The United States, which is being roundly vilified by large groups of people in poor and very poor countries, does do a lot of good around the world year after year.
A web site devoted to promoting Foreign Service activities indicates that we spend about one percent of the total federal budget on foreign aid.
The federal budget is about $1.5 Trillion. One percent of that is $15 Billion.
Assuming we spread our largess evenly throughout the year (which we clearly don't but go with me, here), and assuming my arithmetic is correct (never a good bet) that means U.S. taxpayers are giving away about $41 Million - per day, every day.
Let's put it another way. The $15 Billion that American Citizens send overseas every year is more than the Gross Domestic Product of about half the countries on the planet.
And yet we are treated almost every night to TV coverage of hundreds of goofballs jumping up and down, shouting anti-American slogans, burning the last mattress in their neighborhood and calling it President Bush.
Here's Mullings Suggestion du Jour Number 1: Let's stop foreign aid. Not forever. Not for a year. Not even for a month. Let's not send a nickel overseas for one week. Seven days.
That would allow us to use $287 Million of our money on something else.
And it would take a quarter of a billion dollars away from those countries who cannot seem to bring themselves to explain to the aforementioned goofballs that the people of the United States are their biggest supporters.
If the anti-American groups (and their governments) aren't moved by this action, then we can simply stop any further foreign aid permanently and provide to them, instead, the mailing address of the Taliban where they can apply for the same type of excellent support the Taliban has been providing to the people of Afghanistan.
Here's Mullings Suggestion du Jour Number 2: Every cable system in the country has at least one local access channel. Usually these channels carry a blue card with white writing saying that this is "The Local Access Channel" and once a week, or so, you can watch your City Council at work.
That's a good use of those channels but we should augment it by adding informational videos of the type you see if you're in the hospital.
The Feds should produce, as an example, a video about Anthrax: What is it? What are the signs of infection? What does a suspicious letter or package look like? How should it be handled if it is found?
That video should be sent to every cable system in the country where it can be run throughout the day and night so that people can tune in and catch it whenever they want.
Similarly, the government might produce videos on other aspects of bio- and chemical-terrorism. Help parents understand the pros and cons of stocking antibiotics (almost ALL cons, it turns out) and help them work through their fears of just sending the kids off to school in the morning.
Videos on coping with all of this would be useful. Having mental health experts explain which feelings and behaviors are normal in this circumstance and which should be danger signs. What should parents look for in their kids' behavior and where can they turn for one-on-one guidance?
These should not be glitzy, but the best talent of Hollywood directors, writers, and actors can be brought to bear to make these watchable and practical.
Public Opinion Strategies has been following the mood of the American people since the attacks. In the latest polling, they find that "All aspects of a potential economic stimulus package test well:"
- Extend unemployment and health care coverage for workers affected by the attacks: 94%
- New tax cuts for low and moderate income workers: 86%
- Raise the minimum wage: 81%
- Increase government spending for job training, construction and other items: 75%
- Make recently passed tax cuts take effect immediately: 74%
- Pass new tax cuts for business: 61%
Finally, the poll finds that "President Bush's extraordinary job approval numbers" remain at 85% approval with only 9% disapproving.
Maybe we should send copies of this poll along with our final foreign aid payments.
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