Can we afford it?

[rov1200]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8135413 .stm

With Britains huge debt are we poorer than the people we are trying to help?

[noway2]

This has been going on for as long as I can remember,giving aid to african countrys.Well I say stop it now,if they cant get their act together by now,when will they.Look after our own country's now.Can we afford to look after them also?

[Kathyan]

So, let me get this right, we have to tighten our belts and face tax increases to get us out of the mess we're in, but the government choose to help other countries to get on their feet? You couldn't make it up!

[Quinlad]

Are Real Madrid poorer than Accrington Stanley? No, because using debt as yardstick is obviously ridiculous.

Yes, we can afford it, very very easily. We don't have to help the world's poor. Just as you don't have to help an old lady who falls over in the street. You're well within your rights to walk by. It sort of depends on how much of a c*** you are.

Tightening our belts and paying more tax is a minscule inconvenience that the penny-pinching me-me-me'ers of this country like to wail about. We really don't know we're born.

But like I say, we don't have to provide aid. We'd be perfectly entitled to stop tomorrow. As long as you're content to be a c***.

[R1Geezer]

We can afford it, but that's not the point, should we afford it is the real issue. I would say any money should be targeted and installing proper democracy and getting them out of the tribal dark ages.

[joggerjayne]

I wonder if those of us who pay quite a lot to charities each month by standing order will get some sort of rebate ?

[jackthehat]

Foriegn Aid has been described as 'poor people in rich countries giving money to rich people in poor countries'......and will probably continue to be so.

[Gromit]

Yes we can afford it.

No we are not poorer than countries like Sudan and Chad.

According to the world bank, we are the 6th wealthiest country in the world. Chad is 125th. Our wealth per capita is $43,785. Chad is $862.

Our GDP is $2,674,085,000,000

Chad's GDP is $8,361,000,000

It is clear you do not have any notion of how wealthy we are as a nation, or what poverty in the likes of Chad is like.

Given the huge disparity in our circumstances, I think it is our duty to help these poor countries. Anyone who thinks otherwise is extremely mean.

[joggerjayne]

Gromit

Can you really measure wealth in terms of $ per capita?

$800 in Chad

is probably of much more benefit than

$43, 000 in the UK

[sp1814]

There's a strong argumeent in favour of stabilizing areas which were formerly in conflict. Stable nations are in a better position to trade, and trade with African nations benefits us in the medium term. For instance, do you know many products have palm oil as a key ingredient? This is a major export product from a number of African states.

It's shortsighted to take the "Let them sort themselves" route to international trade. Do you really want trade routes blockaded? Do you want food prices stabilised, or are happy to see control of supply and demand hijacked by unfriendly dictatorships.

[jake-the-peg]

Are we are poorer than those we are trying to help.

What a ridiculous question!

When did you last have to walk miles to get clean water?

Travel hundreds of miles in the hope of getting medical help for a sick child

Our National debt is around 70% of our GDP

(I wish my mortage were only 70% of my income)

The UK is the 6th richest nation
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2001rank.html?countryName=Chad&countryCode=CD®ionCode=af#CD


That attitude is almost incomprehensible


It's like driving past someone living homeless in the street and saying -" I know how you feel mate I can only afford a mondeo"

I suggest you go and spend some time finding out what poverty in Africa is really like

[sp1814]

With regards to the UK's ability to afford 1billion in overseas aid - we should look at the UK's GDP. For 2008, it was $2,674,085,000,000 ($2.6trillion) which at today's exchange rate is �1,658,451,566,654 (�1.6trillion).

So 'giving away' �1billion, is the equivalent of passing on 0.06% of our dosh.

This is like someone who earns �20,000 a year giving �1 per month to charity.

Not exactly breaking the bank is it?

(By the way, maths isn't my strong suit, so I'm happy for anyone to challenge me on my fugures, and I'm not 100% sure of my comparison of GDP to a salary - but you see where I'm going).

[Gromit]

joggerjayne

$800 in Chad

is probably of much more benefit than

$43, 000 in the UK

You think the average person in Chad gets much more benefit than the average person in the UK?

I certainly wouldn't swap.

[rov1200]

If you have a mortgage or a credit card and you are in debt and not be able to repay them immediately you are in a negative position Compare this with someone who has nothing and also has no debt he is financially better off than you.

We exist on credit. To give someone else a free handout means they can just sit back and enjoy the labours of others. Therefore if aid is to be given it should be a form of a loan.

[danchip]

its more a question of whether we can afford to hand over this amount of money to corrupt fat officials in these countries who are going to misuse the aid,

if this was the case then we should look to giving the money to charities such as unicef/oxfam etc who will use the money in the way it is intended

on the other hand we could give the money to our corrupt officials to spend on the NHS or education or the many other aspects of this country which are underfunded and need improving

we have a responsibility to certain poorer countries who were part of the commonwealth to help them get back on their feet, after all it was the british who invaded these countries, took out anything of value and then left leaving a infrastructure etc that the inhabitants of the country couldn't run or maintain

[anotheoldgit]

While on the subject of aid to Africa, Asia etc.

When did you last see a member of the ethnic communities, standing on the sreet, corner collection box in hand, collecting for the countries of these continents?

Or arranging convoys of lorries to take out aid?

Or volunteering to give up their time, to travel out to these continents and offer up their skills?

[Gromit]

Here AOG if you wish to make a donation

http://www.muslimaid.org/index.php/what-we-do