Overseas Aid

[Kendhni]

The bottom line is that people support different charities for different reasons.
I have my reasons for supporting the charities I do and everybody else will have their reasons for supporting the charities they do

There is no right or wrong, just people applying conditions that they feel best suits their ideals and concerns.

[The Monocled Mutineer]

With the best will in the world most good causes would not be able to fulfil aims (including raising money) if they were to rely entirely on volunteers or to pay to all employees only the minimum wage.

This applies to both charities that have home causes or overseas causes.

This of course is not to devalue the valuable work that volunteers do whether it is shaking the tin, or giving their services for free in whatever capacity.

[Mo2013]

For those who still 'don't get it' - it doesn't matter what each of us may feel about the matter, the fact remains that giving aid overseas is Britain honouring a commitment made in the past.

[haveabeer]

Seem to remember a former prime minster saying that they would end child poverty in this country what happened to that policy

[Kendhni]

Seem to remember a former prime minster saying that they would end child poverty in this country what happened to that policy

It was purely rhetoric to appeal to the masses. Given the definition of poverty in this country it is an unlikely dream that it can be fulfilled ... especially since one of the biggest stumbling block is feckless parents who seem to serve no other purpose than breeding what they can't afford. While some individuals are allowed to prioritise alcohol, tobacco, drugs, tattoos, sky television, mobile phones and other similar 'necessities' over and above feeding their children then they will continue to inflict poverty upon their children.

The alternative is to take the children away from the parents and bring them up in homes and shelters and make more use of expensive fostering ... but will the public ant to fund that ... I am not convinced that would be much better.

[haveabeer]

Hard to tar all parents that have hit hard times some have had this thrust upon them through no fault of there own because of the economic situation

[Dark Knight]

if we are to carry on giving money as overseas aid or charitable donations, then there should be much more accountability and the public should, in the case of charities they support, be able to see a balance sheet
then they would know what proportion of the donation reached those it was intended for, once people have seen this, they can then make a choice and either carry on supporting said charity or if they feel that the money is ill spent, withdraw their support
maybe this would focus the efforts and cut down on donations to profligate charities who spend too much on salaries etc?

just a thought

[david63]

if we are to carry on giving money as overseas aid or charitable donations, then there should be much more accountability and the public should, in the case of charities they support, be able to see a balance sheet
then they would know what proportion of the donation reached those it was intended for, once people have seen this, they can then make a choice and either carry on supporting said charity or if they feel that the money is ill spent, withdraw their support
maybe this would focus the efforts and cut down on donations to profligate charities who spend too much on salaries etc?

just a thought

This is available for all registered charities via the Charity Commission website

[Dark Knight]

well then ,people can asses for themselves , which charity is the most effective and which are the most profligate and decide if they want to carry on supporting wasteful,expensive ones

carry on

[Quizzical Bob]

Seem to remember a former prime minster saying that they would end child poverty in this country what happened to that policy

They kept moving the goalposts.

[towny44]

For those who still 'don't get it' - it doesn't matter what each of us may feel about the matter, the fact remains that giving aid overseas is Britain honouring a commitment made in the past.

Mo if the commitment was made by a politician then, like most of their other commitments, they are easily broken.

[Quizzical Bob]

For those who still 'don't get it' - it doesn't matter what each of us may feel about the matter, the fact remains that giving aid overseas is Britain honouring a commitment made in the past.

Mo if the commitment was made by a politician then, like most of their other commitments, they are easily broken.

They are good at spending other people's money.

[Mo2013]

Towny44, it wasn't just Britain who entered into such a commitment and I would deplore a reneging on any such commitment; you may find it helpful to read up on this commitment. Whatever the rights and wrongs in people's minds about whether or not Britain should be giving aid overseas, the fact is that this country is honouring a commitment made in the past - along with other countries, which answers the question about whether the country should be doing it.

[Quizzical Bob]

There are plenty of commitments to the British people that have not been honoured.

[Mo2013]

From the Guardian "In the March 2013 budget, the coalition government honoured the UK's long-standing pledge to spend 0.7% of gross national income as aid from 2013. Spending less than 1% of our national income on aid – an internationally agreed target – will create a safer and more prosperous world for the UK."

It is clear that some people cannot be bothered to take the the time and trouble to understand why the country is giving aid, much preferring to carp on about it. I suggest that people write to their MP, David Cameron and anyone else they can think of to demand that this country renege on its pledge of giving aid overseas. It's OK then for some if the government goes back on its word about giving aid overseas, but the same people are up in arms if the government reneges on other promises which affect them. Hypocritical double standards.

[The Monocled Mutineer]

Mo2013:

Once again, you throw clarity on to a subject which is much misunderstood by many in this country led by useless rags like the Express and Mail.

One can even take a "selfish" view on supporting the UK's committment to overseas aid as it will benefit this country to have third world and developing nations' inhabitants who may be less inclined to come to the developed world, including the UK, when their lot is improved by being better fed, having less children, better healthcare and good education, together with developing democratic institutions in their countries like we enjoy in the UK and the rest of the EU.

Keep up the good posts and don't allow yourself to be bullied by the lightweights.

[Mo2013]

Derek, I am confident in my views and am not afraid to express them. However, I can see that there comes a point when, faced with blinkered entrenched comments, I realise that even words of one syllable will not make any difference to those who blindly refuse to see the facts, much preferring to believe what they want to believe. You are correct, there are/will be benefits to the UK as a result of giving aid.

[Dark Knight]

Dear Mr Kane
could you please expand on your post
why when people have a differeing view to yours are they lightweights and selfish, that would imply you are some sort of heavyweight?

[Quizzical Bob]

Derek, I am confident in my views and am not afraid to express them. However, I can see that there comes a point when, faced with blinkered entrenched comments, I realise that even words of one syllable will not make any difference to those who blindly refuse to see the facts, much preferring to believe what they want to believe. You are correct, there are/will be benefits to the UK as a result of giving aid.

What facts are these? And can we please have a cost/benefit analysis.

[HK phooey]

I don't begrudge a penny of our overseas aid and I do like UKIP. Am I a saloon bar wotsit or a little Englander, I can't work it out.

[HK phooey]

Now, back to UKIP, I think it's grossly unfair that every time you see a picture of Mr Farage he's clutching a pint. The media, or Dave's mates I should say, are obviously trying to portray him as some kind of feckless alkie. It's not as if Nigel's ever driven home from the pub and left one of his children behind in the loo is it?

[Dark Knight]

whilst I applaud the laudible suggestion we can save the world by throwing the tax payers money at anyone who can catch

I am a firm believer in charity begins at home and we should curtail overseas aid till we have our own house in order, that way, we will have an economy that the politico's can fleece to buy goodwill around the world at a later date and keep the oil flowing and the men with guns and missles looking elsewhere

[Quizzical Bob]

Now, back to UKIP, I think it's grossly unfair that every time you see a picture of Mr Farage he's clutching a pint. The media, or Dave's mates I should say, are obviously trying to portray him as some kind of feckless alkie. It's not as if Nigel's ever driven home from the pub and left one of his children behind in the loo is it?

There is another explanation.

[HK phooey]

No there isn't Bob.

[Mo2013]

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... s-aid-good