Established in 1961 by Congress in response to the growing influence of our adversaries, USAID has now been shuttered. Some Americans may ask: Why give money to another country when we have poverty here at home? That’s certainly a legitimate question. We should do more to fund programs here at home rather than giving tax breaks to billionaires and their companies.
USAID was established as an investment for peace as well as a way to provide humanitarian support to countries abroad. It saw development as a way to keep other countries out of the orbit of governments opposed to our interests.
Look at the numbers: $40 billion for USAID but $8 billion in oil and gas subsidies; and billions more when the super-wealthy pay only 1.9% in taxes while you and I pay between 15% and 20%. Rather than spurious claims of corruption in USAID, perhaps we should look at the corruption in tax rates that benefit only the wealthy.
Prayer for the Day
Made us in your image of love and redemption, O God,
May we look with compassion upon the whole human family;
Take away the arrogance that power and wealth often bring,
And infuse us with your grace in our obligations and deeds.
Break down the walls that separate us and unite us in bonds of love,
Eliminating the confusion we often feel in our witness to your grace.
In the name of the One who calls us to care for others,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
The reported budget proposal to strip America’s civilian forces back to 9/11 funding levels is unfathomable given today’s global threats from ISIS to pandemics like Ebola. As these battle-tested military leaders have asserted, the State Department and USAID are critical frontline defenses to prevent conflict and advance our national security interests. If we’re going to put America First, we can’t tie the hands of our diplomats and development workers, fighting alongside our soldiers to keep our country safe.
Liz Shrayer, U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
Though many Americans believe foreign assistance makes up more than a quarter of the federal budget, in truth, the United States spends less than one percent of its budget on foreign assistance, or roughly $60 billion per year; that figure includes military support and about $40 billion in aid managed by USAID.
Adam Russell Taylor, Sojourners president
Ah, you who call evil good and good evil, and light for darkness, and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5:20