Cutting the Budget, Smartly

Reporter Max Boot, over at Commentary Magazine has a comment on a plan by House Republicans to slash the budget of USAID.

I agree with Mr Boot that we should not be slashing $1.39 billion out of an overall budget of $1.65 billion.  I also agree with those who think USAID needs to be "fixed".

One of Mr Boots points does fail.  His argument that USAID is only 0.04% of the Federal Budget doesn't wash with me.  As the late Senator Everett Dirksen♠ once said, "A billion here and a billion there, it pretty soon adds up to real money."

As someone noted, the problem is not saving the organization, USAID, the problem is having an effective foreign assistance program that can and does serve the common interest of the American People.

I would argue that helping other nations move forward is in the common interest of the American People, both in terms of reducing the need for Defense spending and in terms of aquitting our moral obligation to those less fortunate than ourselves.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  In his vote for cloture during the debate on the Civil Rights Act, Senator Dirksen said:  "Victor Hugo wrote in his diary substantially this sentiment, 'Stronger than all the armies is an idea whose time has come.'  The time has come for equality of opportunity in sharing of government, in education, and in employment.  It must not be stayed or denied."