In this article the Obama administration are seeking ways to change international food aid, and some are worried that this change will bring harm to the nations economy. This plan is set to aid 17 million more people each year, while also helping fight poverty by buying crops from poor farmers that are overseas. For 60-years the United States has bought crops from farmers within the country and then shipped it abroad, a process that has been very costly and very time consuming. On average it took the crops one month sometimes even two to even make it abroad, so coming up with a more efficient plan was vital. The new plan is set to save us millions of dollars each year and the crops make it abroad in a more timely manner. Making a big difference in the lives of the people who rely on the United States' food aid. The US is the only major donor country that continues sending food to humanitarian crisis spots, spending an estimated 1.4 billions dollars a year.
Though buying crops directly from the people abroad can potentially take away jobs here in the US, there will always be another job out there somewhere. We are taking the money out of the pockets of the people who need it more, and spending more money than need be. By buying the crops from the people overseas we are saving money and giving those people jobs to potentially be able to pay for their own food, and at some point never need food aid again.
While the benefits of changing the food aid can be questionable, I feel like any setbacks that do come about will most likely be overcome. American's are very resourceful when put into a sticky situation, and I don't feel as though the Obama administration will change the food aid to the point where there isn't any way to come back from a struggle. I think that changing the food aid is something that should've been done years ago, and now people just need to hop on board and help the fight against poverty in any way that they can.
Enyea Parks
April 5, 2013 2:20 pm
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/us/politics/white-house-seeks-to-change-international-food-aid.html
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