To think that the foreign aid budget should go to schools that are getting cuts

[HannahSmithson45]

Aibu to think that schools in the uk should not have their budgets being cut while money is sent abroad on many questionable projects.

Why should British children living in deprived areas with schools that are deprived have their schools cut.

My children's school is losing £600,000 and 18 teachers. Yet we are paying for ethiopian spice girls.

This pisses me off, it's right to be charitable but if we have a budget deficit then it doesn't make sense.

YABVVVU Britain caused so much of the problems in those countries, it should definitely be contributing something to help combat them, whether it can be done in a better way or not is a different argument, but still in any case, Britain owes something to those countries. And even for countries that weren't colonies, as a rich Western nation, Britain needs to do its bit for the world, just as all rich nations should do.

The money for education could be very easily redistributed from somewhere else, or got from pursuing taxes that haven't been paid but that takes a stronger public will than just bitching and moaning about foreigners getting our money.

I actually don't get the logic at all...

Basically rich and influential people royally fucked up (bankers, insurers, politicians and regulators) so we are cutting spending on public services to the bone while cutting taxation on said rich people (corporation tax cut). We're sad that this is impacting schooling so we would like to stop helping the poorest people on the earth while in parallel being okay with the rich people paying less.

I mean...how does that work in your mind? I don't get how people come to this opinion?

Yabu. That's about as polite as it gets.

Are Italians held responsible for the roman empire? So why are we still responsible for our empire

PuppyFat give it a thousand years or so.

Set moral obligations aside - and giving to charity still isn't the correct analogy. It's like asking why we spend money on stop smoking/keep fit campaigns while the A&E service is in meltdown. That's more important, you might say. And the answer would be because relatively small investment in preventative medicine can significantly reduce the demand on the front line A&E service and save an awful lot of money. It's the same with foreign aid. Help people in war torn regions with absolutely nothing and they won't have the same incentive to come here and claim asylum/come as illegal immigrants. (I fully support the "moral responsibility" arguments too before I'm shouted down - just saying it makes sense even on an entirely clinical economic analysis...)

puppyfat - you are aware of the relative timescales right?

Don't be ridiculous, but when does it end

Wow. There are some truly horrible, small minded views being expressed on this thread.

The aid budget is a tiny fraction of our GDP. Sending that money abroad benefits us, as well as the recipient, so your money isn't "wasted".

Yes YABU. Let me guess you voted for Brexshit and want all the "forriners" out too .

" Don't be ridiculous, "

really? you come out with a cretinous statement about the Roman empire and tell ME to not be ridiculous?
OK.

Hate these threads.

puppyfat to be fair, you're the one being an idiot. I suggest you study a bit of history before making ridiculous, unequivocal statements.

How long are we supposed to pay for our collective guilt?

And as for paying reperations to the descendants of slaves....you realise that slaves were mostly sold by other Africans? Or aren't you holding Africans financially responsible at all? Who would you pay it to, how much, how long?

Perhaps we could pay reperations to all the poor under class children in this country for the shitty hand they've been dealt? After all many of us are much wealthier than they will ever be. Or doesn't that slake your middle class guilt enough?

India has a space programme. A SPACE PROGRAMME. I think possibly they could fund their own charity.

Oh it's only a few million (£12 billion)...well I can think of some sink estates, deprived schools, crumbling hospitals and closing libraries that would appreciate a slice of that pie.

£1 million spent in the UK does more good in the UK than it does if spent in Syria

If that money helps provide for Syrian refugees on Syria's boarders it may stop them making the dangerous journey to the UK and having to be provided for here, then it does do more good for the UK than it would if spent here.

Besides, their would be more than enough money for foreign aid and schools if rich individuals and companies would pay their tax honestly.

The self flagellation on this thread is something to behold.

I'd suggest many of you have no direct experience of the truly poor in this country. Talking about prevention for the future...well low income children are much more likely to be your badly educated, obese criminals of the future. Perhaps we could sling them some money and prevent that from happening. And yes I know we already do...but I think another 12 billion might help them out a little more?

YABVVVVVU.

Please, do feel free to read more about the 'Ethiopian Spice Girls' story and look beyond the tabloid outrage.

therantmistress.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/newsflash-british-taxpayers-are-not.html

www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jan/07/ethiopian-music-scheme-yegna-loses-uk-aid-funding-after-press-criticism

Why does it have to be one or the other

Why can't we halve foreign aid and go after the tax avoiders? Why does asking about foreign aid mean we're happy about amazon and their ilk?

When you do your budget you don't just cut money from one place do you? You look everywhere

" Oh it's only a few million (£12 billion)...well I can think of some sink estates, deprived schools, crumbling hospitals and closing libraries that would appreciate a slice of that pie. "

yes that's great rhetoric, especially the pie metaphor, very original...but the thing is, it's not going to happen is it?

Nobody is going to say, OK lets slash foreign aid and invest that same money in schools are they?

I find people talking about these things in such a simplistic way to be really...dull and thick.

Where as you offered some sparkling insights there Brat. Or just the usual sneering at thick people who clearly don't have the wisdom you do

How long are we supposed to pay for our collective guilt?

A bit longer, it's a lot of guilt. Especially if you are seriously blaming Africa for slavery!

Are you the donkeys who believed the bus that told you Brexit meant 350 million out of Europe and into the NHS? How's that working out for ye?

yes I think my point about how it's not an either/or situation was valid, instead of whining about pies, like you.

No I voted to remain. But again more sneering at thickos