when you realize how few points the Rox are getting for what they are spending on their front line.

 

These are the same people that want the government to keep its hands off of Medicare.

 

So sad but so true.

/thread.

 

I didn't have any trouble reading the chart. I gave more information about it and I opined it was misleading.

 

That was my point, treeman.