US Aid goes unnoticed

The United States Government sent foreign aid totalling $655 million between the 2000 and 2004 to Bolivia. It was more than 5 times the amount sent by any other country. By far, the US is the biggest donor in the landlocked Andean country. Instead of being greeted with amity, the US government is viewed with animosity in Bolivia. Countries like Venezuela and Cuba are viewed by the common man as benefactors. How could this be? A report in the Miami Herald touched a little on this.

Venezuela and Cuba have sent a far smaller sum of foreign aid than the large amount sent by the US. US government aid is given to the Bolivian government who hands it out in mutual projects. In many ways, citizens view these projects as not benefiting the common man. Cuba and Venezuela instead are providing health care and education. Talk about something tangible. The people see it and benefit from it on a daily basis. The US aid is mostly unseen.

How can the US change this perception? Start providing direct assistance to people at a grassroots level. Stop channelling the funds through NGO and corrupt-prone beaurcacy and start directly adminsitering the aid so that people can benefit instead of NGO administrators and government officials. Trickle down economics just doesn’t work. Practice little trickle up economics for a change.