Rant: Goof Stands Behind Obama "Fund Pepfar"

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[ConservativeMan55]

"Fund Pepfar"

Are we not 15 trillion in debt?



It is estimated that from 2003 to 2008 $18.8 billion was committed to PEPFAR by Congress, exceeding the original $15 billion first pledged.27 This amount included commitments to the Global Fund, UNAIDS, International AIDS Vaccines Initiative (IAVI) and NIH research as well as all PEPFAR' bilateral country and regional programmes for HIV/AIDS and TB. It did not include funding for malaria.

Then in 2008, a further $48 billion was committed to PEPFAR over a five-year period.28 This includes $39 billion for PEPFAR's bilateral HIV/AIDS programmes and U.S contributions to the Global Fund, $5 billion to the president's Malaria Initiative and $4 billion for TB.

The total funding granted for PEPFAR in FY2010 for HIV/AIDS, TB and the Global Fund was $6.8 billion.29 It has been claimed that funding for 2009-2010 was effectively flat-lined in contrast to the much higher previous year-on-year increases in funding, especially from 2006-2009.30 31 President Obama's proposed 2011 budget included almost $7 billion for PEPFAR, representing a 1.8 percent increase on the previous year. However, according to some activists this slight increase actually represents a 'step backwards' due to inflation and increasing demand for treatment.32

The FY2011 budget included a 5 percent ($50 million) decrease in funding to the Global Fund compared to the previous year.33 However, the US continues to represent the largest contribution to the Global Fund (representing on average more than a quarter of the Global Fund's budget every year).34

[ConservativeMan55]

Sounds like "pepfar" has been funded enough!!!!!

[ConservativeMan55]

BTTT

[LRoggy]

With the exception of the Marshall Plan PEPFAR probably was America’s most successful foreign aid program. If anything is going to be funded going forward this is the program to continue (I’m not commenting one way or the other on the cost issue). That program bought us tremendous goodwill in Africa and really did a heck of a lot of good as well as saving COUNTLESS lives. Even in times like this money isn’t the only consideration. I certainly fund this before I fund sugar subsidies!!

[abigailsmybaby]

Does funding of this fall under the good and welfare clause of the Constitution?

[LRoggy]

We are not going back to those days no matter how much we think that is desirable. My comment is based on the fact that if you are going to do some good this is the type of program THAT WORKED. And yes, PEPFAR could fall under the guise of foreign policy. Read W’s memoir Decision Points on this program and then tell me that this wasn’t a foreign policy success story.

[ConservativeMan55]

My point simply is.. it may do a lot of goodwill but America doesn’t have they money to fund it.

We need to get back to focusing on America

[ConservativeMan55]

Plus I don’t trust that money sent to Africa will ever be used for its intended purpose

Sure it brought a lot of goodwill. Send billions of dollars to me and ill be your buddy too

[LRoggy]

Sorry you are talking off the top of your head when you say this:

“Plus I don’t trust that money sent to Africa will ever be used for its intended purpose”

W’s memoir goes into great detail on how it was used. Read the chapter dedicated to PEPFAR and then make your comments. The number of lives saved were estimated to be in the millions. This is not some open-ended donation of cash that was given to corrupt dictators like so much of African aid in the past was. The aid distribution is detailed beyond doubt in the chapter.

[RichInOC]

Pepfar? We’re funding Vulcan mating season? Man. We’ll fund anything.

[abigailsmybaby]

What does the Constitution say about foreign policies?

[bt_dooftlook]

The bottom line, is we are borrowing money, or printing it, to give it away. This is unsustainable.

It’s like the prodigal son, who spent his inheritance trying to be popular - and found out that he had no more friends when he had no more money.