The United States is reaching out to its friends for aid for the victims of hurricane Katrina.
The shops and supermarkets of the nation are stuffed to overflowing with food and necessities, yet the same items are being flown in from foreign donor countries without charge. Unable or unwilling to distribute sufficient aid, the government are providing the hurricane’s refugees with $2,000 each of taxpayer’s money to spend their way out of their predicament, returning considerable capital to the free market.
We are reminded that not so long ago World Watch calculated that one year’s worth of the US’s military spending, properly targeted, could end poverty on the planet forever. We are also reminded that the US spends as much on its military as the other top ten spenders combined.
And this is the same nation that is going cap in hand to its poorer pals.