by Allan Maclaren

Created on: November 26, 2007   Last Updated: December 14, 2007

The title is poorly drafted. It reminds me of the really stupid mailings we receive from both Democratic and Republican parties, ostensibly asking our opinion with questions and slanted answers, but hoping to gain a contribution. The problem with the affirmative to this question is: how would the United States "charge?" The oppressed understand very clearly they can't afford to "pay" for relief from oppression. The premise that we should charge is different from the can we collect aspect. We give foreign aid with little expectation of being repaid because the aid is intended to support some aspect of foreign policy. Let's move the definition of charge away from one-for-one dollar repayment, and make the term mean paying better attention to where and to whom the money is going. Let it include periodic audits and checks to insure the conditions are carried out. I submit this is an impossible nirvana; look at the dreadful lack of accountability and oversight with FEMA, Corps of Engineers, and Congressional pork. Nevertheless we should try. Further, we should be very careful in selecting the "oppressed" that will receive our largess. I offer Iraq as example the will long survive as a hideous example of "oppressed" that not only cannot repay us monetarily, but seem to be incapable of becoming "unoppressed."

Learn more about this author, Allan Maclaren.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.