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Is It Constitutional To Use Tax Money For Foreign Aid?
02/05/2005 | Heartland Hattie

Posted on 02/05/2005 7:37:15 AM PST by Heartland Hattie

For a long time, I've been wondering about the constitutionality of using tax monies for foreign aid.

I am no expert at constitutional law. I'm not certain if the huge spending to aid foreign governments is truely legal.

Can anyone point out an exact passage in the Constution that covers this? I know that Section 8 of Article 1 talks about the right to collect taxes etc. for "the common defense and general welfare of the United States", but I'm unsure if paying billions of our tax dollars in aid falls into this category.

I am also curious about the constitutional legality of the United Nations, more precisely the immunity from prosecution enjoyed by it's "diplomats" in this country. And, as the billions of dollars paid into it have NOT resulted in "the common defense and general welfare of the United States", is it a breech of constitutional law to pay into the UN?

Any ideas?


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: constitution; foreignaid; taxes

1 posted on 02/05/2005 7:37:17 AM PST by Heartland Hattie
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To: Heartland Hattie
Is It Constitutional To Use Tax Money For Foreign Aid?

What I have learned nowadays is that you can't read the simple language of the Constitution to try and decide what is Constitutional or what is not. You'd be best off writing a letter to Sandra Day O'Connor to ask, since she's the one who mostly makes that decision nowadays.

As for my personal opinion, I think that foreign aid is actually somewhat more of a valid Constitutional power for the federal government than a lot of the domestic stuff they do nowadays, since it involves relations with other nations, which is a federal government function. But Sandra doesn't care what I think.

2 posted on 02/05/2005 7:41:41 AM PST by dirtboy (Tagloin down for oil change and lube because it was squeaking)
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To: Heartland Hattie

Well, by giving foreign countries aid, they become somewhat dependent upon us.

It keeps them in line.


3 posted on 02/05/2005 4:02:19 PM PST by LauraleeBraswell ( There's no Double Talk from Dubya!)
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To: LauraleeBraswell

"You get too soon old and too late smart" - by someone who was old enough to understand the wisdom of that quote!

4 posted on 02/06/2005 7:16:14 AM PST by B4Ranch (Don't remain seated until this ride comes to a full and complete stop! We're going the wrong way!)
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To: B4Ranch




but it is true. By giving foreign aid, countries become somewhat dependent upon us. We assert our power, and the threat of pulling the aid always lingers.

EWWW- picture


5 posted on 02/06/2005 7:36:31 AM PST by LauraleeBraswell ( There's no Double Talk from Dubya!)
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To: LauraleeBraswell



Giving money to people to keep them alive is not a gov't function, that belongs to churches and charities.

Have you heard about 'Oil for Food'?


6 posted on 02/06/2005 8:20:44 AM PST by B4Ranch (Don't remain seated until this ride comes to a full and complete stop! We're going the wrong way!)
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To: LauraleeBraswell
They don't stop hating us, killing us or begging for more just because we give them money. Nelson Mandela, just the other day, "demanded" that the US give more money to Africa. Africa is not in line, unless its for more food, money or pharmaceuticals - the burden of which is borne by the high prices we pay for prescription drugs in the USA... but don't get me started on that issue...
7 posted on 02/07/2005 1:59:21 PM PST by Heartland Hattie ("Is there a more execrable, horrid parody of an American statesman alive today than Ted Kennedy?" --)
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To: Heartland Hattie

hort answer? No, it isn't.


8 posted on 02/22/2005 9:39:16 AM PST by TBP
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