Aid groups: US should send cash, not food, abroad (Congress, Obama, economy)

[All American NYC]

Food aid groups are urging the Obama administration to overhaul the way the United States helps starving people abroad. The White House will not say whether Obama's budget proposal, scheduled to come out next week, will seek to change the way foreign food aid is distributed. But food aid groups, farm groups and their allies in Congress are preparing for the possibility.

Knowing Obama he would give them EBT cards.

[Drewcifer]

When we send food aid it crashes their market for local agriculture, puts their farmers out of business and then makes them more dependent on food aid. If the aid is in the form of money to buy food it is usually sourced locally first so it strengthens the local agricultural economy and makes long term aid less necessary. Simple economics.

[shooting4life]

Originally Posted by Drewcifer

When we send food aid it crashes their market for local agriculture, puts their farmers out of business and then makes them more dependent on food aid. If the aid is in the form of money to buy food it is usually sourced locally first so it strengthens the local agricultural economy and makes long term aid less necessary. Simple economics.

Right, because that money always goes towards the betterment of the people. You probably the signs homeless people hold asking for money because they are hungry actually goes towards food.

[pknopp]

So this is the reason for the commercial I saw last night.

I say beggars shouldn't be choosy.

[geofra]

What's the old saying: "... don't give a man a fish, teach a man to fish."?

Hopefully the money will be used to develop their own food supply and distribution, which would have to compete with "free" food from the United States without a change in aid policy.

[KS_Referee]

If we send them money for aid, instead of food, the scum in their governments will keep it and zero humanitarian relief will be accomplished. This is how it has ALWAYS ended up before when dealing with this type of handed over cash aid, yet somehow we are expected it to believe this time will be different?

Send them food or send them nothing.

[Oldhag1]

Originally Posted by Drewcifer

When we send food aid it crashes their market for local agriculture, puts their farmers out of business and then makes them more dependent on food aid. If the aid is in the form of money to buy food it is usually sourced locally first so it strengthens the local agricultural economy and makes long term aid less necessary. Simple economics.

Or gets taken by the local warlords and it shores up their thugs. I'd rather it be food, thanks.

[Chimuelojones]

Originally Posted by Drewcifer

When we send food aid it crashes their market for local agriculture, puts their farmers out of business and then makes them more dependent on food aid. If the aid is in the form of money to buy food it is usually sourced locally first so it strengthens the local agricultural economy and makes long term aid less necessary. Simple economics.

I agree with you in principle, but if starvation is the issue, * the government. Immediate food aid is needed.

After the crisis has stablelized then a transition to local farm porducts and stored grains could be done.

If farm products and stored grains were in abundance, starvation would not be the issue.

There is a difference between food aid for hunger management and food aid for starvation relief.

[KUchief25]

Let em fend for themselves. They don't like the local warlord then go kill him. All this aid does is prop up these evil tyrants to enable control over the people be it food money whatever. Hell the money will just go in to a bank account somewhere. Not Cyprus anymore. lol

[Rick Roma]

U.S. Taxpayers: Aid Groups Should Get Bent