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H.R. 1302, The Global Poverty Act of 2007 (222 comments ↓ | 4 wiki edits)
- This item is from the 110th Congress (2007-2008) and is no longer current. Comments, voting, and wiki editing have been disabled, and the cost/savings estimate has been frozen.
H.R. 1302 would require the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the United States foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.
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Amanda
March 9, 2008, 9:12pm (report abuse)It makes me extremely sad to hear such disregard for other humans. We are very lucky to be born in a wealthy country with many financial opportunities and welfare systems. Other countries do not have these luxuries. They are stuck in extreme poverty situations. Millions of people are dying because of starvation, lack of medicine, polluted water, political conflict, etc. Shouldn't we try and help them? And I realize that some poverty does exist in America as well. I am all for trying to help our own citizens. But the scale of third world poverty is acutely different than what exists in our own country. Jeffrey Sachs (the head of the advisory body for the MDGs) shared in his book that increasing taxes on the wealthiest citizens could pay for America's promised 0.7% of the GDP. I just don't understand why people don't want to help others.
Betsy Thiede
March 10, 2008, 10:21am (report abuse)I just don't understand, Amanda, why you should think it is ok to distribute the "Wealthiest" citizen's money how you feel fit.
It isn't that people don't want to help others. It is that we don't want to be forced to..
From this article:
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2682730&page=1
Most Liberals are always want the "Government to do Something". Always worried about "poor" people..
According to the article above:
It turns out that this idea that liberals give more…is a myth. Of the top 25 states where people give an above average percent of their income, 24 were red states in the last presidential election.
Arthur Brooks, the author of "Who Really Cares," says that "when you look at the data, it turns out the conservatives give about 30 percent more." He adds, "And incidentally, conservative-headed families make slightly less money."
Ken Owen/US Marine
March 13, 2008, 2:58pm (report abuse)Bulls**t
bohemianowl
March 18, 2008, 1:50am (report abuse)This bill is an outrage and a travesty. Obama is serving his Globalist bankster Masters well as a senator, imagine what a President Obama will do. It seems to me these elites want to destroy America. We can't allow this to happen. I am totally OUTRAGED! Obama is a TRAITOR to the constitution for proposing this P.O.S. bill. If anyone was waiting for proof of Obama's ties to the corrupt Bilderbergs and CFR SPP Rockefeller scoundrels, here it is. Anyone of our elected officials who meet in secret with the anti-american group known as the CFR shold be arrested under the Logan Act, consorting with the ENEMY!
Amanda
March 18, 2008, 10:43am (report abuse)Betsy,
I checked out the ABC article you mentioned. It was very interesting, though I have a few doubts about their research. Not that I don't believe it, I just feel that it is too limiting to draw real conclusions and they didn't give sources for some of the facts they cited. The person they did cite was a strong right-wing writer, Arthur Brooks. He said that "of the top 25 states where people give an above average percent of their income, 24 were red states in the last presidential election." Why this seems to indicate that Republicans give more (and this could likely be true) there are Democrats that live in those states too and there is the possibility they could be giving more than Republicans. I just feel that better research is needed to justify ABC's and Brook's conclusions and maybe look at research from both political sides or a neutral source.
Amanda
March 18, 2008, 10:58am (report abuse)Also, I don't think the wealthiest citizens should be the only ones to carry the burden, they are just more able. I believe the government's job is to protect, preside, and help its citizens. I believe that it should pursue the interests of its citizens. I have debated between the issue of only charities fulfilling the role of helping people, but I feel they don't have enough power. For example, I don't know of any charities that can deploy peace keeping forces. I admit the UN doesn't have the best track record, but I believe in the idea of the UN. And will continue to advocate the US and UN helping fight injustice, but I will also advocate helping in ways that work. I have researched the MDG's and believe they could work. There definitely needs to be a watch on where the money goes and if it is used effectively, but the UN has acknowledged this.
bohemianowl
March 18, 2008, 11:24am (report abuse)Amanda-
Is the United States of America a sovereign nation or should we just forget the Constitution and pander to the whims of the United Nations?
Millions of Americans have begun to question why we continue to spend $300 million each year funding and housing an organization that is actively hostile to American interests.(look at the comments here) And to give more is OUTRAGEOUS!!!
The U.N. will continue to interfere not only in our nation's foreign policy matters, but in our domestic policies as well. U.N. globalists are not satisfied by meddling only in international disputes. They increasingly want to influence our domestic environmental, trade, labor, tax, and gun laws. U.N. global planners fully intend to expand the organization into a true world government, complete with taxes, courts, and possibly a standing army.
bohemianowl
March 18, 2008, 11:26am (report abuse)CONTINUED-
These are not an alarmist statements; these goals are readily promoted on the U.N.'s own website. U.N. planners do not care about national sovereignty; in fact they are openly opposed to it. They correctly view it as an obstacle to their plans. They simply aren't interested in our Constitution and republican form of government.
The choice is very clear: we either follow the Constitution or submit to U.N. global governance. American national sovereignty cannot survive if we allow our domestic laws to be crafted or even influenced by an international body. This needs to be stated publicly more often. If we continue down the U.N. path, America as we know it will cease to exist.
The U.N. has no authority to make "laws" that bind the American citizens, because it does not derive its powers from the consent of the American people.
Supporting the U.N. is un-American and I intend to work to help break ALL ties to the U.N.
shrivie65
March 18, 2008, 8:14pm (report abuse)This is another attenpt to bleed the working class. It would be wonderful to help other people, but to take our money and give it to the poor is simply communism pushed by the United Nations and it followers. I'm sick of being taxed and having almost half my pay check being stolen from me every two weeks by our government. When is enough going to be enough people.
Justin
March 18, 2008, 11:30pm (report abuse)Well I'm sick of being taxed for a war that has cost untold loss of innocent life, was started under false pretense to begin with and is making the world less stable and more hostile to America. How is spending money in development that will lead to a more stable, safer world bad for America? I think the middle class has been bled enough by an ultimately destructive, endless war. Why aren't we upset about that? And if you're not upset I suggest you check out the Winter Soldier hearings going on right now. Testimonials by troops on the horribly brutal nature of war and the negative impact it has on soldiers and civilians alike. Lets put our tax dollars to work doing something that will benefit everyone (as we live in a global community even our domestic actions impact the world). And by the way, the UN does have authority because our elected officials signed its charter and agreed to recognize its authority.
kevin laww
March 23, 2008, 6:46pm (report abuse)yall know nothin' bout politics
Michael
April 21, 2008, 8:19pm (report abuse)This bill will obligate the USA to Billions of dollars of aid, this money would have to be borrowed and the interest paid by the USA. Until we take care of citizens on the gulf coast, fund our under-funded school system, repair social security and take care of all the other domestic programs effecting everything from our enviroment to our economy, we have no business going outside our borders. When this country becomes fiscally responsible again, then we can look at foriegn aid, but not until our financial house is in order.
Dennis
May 14, 2008, 10:42am (report abuse)Bravo, Kevin. Who in pluperfect hell decided we need the UN to distribute our donated money? Does anyone remember Kofi, his kid, and purloined millions? For God's sake, catch a clue.
LuangTom
May 18, 2008, 12:36am (report abuse)And, one may ask, just who is going to finance this endeavor to end the
poverty of the whole world? Why, comes the answer, the tax-payers of
the US who will contribute to the UN in the form of another tax. The
bill does nothing to work on the
elimination of poverty in the US.
The poor here can fend for them-
selves. One world government? Does
it sound familiar?
Glenn
May 18, 2008, 11:13am (report abuse)In response to some and reinforcing other comments posted:
Cost of the project is not the issue since America has already spent more than it generates.
America cannot govern the world - each country is responsible for their own people - we can assist their governments in making economic decisions. ( of course, since our economists can't figure out the accounting of our own budget, how will our suggestions be viewed)
Poverty is bad - helping people is good - anyone remember "Teach a man to fish....." - foriegn governments need to want to learn how to address their issues - just giving their people "fish" will not resolve the long term issue.
Eric
May 20, 2008, 5:18pm (report abuse)Didn´t we try this before in our own country with the ¨Great Society¨? What was the proverty rate before that piece of legislation? And what is it now?? Having a government throw money at a problem, although well intentioned, NEVER works. Also, who here thinks that if we actually end up do sending some money to these 3rd world countries, that the money will only go as far as the pockets of the thug dictator who´s in charge?
RoseMarie
May 24, 2008, 9:50pm (report abuse)Charity begins at home. There are 40 million Americans without health insurance, roads and bridges in need of repair, unemployment in the inner cities at high levels etc. that are problems that we need to address. I am all for helping out the poor, but to send 0.7% of GDP to the dictators of the world hoping to get it to the people who need it is naive. It will be another example of Obama's friend billionaire Auchi a former confidante of Sadham Hussein, who bilked millions from the Iraqi oil for food program. Obama must be stopped now before he has a chance to do real damage to the American people and their pocketbooks.
Mark (Colorado)
May 30, 2008, 6:50pm (report abuse)Any US politician who votes for this needs to be voted out. The United States of America is a leader in the world, we don't follow and we don't try to buy friends. Poverty in the world is usually associated with oppresive governments and dictators. We just send money to countries and have their corrupt governments put it om their pockets. We won't be there for anyone if we continue to burden the hard working US taxpayer with stuff like this. I just can't beleive that we have gone so far left that this wasn't laughed out of congress in the first 10 seconds. Am I the only true Republican left?
Alan L
June 6, 2008, 1:56pm (report abuse)When will we realize that no matter how NICE it is our children can't afford to bring the rest of the world out of poverty.
Amosier
June 6, 2008, 2:31pm (report abuse)I'm sorry, but why is it that I should cash in my children's college education so liberals can feel good feeding a dozen corrupt african warlords billions of our tax dollars? By the way, there are 13 million starving American children right under your faux-pious noses that you won't give the time of day.
Anne
June 7, 2008, 4:53pm (report abuse)How many of you stupid liberals are willing to give up your car, house and your money to donate to help world poverty. None I bet. Is it worth destroying the country for garbage like this bill. God forbid we should try to save social security and medicare. Mr obama and his new world communist view can go straight to hell, if the mindless drones in this country would just wake up to this impending movement of destruction of the U.S. economy and way of life, maybe we can save ourselves before its too late.
NoNWO
June 15, 2008, 5:38am (report abuse)Yea, they're going to reduce the people alright...
Jennifer Martin
June 26, 2008, 8:04pm (report abuse)The attempted institution of socialism.
Dan
June 26, 2008, 8:25pm (report abuse)If they'd stop popping out babies and take their goverment back from the communist dictators they'd be prosperous. They are blessed with an abundance of natural resources. Any money or food sent is taken by their government and re-sold on the open market. Stop taking my tax money and giving it away to other people, that is stealing. Our taxes are taken at the end of a gun. If we don't pay our taxes a guy with a gun comes to your door and throws you in jail for tax evasion. Don't take handouts, get a job! Don't give handouts, give advice.
Ray
June 26, 2008, 11:04pm (report abuse)You libtards! How is this bill going to help anyone. It's welfare! How about the rest of the world go out and actually work for a living. We cant eliminate poverty in this country and you think 845 billion dollars are going to do what? Do you really think that the money we give these nations are going to get in the hands of the people? How about teach capitalism...oh no! Cant do that...you guys love socialism to much. How about we "get the French and Russians to chip in with the money they skimmed off the last "Food-For-Oil" program.
patriot
June 27, 2008, 3:33pm (report abuse)welcome to Marxism, this is nothing but the blatant redistribution of wealth. Evidentially all you Americans are too rich and need to pay for the world welfare system. If you really have so much money that you feel you can throw it away to the world, by all means send it to the enlisted corps of the U.S. military. They certainly deserve more than they are paid for all they do.
But it is by no means the job of the US or its people to try to rid poverty in the world... we have enough problems at home that first need to be taken care of.
Brandon
July 1, 2008, 11:31pm (report abuse)What about our huge deficit or health care problems? We have a lot of issues that need attention at home and then we can go overseas, we need that kind of money invested in alternative fuel, etc.
Anne
July 5, 2008, 5:08pm (report abuse)Another tax to support other countries?! Welfare doesn't work for the long term. Stop having 15 babies and feed what you have. I only had one child because I could not afford another. For me to be forced to support someone else to have babies is an insult. My vote is NO!
Annie Oakley
July 8, 2008, 10:03am (report abuse)This is a joke! We have people in our own country who are going hungry who are now on the current welfare system that this bill represents for the world. What a laugh. You liberals are pathetic. Truely. wake up and smell the coffee will ya? Welfare ONLY oppresses those it wants to control. If you don't believe it, try living on it.
natalie
July 8, 2008, 12:56pm (report abuse)this is an outrage
Luis Contreras
July 11, 2008, 3:43pm (report abuse)I believe any bill is as good as the people who approved it. That does not mean it will get the results it was meant for.But it's a start.This only works where people have a voice. And it is listen to and acted upon.
Luis Contreras
July 11, 2008, 4:18pm (report abuse)Both Obama and Bush are green, have money to burn, did not served in military,etc., etc. Obama even took 20 years to find out his preacher.Maybe he'll surround himself with advisers like Bush, who know nothing.How can you tell others what to do if you don't know yourself?
Deb
July 14, 2008, 2:17pm (report abuse)The new world order - again. Vote no. Why do we, as Americans have to pay for every Tom, Dick and Harry? We are 9 trillion in debt!
Entrench
July 16, 2008, 11:24am (report abuse)How about instead of this we do the US Poverty Act? Call me insensitive but I think you take care of your own household before you worry about the neighbors. Besides over the years trillions have been thrown at Africa by the entire world and the has been no discernable improvement. The fact is we cannot help them until they are willing to help themselves.
Mike
July 18, 2008, 1:04pm (report abuse)Is Congress on Drugs? Where in the Constitution does it give authority to spend our money for third worlds? It is time for Democracy in these countries not hand outs. If I choose to donate, I am free to do so. Not compelled by Congress.....
Michael
July 27, 2008, 10:36pm (report abuse)If you want to donate money to end world poverty then it is absolutely your right to do so. It is not the right of the government to force me to pay a tax to do so. This money will be directed through the UN which is notoriously corrupt and we should be encouraging these countries to develop their economies not rely on others. Americans will end up paying 99% of everything like we always do and I personally have had enough! We cannot help anyone unless we help ourselves first.
Joshua
August 5, 2008, 4:19pm (report abuse)This is by far one of the most idiotic ideas in the history of democracies idiotic ideas. Basically a knife is going to be held to Americans throats and they will be told that they must give money for the benefit of others. And yet you see brainwashed morons in above posts that absolutely love it. If you want to donate money, thats fine, but do not force other people to. Ultimately socialism is getting a big boost from Obama and his little friends.
Luis Contreras
August 6, 2008, 8:10pm (report abuse)About Obama,where is the money comming from for everything when we can't even pay for the things already on the table? Obama is green and unexperience, with plenty of money like George W. Bush with little or nothing to show for it. Except talk. Bush promised results. Obama promised change. Results or change are the same. What kind of results or change, that is the questions. Get real. Can anything good be expected from one who has no or little experience? A lot of mistakes can be expected. Get real. Actions speak louder than wards.How can you tell others what to do when you don't know what to do yourself?
bob s
August 7, 2008, 2:36pm (report abuse)Poverty is a relative thing... and cannot be eliminated. There will always be a group of people, or a nation, at the bottom. Just look at the stupid minimum raise. Those at the bottom keep gettng raises... but it only cost me more in the long run... yet poverty,not matter how it is defined... constinues to exist. Give your poor relatives money... they will continue to be poor.. and you end up being broke.
Even worse... being taxed by the United Nations is the wrong use of our tax money.
bob s
Luis Contreras
August 10, 2008, 12:36pm (report abuse)Let's see. Obama wants to solved the world's problems. That's good and honky dorey. But he hasn't any experience. The president's position is not a school of training. Either you have the experience or you don't. What can be expected from someone without experience. A lot, that is a lot of mistakes can be expected. Is this what we want? The Russians and Chinese think so and people who hate our American way of life. What do you think?
Luis Contreras
September 9, 2008, 10:15pm (report abuse)Obama has a half brother, a father, a cousin by name of Raila Odinga who Obama suported in Kenya, SE Africa, plus other relatives there. When are we going to hear of Obama's duel double citizenship,his sniffing coke in college, friends with William Aires, Tony Rezko, Rev. Wright and Ft. Pflager, etc.? Obama never did anything for the middle class voter before, he's only helped himself. How did he rose to power so quickly? And why so many Islamofascists who are sworn to the destruction of America also campaigning for him? What's in it for them?
C. Thomas
September 12, 2008, 8:48pm (report abuse)Obama, Biden and their liberal elite friends(think Hollywood and the Beltway) can put their money where their mouth is and pay for this. We need to take care of America first, it's not like we don't have a deficit or anything.
JD
September 12, 2008, 11:15pm (report abuse)If the socialists and the super rich want to end world poverty..Why don't they give away their money and leave mine alone? I strongly oppose this bill and any UN mandates.
Marie Ann
September 20, 2008, 2:11pm (report abuse)OBAMA's Global Poverty Act is outrageous. To give $845 billion dollars to the corrupt & ANTI-American UNITED NATIONS makes me very suspicious of the motives of this man. I do not trust OBAMA and I certainly to not trust in any way the proven OUSOKcorrupt and ANTI-American UNITED NATIONS with just under a trillion dollars of American $. It just doesn't pass the "smell test."
Jon
October 4, 2008, 3:54pm (report abuse)This bill is extremely riduculous and will add a tremendous tax burden on all of us as well as ratify U.N. treaties which continue to usurp our sovernity as a country.
Luis Contreras
October 5, 2008, 2:02pm (report abuse)Borack H. Obama was only 8 years old when William Ayers and crew bombed the pentagon and the nation's capital.That's true. Was Obama only 8 years old when he started his political career from Ayers's house, was the first manager of the organization Ayers founded, served with Ayers, etc. Come on. Give me a break. Think and act accordingly.
Luis Contreras
October 9, 2008, 11:12pm (report abuse)Ties of Obama and The Socialist Party was that the party approved of Obama because he was a member of the party. It all took place when Obama ran for the Illinois State Senate in 1996.
Luis Contreras
October 11, 2008, 7:17pm (report abuse)Brack H. Obama broke his promise to spend only as much as John McCain in campaigning. McCain kept the promise.And who gave the money to Obama? It was Fannie and Freddie, Wall Street, Lehman Brothers, etc. Where did they get it to give to Obama? From you the tax payers and voters, that's where. That's why Obama spends 4 to 10 as much as McCain in Campaingning. He can make attacks against McCain more often. Example , he claims that McCain will cut social security in half. And that Sr. citizens will be left out in the cold is not true. McCain will not cut S.S. And Sr. citizens will have their benefits. Now Obama shows as a savior for the mess he created.
Sharon JOhnson
October 12, 2008, 1:32am (report abuse)This right here shows that Obama and the democrats are going to sell us down the river and we will be answering to the UN. That corrupt useless piece of human waste. I thought I had seen everything but this is this has left me speechless. Obama will destroy this country and give our sovernity away.
Anne
October 12, 2008, 10:27am (report abuse)Why are we giving money to countries that hate us. You and I know that money will never get to the poor. Some dictator will use it as he wants. It will be used to support terrorism or antiamerican agenda. Read, "The Ugly American", it an old book but remais true for History continually repeat itself.
Catherine
October 20, 2008, 3:02am (report abuse)This bill would be a cash cow for the UN until US money runs out. Then We will be the ones needing the Poverty Act. We are not nor should we be slaves to the UN. There are more direct ways to help the poor without breaking the back of the US.
Luis Contreras
October 21, 2008, 4:23pm (report abuse)Looks like we are seeing Hernan Cortez conquering the Aztecs all over again. This time in the person of Borack H. Obama conquering the USA. Thanks to Bush, not Montezuma.
Luis Contreras
October 22, 2008, 6:32pm (report abuse)Obama is to radical and risky. He is a good speaker with little or nothing to show me. Our country needs more than a good speaker. It needs a leader that has been tested again and again. I am leaning to John McCain. He is old and in good health. Death does not discriminate. Even new born babies die. They die quicker if Obama is PRESIDENT with his belief on abortion and killing of babies. And Palin has as much experience if not more than Obama.
Baby Bama
October 26, 2008, 11:48pm (report abuse)Biden, Obama, and the rest who support this bill.. how about you take your own millions of dollars in income to feed the hungry and leave me the freedom to choose whether or not to do the same.
James Frye
October 27, 2008, 10:15pm (report abuse)Americans should never be forced to pay a tax to other than a US taxing authority.
Luis Contreras
October 28, 2008, 11:21am (report abuse)TO criticize Sarah Polin or Hillery R. Clinton is ok. To criticize B. H. Obama is discrimination, raciest, hate, bigotry and every evil you can think of. I get the picture of how some think. But I don't agree with it. They have a brain they don't use. Or do they have a brain?
Anne
November 6, 2008, 2:27pm (report abuse)This bill enslaves US workers to foreign countries. Essentially it hands over our economy and responsibilities of the highest public office in the land to the UN, an organization comprised of countries who have little regard for our democracy. No wonder Obama won. Gives some credence to even the most hysterical of the conspiracy theorists' fears.
CONCERNED CITIZEN
November 12, 2008, 9:54am (report abuse)H.R.1302 PASSED IN SEPTEMBER NOW SENATE BILL S.2433 GLOBAL POVERTY ACT NEEDS TO BE STOPPED. SPONSORS: U.S. Senators Barack Obama (D-IL), Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
THIS BILL COMMITS THE US TO SPENDING 0.7 PERCENT OF GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT ON FOREIGN AID, WHICH AMOUNTS TO A PENOMENAL 13-YEAR TOTAL OF $845 BILLION OVER AND ABOVE WHAT THE U.S. ALREADY SPENDS.
I DO NOT TRUST THE UN WITH THIS WINDFALL. HOW MUCH OF THIS MONEY WILL GET INTO THE HANDS OF FOREIGN DICTATORS? WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS BILL TO PASS.
Ryan
November 17, 2008, 6:38pm (report abuse)Per Edward Cline "But it maintains its sanction of that organization, and has paid the price for it every since. Article III, Section 3 of the Constitution states: "Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort."
It would be interesting to see if this definition could be applied to the actions of Senators Obama, Lugar, Reid and the rest of the supporters of S. 2433 (and also the sponsors and supporters of H.R. 1302). Given that the U.N. has never disguised its hostility for the U.S., and that the enemies of the U.S. are legion in the U.N.'s membership, would passage of this bill by Congress constitute giving "aid and comfort" to our enemies, and "adhering" to their purposes and ends? For that is what the bill amounts to: giving our enemies the right to conquer, loot, and subjugate this country and its citizens."
Ryan
November 17, 2008, 6:42pm (report abuse)There is nothing in this bill that holds the governments of the countries receiving this aid responsible. To produce economic growth is usually the result of government policies. I'm doubtful that the third world countries that this money would be going to would use this money for their poverty stricken. As far as the small arms portion goes, the Supreme Court has already upheld the 2nd. Amendment earlier this year. If the United Nations doesn't like it, they can house their assembly elsewhere. Let's see how far they get without our financial support as well.
Lori
December 3, 2008, 3:52am (report abuse)To the BLIND Americans supporting this bill....GET A CLUE!!!!! This is the ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT Bill. Try reading the bill before you comment on it. The UN Mandates us to give up all our rights and subject ourselves to the UN under a One World Government!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We would lose all firearms and thereby NO means of protecting us from our new UN government. WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
karen
December 3, 2008, 12:23pm (report abuse)this bill is nonsense! just what we need right now, when this country is so far in debt, is to dole out money..we'll never really know what good it has done. I lived in the poorest country in the W. Hemisphere for THREE years (Haiti) No amount of US Welfare has yet helped those poor people..it's worse now than it has ever been - corrupt government officials have ended up with vast amounts of money (guess where from?) and the people are still suffering.