Charity begins-where?

[Gordon Booth]

There was some discussion on here for a while about the Government continueing with the commitment to give £680 million to International Aid.
The general opinion seemed to be that we couldn't afford it and it was going to some wrong causes..
Now our kind hearted PM has commited to give ANOTHER £814 million to the GAVI vaccination programme. Undoubtedly a good cause but shouldn't we have simply diverted some of the £680 million we ALREADY couldn't afford to this cause? After all the Indians have said they don't want it and if Pakistan can afford nuclear missiles and rockets-?
We are giving more than twice what the USA can manage(£280 million) and our share is over a quarter of the WHOLE WORLDS commitment. In fact we give more in International Aid than any other country in the world!(Source mainly BBC internet).
But perhaps we shouldn't worry- after all its not OUR money Cameron is giving away- we probably haven't even borrowed it yet.
Good causes or not, can we really afford this level of Charity when we're broke?

[Mancie]

Simple economics...tell us we can no longer take care of the sick, the old and infirm in this nation..most of whom have contributed throughout their lifetime in taxes..make massive cuts of billions in care..then up the foriegn aid by millions.. in the economic terms this government go by it's a nice return

[cashman]

we can't afford certain drugs fer the terminally ill, but we can afford "MORE" then any beggar else in foreign aid. sounds about right fer G.B. n can't just blame this government fer it. much as i'd love to.

[Mancie]

To be honest I do agree with foriegn aid.. this country is still in the top G8 in terms of wealth no matter the lies the tories and the press make.. what gets my goat up is that this governmet beat us up with the big stick of how skint we are and then spend even more billions on some whacky races affair in Libya and at the same time tell us our old and sick British people must suffer cut backs because we can't afford them ... to my mind that's not right

[wallop79]

how on earth can we give so much to other countries when so much has been shaved off public spending because of the massive debts we are in, just where on earth is the logic???

[david1]

The Goverment are giving all this money away and the old people in the homes in this country don't know if they still have a home to live in .

The Goverment should help , but not to that extent !

Look after the people at home FIRST !

[Mancie]

Just watched the Gov spokesman on newsnight talking about this.. the man put up a good case for foriegn aid.. there is a good case to give money to improve poverty in the world.. but I reckon this mob are increasing the aid to soften up the Lib-Dems.. it's got nowt to do with being better for this country.

[cashman]

the aid should continue, but be greatly reduced until the country can afford it, its very noble agreeing, but not so pigging noble if yer freezing, dying, or starving in this country, how anyone can say owt else is beyond me.

[Mancie]

Originally Posted by cashman

the aid should continue, but be greatly reduced until the country can afford it, its very noble agreeing, but not so pigging noble if yer freezing, dying, or starving in this country, how anyone can say owt else is beyond me.

Thats a bit strong Cashy..ain't you been listening to Mr Cameron?.. no old person will die this next coming winter even if their winter fuel "bonus" is cut.. not one person will die when their home help or visitor has gone.. nobody will be worse off when the cuts are made for those who need it to survive while at the same time people are being sacked left right and center.. this is the real world under any tory government and the snivelling lib-dems will go along with it for the sake of being driven in posh cars to Parliment... it's a mess

[cashman]

well aware its a mess, but as this foreign aid would not be no sodding different who ever was in power, thats a simple fact of life, my philosophy has always been "Cut Yer Cloth" which my house has had to do, thats the major problem wi all these ******* mate- they "Cut Your Cloth"

[Alan Varrechia]

So all these people get their innoculations courtesy of the taxpayer, so once we have saved them from a horrible death what do they eat.
It's all very well saving lives but as populations go up there is less space for food to be grown at some point something has to give.
Sort out famine first then when there is plenty of food then start saving/extending life expectancy.
And steps off soapbox.....

[Mancie]

Is it true?
would the foreign aid programme been the same under Labour?.. it makes things worse when we have a government hell bent on cuts at home who at the same time increase overseas aid.. It's the gut wrenching kak cameron and Osbourn telling us we are skint and can't afford basic help for our old folk.

[voiceofreason]

I agree with forign aid however you have to ask whether vaccinating so many people wouldnt just increase the worlds already swelling population and increase poverty in the long term. Survival of the fittest has always been natures way and the human race seems determined to try to fight it.

[Eric]

Originally Posted by voiceofreason

I agree with forign aid however you have to ask whether vaccinating so many people wouldnt just increase the worlds already swelling population and increase poverty in the long term. Survival of the fittest has always been natures way and the human race seems determined to try to fight it.

A sad way of thinking. All the other arguments seem reasonable: take care of your own people first; and, if there are funds left over, then foreign aid. Your argument is just sick.

[Tealeaf]

It's madness. In twenty years time we'll have five million africans turning up at Dover Docks whinging that because we saved their lives back in 2011 (when they didn't ask us to) that we now have a moral responsibility to feed, house and medicate them because otherwise they're poor and destitute and they can't stand French food. Naturally, we'll let 'em all in.