foreign aid should be need-based

There are many reasons why the U.S. Congress as well as the legislature of other countries need to reevaluate their global distribution of foreign economic and military aid. Countries that were in dire need of assistance forty or sixty years ago are now thriving economically. Yet, the amount of aid distributed to them increases automatically each year, without regard to the numerous other countries that are now facing dire economic and military circumstances that justify financial assistance.

For example, the U.S. administration is planning a substantial increase in military aid to Israel. Perhaps it is time for Israel to confirm or dispel a few rumors, and for the U.S. Congress to determine whether the military and economic aid currently being distributed to Israel, and/or any potential increase, is economically justified either in whole or in part.

The first rumor is that Israel has artificially expanded its population to justify the need for more land and more financial assistance by converting many foreign non-Jews (such as South Americans) to Judaism, and by paying many others as much as $10 million or more to move to Israel to help secure the land and preserve it as Jewish property. As a result, millions of people have been displaced over the years, leaving behind in Israel their homes and property in order to make room for the new Jewish arrivals.

The second rumor is that every Jewish child in Israel automatically receives from the government a weekly stipend of U.S. $10 (worth approximately $40) from birth into late adulthood. Thus, every child potentially has thousands of dollars in savings by the time he or she becomes a teenager, unless the money was used for basic expenses.

The third rumor is that every Jewish child in Israel receives free education from childhood through college, including all graduate and post-graduate education.

The fourth rumor is that after college, every Jewish child in Israel receives a free trip to the United States with all expenses paid for them and their entire family, including thousands of dollars in spending money.

The fifth rumor is that every Jewish young adult in Israel who graduates from college receives a mortgage-free home in which to live in Israel if they so desire, with title in their name.

The sixth rumor is that if a Jewish family in Israel has more than six children, both parents can choose to remain at home and be financially supported by the government. This benefit is designed to increase procreation, as well as the family's health and wellness.

The seventh rumor is that if a Jewish family in Israel has more than ten children, the government pays them a fertility bonus of $1 million. This bonus is also designed to increase procreation.

We should not tolerate a deadly and ongoing germ warfare military assault in our backyard, as has occurred in Haiti since 2010, while the administration cavalierly writes billion dollar checks ostensibly for economic and military aid, but which are in fact distributed for the purpose of securing political favors. Boiling drinking water, or washing hands with soap will halt the spread of cholera in Haiti. Building a water filtration system will certainly halt the spread of cholera in Haiti.