Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!ihuxl!pvp From: pvp@ihuxl.UUCP (Philip Polli) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Using tax money to feed hungry people Message-ID: <915@ihuxl.UUCP> Date: Fri, 17-Feb-84 20:06:11 EST Article-I.D.: ihuxl.915 Posted: Fri Feb 17 20:06:11 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 18-Feb-84 04:46:22 EST Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 52 Inmet!nrh appears to be trying to make three points. In the interest of space, I'll summarize them. 1) S/he claims that people given food by us to live on will become dependant upon our largesse. S/he claims that this can be shown by studying history, and talks about "welfare millionares". Answer: In recent history, we provided Europe massive amounts of economic aid, through the Marshall Plan. Are they dependant on us now? Please name a few countries that you think are filled with lazy citizens depending on their neighbors for handouts, and are perfectly content to continue doing so. 2) S/he claims that if we give food to these countries, corrupt officials will skim some of it. Answer: So what? Just consider it a cost of distribution. Should we let people starve to death just because someone less needy might get some of the food too? This is, though, part of the reason why I would rather distribute food to needy nations instead of low interest loans to buy food. Corrupt officials can steal the money more easily than they can steal food. 3) S/he states that I shouldn't even suggest that we give this food to other nations, since the money to buy it was "stolen" from the taxpayers by force by a government that had no right to do so. Answer: You are not being forced to pay taxes to the U.S. government. You can leave any time you want. I don't know of anyone who would even dream of keeping you here. If you want to stay in this country, and obtain the benefits of citizenship here, you are tacitly agreeing to take part in this democracy. Part of that agreement is that the government will spend some of your earnings to provide for the common welfare. What we spend it on is decided by our government representatives. All your talk about the government "stealing" money is sheer demagoguery. If you want to stay in the house, you have to pay your share of the rent. Everyone of us has the right to talk about what we should spend that money on, and to try to convince other citizens and government representatives to think the same way. Personally, I think that using our surplus food to feed starving people elsewhere in the world would be a good investment. We would probably be able to save a lot of money in the future. We wouldn't have to provide so much military aid to prop up those corrupt officials that bother you so much. Phil Polli {ihnp4!}ihuxl!pvp