Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.

[Taggy]

Quite simply we should not be sending money abroad in foreign aid until we can afford to. Clearly at the moment we cant, but its obviously more important for the Government to play the "big man" on the world stage & crap on us at home, hopefully people will protest about this & also about the savage cuts to the most vulnerable people here. I'm not gonna hold my breath though...perhaps forests are more important!

Best Regards - Taggy

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Originally Posted by Taggy

Quite simply we should not be sending money abroad in foreign aid until we can afford to. Clearly at the moment we cant, but its obviously more important for the Government to play the "big man" on the world stage & crap on us at home, hopefully people will protest about this & also about the savage cuts to the most vulnerable people here. I'm not gonna hold my breath though...perhaps forests are more important!

Best Regards - Taggy

Maybe this will have us manning Manky's barracades?

Come on everybody, surely we've had enough, if we can't look after ourselves before anyone else, let's get revolting!

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Ken Moss

Mr Cameron was crowing yesterday that investing in foreign countries brings billions in trade and while I can go some way to understanding his point I'm afraid the wider public simply see handouts. Any business will pitch itself to a market which will buy but at the moment it is all one-way traffic, money going out and not coming in because we have nothing to sell.

To me, further handouts is a mistake and a pretty simple one at that.

And this practice started on May 1st last year then

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Originally Posted by jaysay

And this practice started on May 1st last year then

Of course not,
but,
'let he who is without sin amongst you cast the first stone'.
or shut up.

[accyman]

its bad enough we are the worlds softest touch and have our boarders open to anyone with a sob story and not a penny to their name but to also send them money before they step foot into our country is a new level of taking the urine

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by accyman

its bad enough we are the worlds softest touch and have our boarders open to anyone with a sob story and not a penny to their name but to also send them money before they step foot into our country is a new level of taking the urine

I think it could be termed a preempted strike accyman

[accyman]

Originally Posted by jaysay

I think it could be termed a preempted strike accyman

i dont know why the government dosnt just send them a flipping first class plane ticket here and be done with it.I have no doubt if europe said we had to it would happen

[garinda]

I bet if people were allowed a referendum, asking if we should give regular foreign aid to other countries, there'd be an overwhelming no vote.

If asked, I presume most people would say they'd prefer the choice of deciding where their charitable donations went, and to whom.

There's certainly no doubting our nation's generosity, when it comes to independently giving our money. As witnessed everytime there's a crisis, or disaster in the world. We're right up there, as one of the world's most generous nations, when it comes to sending independent donations to specific causes.

I also presume not many would object to a government pool of money, which could send financial aid to targeted disaster zones in times of emergency.

What the majority of people are sick and tired of, which politicans of all parties fail to understand, is that whilst every other budget is being cut at home, the amount we give in foreign aid is not only protected, but is to be increased.

This is aside from the fact that people are wary of regularly funding certain countries, and worry that it actually helps those who live there that are in real need. There is evidence that aid to certain African countries goes to shore up dubious political leaders, and also fund arms purchases.

There was an Indian university lecturer interviewed on the BBC news this morning. He said, like many other people he knew, that he didn't pay any tax. As the government relied on funds provided in foreign aid, and wasn't reliant on revenue raised fron taxes. Although it's growing, percentage wise India's blue and white collar class is small, though in actual numbers it's massive. Very nearly the same as the working population of the UK. I mention this only because up until now India has received massive foreign aid from the UK, despite their space, and nuclear programmes.

If we are to send regular foreign aid to various countries, at least have the decency that it should be subject to the same rate of cuts as we are experiencing domestically.

Otherwise people start thinking they are being taken for idiots, and this could lead to them seeking support from those groups who are outside the political mainstream...at present.

[accyman]

i saw on the news that india got a £1 billion gift only last week or the week before.Not only do they have all our call center jobs and jaguar they are getting handouts as well

[garinda]

Announced today that 11,000 servicemen and women are to be made redundant.

11,000 in armed forces get axe: RAF pilots sacked on day no-fly zone is discussed | News

Cuts 'will damage UK defence' warn ex military chiefs - Channel 4 News

Let's hope that none of the countries we give foreign aid to, rise up in the future, and attack us.

As they'd probably be the victors.

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Originally Posted by garinda

Let's hope that none of the countries we give foreign aid to, rise up in the future, and attack us.

As they'd probably be the victors.

Yes, and they will be able to do it with bargain bucket second hand equipment that we will sell them because we'll be having a Military 'closing down sale'.

Still, if we are conquered the national deficit will become their problem.

(There is always a bright side).