Food Aid for the Axis of Evil vs. Education for our Troops

We as citizens of the USA like to see ourselves as humanitarians. That is a very good thing. Sometimes we take that to extremes. Of course we should help China which is undergoing a severe crisis due to the earthquake that struck this month. We should also help Myanmar (Burma) with its cyclone victims. We should offer this help even though we differ with these nations on many issues.

But one thing really astonishes me. We have 1000s if not millions of US citizens who are starving. Many people who receive government assistance cannot afford to buy nutritious food. They are forced to buy food which has questionable nutritional value and which could lead to other health problems that we, the taxpayers, will have to pay to treat.

In light of this, why do we send food to a nation whose policies we have ardently opposed since Harry Truman was President? I am speaking of North Korea. Recently, our leaders approved $500 Million of food aid to North Korea. This is a nation which refuses to take care of itself. Why should we shoulder any responsibility to take care of its citizens before we take care of ours.

Wouldn't that $500 Million be better spent helping our returning troops pursue better lives? Congress is fighting over a revised GI Bill that would help our returning veterans gain college educations. It is inconceivable that in today's tough economic times we can find the money to support a nation that our leaders have deemed a true enemy of our way of life.

Of course the innocent citizens of North Korea should be able to pursue happy, healthy lives. That includes food. That food does not have to come from us. I just can't understand this. It violates the principles upon which we were founded.

"If ever this vast country is brought under a single government, it will be one
of the most extensive corruption, indifferent and incapable of a wholesome
care over so wide a spread of surface."

- Thomas Jefferson in 1822

One of our nations founders understood this very well. Maybe it is time that we get back to basics, read the Constitution and adhere to the principles upon which we were founded. This includes taking care of our domestic responsibilities, not those who would rather shoot missiles at us than feed their own people.