WorldPublicOpinion.org, an affiliate of the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland, recently did a poll regarding American public opinion on foreign aid. The most obvious conclusion was that Americans vastly overestimate the amount of money that we spend on foreign aid. When asked how much of the federal budget goes to foreign aid, the median estimate by the general public is 25%. Asked how much they thought would be an appropriate amount the median response was 10%.
FACT: Total percentage of the federal budget that goes to foreign aid is actually ONE PERCENT (1%). In fact, foreign aid represents only 2.6% of the discretionary portion of the budget.
So what does that mean? It means that when Congressmen say that their constituents are calling for cuts in foreign assistance, and when Congressmen themselves say that cuts need to be made to foreign aid, we need to make sure that everyone is educated. Last Thursday I was with InterAction, distributing our Foreign Assistance Briefing Books (FABB), a policy book on foreign aid that we give out to all the members of Congress every few years. A staffer at one office told us that they were pushing for cuts to foreign aid because their constituents kept calling saying they wanted cuts to the budget. That makes sense if they believe that 25% of the budget goes to foreign aid. However, based on the facts, the general public is actually advocating for an INCREASE in foreign aid. After all, they said 10% would be an appropriate number, and that would be an increase from just by 9% of the budget.
So Congressmen, when your constituents call saying we need to cut foreign aid, it is your responsibility to make sure they actually know the facts on the foreign assistance budget and can make educated inputs.
FACT: Total percentage of the federal budget that goes to foreign aid is actually ONE PERCENT (1%). In fact, foreign aid represents only 2.6% of the discretionary portion of the budget.
So what does that mean? It means that when Congressmen say that their constituents are calling for cuts in foreign assistance, and when Congressmen themselves say that cuts need to be made to foreign aid, we need to make sure that everyone is educated. Last Thursday I was with InterAction, distributing our Foreign Assistance Briefing Books (FABB), a policy book on foreign aid that we give out to all the members of Congress every few years. A staffer at one office told us that they were pushing for cuts to foreign aid because their constituents kept calling saying they wanted cuts to the budget. That makes sense if they believe that 25% of the budget goes to foreign aid. However, based on the facts, the general public is actually advocating for an INCREASE in foreign aid. After all, they said 10% would be an appropriate number, and that would be an increase from just by 9% of the budget.
So Congressmen, when your constituents call saying we need to cut foreign aid, it is your responsibility to make sure they actually know the facts on the foreign assistance budget and can make educated inputs.
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