American views were 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 on foreign aid in 2019, and most likely still are.

[Multicolored Lemur]

What the data says about U.S. foreign aid

The $71.9 billion in foreign aid that the government spent in fiscal year 2023 works out to 1.2% of that year’s total federal spending.

www.pewresearch.org

Just like things changed in 2011 probably due to a slow jobs recovery from the Great Recession . . .

later on, with us going through first Covid, then the Covid recession, then Trump 2,

yeah, things could have changed from 2019 onward.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

All the same, baseline matters. It does in sports.

And if we look at 2019, that’s a “heavy third” in that more people are saying Increase than Decrease.

So if I were a U.S. Senator . . .

I’d most probably vote to Keep it the Same.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

Just like things changed in 2011 probably due to a slow jobs recovery from the Great Recession . . .

Was thinking just that. During times of economic hardships, I believe a lot of people would not be in favor of giving much foreign aid. Probably find that same trend around the time of Covid 2019-2020 (and perhaps even into Biden's presidency).

Personally, I'd want foreign aid decreased so we could use that money to spend on Americans in need here.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Personally, I'd want foreign aid decreased so we could use that money to spend on Americans in need here.

We’ve got to compromise between long-term and short-term, that’s what I say. And maybe middle-term goals are the way to do that?

If we want other countries to help us with do-able, achievable goals of preventing terrorism, and if we want to help other countries avoid having a lot of unemployed young men in which it’s easy pickings for all kinds of negative stuff—

we maybe need to speed some energy and cash building up terrorism partners. Trading partners! And maybe that’s the point. We can do more proactive stuff, and trade with a positive partner.

I mean, in Jan 2025, foreign aid was right at 1% of the federal budget.

And not helping with the Myanmar earthquake, which also hit Thailand, was some loss of national prestige. Maybe China was closer anyway.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

@Multicolored Lemur

I see what you're saying. The things you bring up are all important reasons for foreign aid.

I'm sure we both agree that we have to cut somewhere. We'd probably have some differences on where to cut and what to prioritize. Of course, my position is to prioritize domestic issues, but then again I'm thinking more along the lines of how the average person/family runs their life (worrying about their welfare and household first before helping others) vs. how a national government should run their financial affairs. Basically, that principle leads me to thinking that you have to be able help yourself before you can help others.

Due to the inefficiencies of government, trying to decide what to cut and what not to would take a long time and I'm sure there would be a lot of foot dragging for political reasons.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Of course, my position is to prioritize domestic issues, but then again I'm thinking more along the lines of how the average person/family runs their life (worrying about their welfare and household first before helping others) vs. how a national government should run their financial affairs.

This is logical, but life’s not always logical. You’ve got to roll forward, for example, even when you’ve paid your taxes (maybe even overpaid) but are late on filing but are not yet 3 years late.

And often people have some area in life in which they feel stuck, or feel disqualified in helping others or even themselves, etc.