To the Editor:

CARE’s brave decision to forgo monetized food aid (“CARE Turns Down Federal Funds for Food Aid,” front page, Aug. 16) highlights the ethical dilemma posed by an American food aid program that requires enormous inefficiency and potentially counterproductive impacts on poor people.

The United States contributes more than half of all food aid worldwide. But as a result of special-interest lobbying, America’s generosity is undermined by legal restrictions and bureaucracy that create waste, delay and added expense.

President Bush has proposed changes to the food aid program, recommending that one-quarter of the food aid budget be shifted from commodities to cash. But this request has fallen mostly on deaf ears in Congress.

The food aid program is up for renewal this year as part of the farm bill, a broad piece of legislation governing farm, food, and conservation policy. Although the House of Representatives has done little to improve the efficiencies of food aid programs, it remains to be seen whether the Senate will listen to the needs of the hungry or those of vested special interests.

Raymond C. Offenheiser
President, Oxfam America
Boston, Aug. 16, 2007

Note from KBJ: It’s outrageous that money is taken from hard-working Americans against their will (or without their consent) and given to people in other countries. Those who want to help others, here or abroad, should do so, privately. Those who don’t shouldn’t be made to.