Every day, concern for the United States’ amount of debt grows more and more. The American people are having trouble finding jobs, and many are in poverty. However, even while in debt, America should take measures to help poverty-stricken nations while still taking care of her own people in order to fulfill her responsibility to both the world and herself.
America had a poverty rate of 14.3%, with 16.6% in rural areas and 13.9% in urban areas in the year 2009. The unemployment rate in 2009 for America was 9% in rural areas and 9.3% in urban areas (State Fact Sheets). These unemployment percentages have raised even more with the current recession. The United States’ national debt is over fourteen trillion dollars (US Debt Clock). With this information, many would say that America is in no position to help those overseas, who are in need of food and other health supplies.
However America should lead by example. In 1970, America, along with other rich countries, agreed to give .7% of her gross national income annually as international development aid. This promise was made over forty years ago, and even though tons have been given by the US, so far she hasn’t hardly gotten close to meeting her promised amount (Shah, Anup Foreign Aid, para. 2). Regardless of her current state, America should properly look after those who are also in need, many times in even more need, and live up to her promise.
Poverty in America may be great, but in many countries needing aid, the poverty is even greater. In South Asia, 706 million are without electricity, 547 million lack it in Sub-Saharan Africa. Over three billion people in this world live on less than $2.50, and “27-28 percent of all children in all children in developing countries are estimated to be underweight or stunted” (Shah, Anup Poverty Facts). The majority of Americans enjoy electricity, running and clean water, heat and air, and also a steady source of food.
Much of the aid given to these countries, unfortunately, is not very effective because the conditions require the recipient to use overpriced products and services from the donor countries, or it doesn’t reach the poorest who need it the most (Shah, Anup Foreign Aid). In order to make the most use of the money and provisions given to the impoverished countries, America should take extra measures to make sure that this help gets to those who need it the most. Cutting out ulterior motives of getting those in need to buy American products and other such things will help the cause a lot more than it is currently. Making an impact on those in need is worth more than the money amount given to the country.
America still needs help at home, in which the every day American can make a huge impact. Giving time, money, food, and gently used items such as clothes can help those in poverty. Both rich and those not so much so can contribute to helping those in poverty here as well as overseas. America can still help those who are in great need as well as help her own at home by taking a little time and doing things a bit more efficiently to properly help those in need. America should keep her promise and fulfill her responsibility to those in need both internationally and nationally.
Works Cited
Shah, Anup. “Foreign Aid for Development Assistance.” Global Issues, Updated: 25
Apr. 2010. Accessed: 18 Jan. 2011. <http://www.globalissues.org/article/35/foreign-aid-development-assistance>
Shah, Anup. “Poverty Facts and Stats.” Global Issues, Updated: 20 Sep. 2010.
Accessed: 18 Jan. 2011. <http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats>
"State Fact Sheets: United States." USDA: Economic Research Service. United States
Department of Agriculture, 16 Dec. 2010. Web. 18 Jan. 2011. <http://www.ers.usda.gov/statefacts/us.htm>.
"US Debt Clock." US Debt Clock.org. n.d. Web. 18 Jan. 2011.
<http://www.usdebtclock.org/>.
