Letters: U.S. foreign aid, SARC training and presidential protocol | Feb. 13

U.S. foreign aid tiny part of deficit

A recent letter repeated the myth that we can correct our deficit by canceling aid to other countries.

The U.S. spends about $50 billion on foreign aid compared with a $1 trillion deficit. Thus, eliminating foreign aid would only reduce the deficit by 5 percent. About one-third of the aid is military. Eliminating non-military aid would therefore reduce the deficit by 3 percent. Much of this non-military aid goes to addressing diseases like Ebola and HIV.

It has often been said that we help countries that hate us. The top five recipients of aid are Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, Egypt and Jordan. Nearly all of this aid is focused on furthering national security.

The letter goes on to state that “pork projects” are a major spending driver. Such earmarks were largely eliminated by Congress several years ago.

The truth is that the deficit can’t be seriously reduced without a combination of reductions in spending on entitlement programs and defense and increased tax revenues. This is not an ideological conclusion. It is based simply on math, since these programs comprise nearly 80 percent of all spending, with the other largest single category being interest payments on the ever-growing national debt.

SARC offering volunteer training

Do you want to get involved with the community but aren’t sure how? Volunteering with the Support Advocacy & Resource Center is a wonderful opportunity to help make a difference in people’s lives. SARC relies on volunteer advocates to help with our 24/7 crisis line and hospital calls; providing crisis intervention and support either on the phone or at the hospital. Volunteer advocates can also respond to hospital calls for medical exams, answer questions and assist with support.

SARC assists adults and children 24 hours a day by providing support and advocacy to them and their non-offending family members, friends, secondary victims and witnesses to crime. SARC services are free and confidential.

To become a SARC volunteer advocate, 32 hours of training are required. The training is designed to give volunteers the tools they need to work with victims and their families. This year, volunteers will complete eight hours of training online with the remaining 24 hours at SARC. Check our Facebook page or website for the dates and times for the in-office training in March.

President should follow protocol

During the State of the Union “address,” the president again marginalized the U.S. military.

The types of recognition singled out by the president are typically done in private intimate settings where those being honored can record the proceedings and then publish as they become comfortable sharing their stories.

Again, another example of how the president’s actions degrade the discipline and good order of active service members and exploit veterans for his personal gratification.

My suggestion to you, Mr. President, let the uniformed dedicated leaders properly conduct recognition ceremonies and honors in a truly dignified manner.

This story was originally published February 13, 2020 at 12:01 AM with the headline "Letters: U.S. foreign aid, SARC training and presidential protocol | Feb. 13."