Posted by
Andrews on Thursday, May 08, 2008 1:02:05 PM
I can't be the only one who thinks the current talks between Burma and the US are a bit absurd.
Whether or not you think the government should be giving tax payer's money away in foreign aid, whether or not you think it is the duty of the United States to provide aid to other nations during a disaster, does anyone really think it is the responsibility of our government to convince other nations to take aid they don't want?
I know politicians are eager to spend my tax dollars, but once Burma/Myanmar refused US aid, that should have been the end of it. Surely there are other sinkholes into which they could throw my money without the need of pleading with the dictators of Burma to take our money.
Admittedly, my views are on the extreme end of the spectrum. I didn't think it was the role of the federal government to help during Katrina, so I certainly don't think a cyclone in another nation is our concern, but that is not my point here. Even if we assume that it is the proper function of government to provide aid tot he citizens of foreign nations when a disaster strikes, I think once that nation has rejected the aid we offer, our obligation ends there.
Yes, the citizens may want aid and are only being denied it due to their oppressive government, but that is not our concern. if they choose to live under their current government, and do not take any steps to throw them out, then they must accept the consequences. And since those who most strongly demand aid for other nations are usually those who most vocally tell me we cannot be "the world's policeman", then how do they propose that we get this aid to people against the will of their government? Are we going to overthrow Burma's government to force our aid on them? Other than that, there is no real option.
There is something unseemly in the most powerful nation on Earth pleading with petty dictators, asking them to please accept our money.