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America's Global Generosity

The Hudson Institute’s Index Of Global Philanthropy, 2006, presents data on America’s presence in the world that is often ignored by the nation’s critics. Not only is the United States the wealthiest nation in the world, it turns out to be the most generous—by far.

Between 2000 and 2004, U.S. government foreign aid nearly doubled, from $9.9 billion to $19.7 billion. This latter number was larger than the donations by runners-up Japan ($8.91 billion) and France ($8.47 billion) combined. The figure includes President Bush’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief, “the largest single disease-fighting campaign by any country in history.”

The problem with government aid is that much of it is stolen and squandered by corrupt and inefficient third world governments. Total foreign aid over the past half century to developing countries amounted to $2.3 trillion, and poverty has advanced steadily. Cries by many on the Left for even more foreign aid by the United States are based on the very shaky premise that such assistance actually reaches those in need.

Private overseas giving by Americans is more promising. That figure amounted to at least $71 billion in 2004—over 3 ½ times the figure for government aid. European private giving, in contrast, amounted to something between $350 million and $1.5 billion in 2002. The U.S. total includes donations by philanthropic foundations ($3.4 billion), corporations ($4.9 billion), private and voluntary organizations ($5.7 billion), and religious organizations ($4.5 billion). The largest single amount, however, came from immigrants and temporary workers in the United States who sent money ($47 billion) back to families and villages in their own countries. Wonder why people risk so much to live and work in America? According to the World Bank, immigrants in this country earn about five times as much as they would in their native lands.

Dr. Carol C. Adelman, Director of The Index of Global Philanthropy, argues that foreign aid, public and private, ought to be invested wisely, creating and encouraging private enterprise and free institutions. Developing nations need to be brought out of their “donor” mentality and become partners in creating a better life. In Adelman’s judgment, America’s contributions are of major importance, amounting to some $99 billion dollars a year. “The U.S. invests the most overseas, provides the most military support when global disasters strike, produces the bulk of the world’s research and development for better food and medicines, and provides preferential trade agreements that support imports from developing countries.”
And let us not forget the billions spent for military efforts to bring peace and freedom to the peoples of the world, and the blood of the young men and women who give of themselves to end tyranny and poverty throughout the globe.

See the 83 page report at http://gpt.hudson.org/files/publications/GlobalPhilanthropy.pdf

Posted on Thursday, June 15, 2006 at 7:57 AM | Comments (0) | Return

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