OpenGov - Open Government Brainstorm

I would add that there is no Constitutional provision for any foreign aid to anyone, and George Washington warned of the dangers of "foreign entanglements" in his farewell address.

i agree 100% with this statement. i feel that is the problem we help other but don't take care of our own enterests here at home. we need to take care of america first and formost now. the heck with the rest of the world.if it isn't made here we should put a 300% tarriff on all goods imported like countries like japan to protect your jobs here. with child labor or forced labor like countries like china how can we compete. stop the bleeding off of american jobs to places like india

Hi Spencer,

I would have agree with John80537. There is no Constitutional provision for this nonsense. Stop the nonsense and everything will be normal. Having said that, I'd disagree with Georgewniffen. Competition, whether local or International is always good for the buyer. It keeps everyone honest. I live in India as an American and I'm in the medical tourism business here. George, don't forget that those cotton pickers were screaming bloody murder about the cotton gin. It would take their jobs away. It did, but they have survived much better with the gin than they did with very, very sore hands and arms.

If AmeriKa is having trouble competing, she should simply REPEAL 99% of the laws that are currently on the books. We have to be real about these things because if we were to adopt your idea of a 300% tariff on imported goods and services YOU would probably not be able to afford much of what you consider are necessities. If you want to stop the bleeding of American jobs, make sure the workers are willing to work at least as hard for the same wages as someone else who is willing to make a better product for less money. AGAIN, competition is always good and never bad. Only Socialists and Commies would disagree. Do a search for "My Little American Test" and see where you stand. All the best.

I go a step further. Do away with ALL foreign aid to any country. If they need aid, then surely their country has something to trade.

Hi Don,

Glad to hear from you. Neither do I agree with Tariffs, they just start tariff wars and we all know how that ends. But I do believe in the actual costs involved in manufacturing and shipping must be born by the buyer. Now if you have a selling country who artificially reduces the cost of manufacturing by taking the Direct foreign aid funds and subsidizing the manufacturers, that sets an unfair competition.

Yes, Compitition does make things better for everyone as long as everyone plays with the same rules. I have been 2/3 way around the world (westward) and I understand the world economy, its interrelationships and the disproportionate share that America enjoys. I have known since the 70's that the economies (population, raw material and financal) have to balance.

What I am concerned with the that the U.S. funds transfered to foreign governments end up as direct financial Bribes. If on the other hand the money were used within the U.S. to purchase food, equiptment etc made in America, the American workers would have work with survivable wages and the foreign governments would have material to begin developing their own economies while increasing their people's standard of living.

And by the way, I survive better with gin too.

Hi Spence,

Essentially, I think we agree, but you're not holding to your logic by saying "End all Foreign aid THAT DOES NOT PURCHASE AMERICAN MADE PRODUCT OR SERVICE." Your "solution" is only an exacerbation of the same problem. The solution is END ALL FOREIGN AID. Period. There is only one precedent to the contrary. The French gave us foreign aid when we waged the Revolutionary War. I would bend it only that far for another country trying to get freedom for her people.

By the way, I've lived long term on five continents and six islands of the world. I've lived from Alaska to Florida, and been in all fifty of the United States, many, many times. I've fought this battle in lectures, seminars, writing, etc., to keep America free for fifty years this year. I confess I'm a failure on that count, but like any sovereign who loses his country, he leaves that country to the victors. I did that in the 90's. Coward some people call me, but they have no idea what price I paid, and all of our forefathers had left their fathers and lands for a foreign land. Me thinks it's time for some of us to do the same thing. I'm looking for retirees to join me to have a place of survival for themselves, their children and grandchildren.

All the best, Don