Discussion Are We Funding the World While Neglecting Our Own?

Every year, the United States sends tens of billions of dollars overseas in foreign aid, funding military assistance, humanitarian programs, economic development projects, and international organizations. At the same time, many Americans feel their own communities are struggling: rising housing costs, border security concerns, inflation, national debt, and aging infrastructure.

This raises a blunt question: Are we prioritizing the world over our own citizens?

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The Numbers​

According to data from the U.S. government and the Congressional Research Service, the United States typically spends tens of billions of dollars annually on foreign assistance, making it the largest foreign aid donor in the world in total dollars. That money goes to:

• Military aid to allies
• Disaster and humanitarian relief
• Global health initiatives
• Economic development programs

Supporters argue that this spending:

• Strengthens alliances
• Prevents wars before they start
• Expands American influence
• Creates stability in volatile regions

Critics counter that:

• America has record national debt in the tens of trillions
• U.S. cities face homelessness, crime, and infrastructure decay
• Border security remains a top concern
• Veterans and rural communities often feel overlooked

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The Core Debate​

The America-First perspective asks:
If we can send billions abroad, why can’t we fix problems at home first?

Some argue foreign aid is only a small percentage of the federal budget (often less than 1%), meaning cutting it wouldn’t solve domestic problems overnight. Others argue that even if it’s a small percentage, it reflects misplaced priorities.

There’s also a strategic question:
Is foreign aid charity, or is it an investment in American security and global power?

I notice the same thing in Canada, we give out a lot of money to help fund small businesses in other countries, and while we do have support systems for small businesses in our country we could be doing a lot more with the money to help fund our own people. I think it is a countries primary goal to care for their own citizens first and then once they don't have pressing issues (like high unemployment rate, high costs of living, etc) they can go and support other countries.

For example the USA give a lot of money abroad which in turn funds wars sometimes, with so many issues with people struggling to eat and survive: why are they sending money abroad when their own people are suffering?

Now for investing as a global power, a lot of countries will turn a blind eye to how much money you donated them if they think that you are wronging their people. So in the end I think that a lot of the relationships between countries would stay the same as war will still happen even if the USA is donating money.

CristianB said:

I notice the same thing in Canada, we give out a lot of money to help fund small businesses in other countries, and while we do have support systems for small businesses in our country we could be doing a lot more with the money to help fund our own people. I think it is a countries primary goal to care for their own citizens first and then once they don't have pressing issues (like high unemployment rate, high costs of living, etc) they can go and support other countries.

For example the USA give a lot of money abroad which in turn funds wars sometimes, with so many issues with people struggling to eat and survive: why are they sending money abroad when their own people are suffering?

Now for investing as a global power, a lot of countries will turn a blind eye to how much money you donated them if they think that you are wronging their people. So in the end I think that a lot of the relationships between countries would stay the same as war will still happen even if the USA is donating money.

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I wouldn't say our people are suffering, we live in a capitalistic society so when people don't work for what they own it turns people lazy and that's why we have issues.

That aside I can agree that a lot of countries turn a blind eye to all of the forgiven aid money we send them if we "wrong them" (which is usually the USA prioritizing itself over another country). We should really be investing our money into our own country and not sending it out to other countries that really don't need it. Or at least if we are sending it out it should be for actual REAL causes, like ending modern slavery in countries like India where there are still an estimated 11 million modern day slaves.

There are definitely people in our country that are suffering, I'm surprised you don't see it because of the community that you live in. But there are a lot of people who live in Chicago who are victims to being born into a community with poor economic capabilities and as such end up staying there for the rest of their lives.