by Bill Dover

Created on: February 21, 2008

Congress should not support Obama's bill to end global poverty. Bill S.2433 would place an $845 billion obligation upon us to be paid over the next 13 years. In order to fulfill this obligation American citizens would essentially be paying a global or world tax. Congress needs to resolve domestic issues and strengthen our economy before placing additional burdens upon American taxpayers.

Section 4 of the bill also lays out requirements upon the President such as working with the U.N. and other international organizations to implement programs and evaluate needs. These other parties are not groups that would be working with the best interests of the United States in mind. We would be working to meet the benchmarks of the U.N. Millennium goals. The bill suggests that government seek to make international business an agent of this assistance program and section 4, subsection (c) states that we should make available additional U.S. assistance as appropriate. We don't need the U.N. setting goals on what is appropriate. We need to strengthen our own economy before sending our aid to foreign countries.

We are fortunate to live in a country where we have such a high standard of living and we should help other less fortunate countries as we are able. However, our standard of living is a result of past choices and decisions we have made as a country as well as individuals. Our success as a nation does not indebt us to solve the problems of other nations that are in their current positions due to choices and decisions they have made as a people and as individuals. We should help our fellow humans because we are able, not because our success has come with guilt over the condition of others.

Congress should work to strengthen the U.S. economy that we might reduce national debt before they seek to spend more money on other countries. To continue spending when a recession is possible is unwise and irresponsible. A strong U.S. economy would allow us the ability to help foreign countries without jeopardizing the welfare of American citizens. Congress should first attend to the business of improving U.S. fiscal health before trying to heal the economic woes of other nations. The first responsibility of Senators and Representatives is to their constituents.

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