November 9, 2024
Political/Commentary
Why Angela Stanton-King Calls The US Government
'A Dead Beat Daddy' Pt.2
Click the link to hear interview:
The American Government: The Deadbeat Dad of the World? Angela Stanton-King made a bold claim, comparing the American government to a “deadbeat dad.” It sounds funny at first, but when you break it down, it does make you wonder how America treats its own citizens versus how it handles outsiders who break the law by entering the country illegally. Let’s explore this idea with humor and some solid facts! The “Cool Dad” of the World?
Imagine a dad who buys presents for the neighbor’s kids but barely gives his own kids an allowance. That’s how some people feel about the American government. When undocumented immigrants come into the country, they sometimes receive access to resources like healthcare, housing, and education. Helping people is a good thing, right? But here’s where it gets tricky—some U.S. citizens struggle to get those very same resources. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, many Americans see the government as prioritizing undocumented immigrants over citizens, even when those citizens are struggling themselves (Camarota, 2017).
Imagine being that kid at home, waiting for your dad to bring groceries, only to see him handing a pizza to the neighbor’s kid. You’d feel a little left out, right? That’s the sentiment some Americans express when they see resources being allocated to people who aren’t even citizens, while their own needs go unmet (Jordan, 2021).
Immigration: A Broken System?
Now, let’s make one thing clear—this isn’t about disliking immigrants. After all, America is a country built by immigrants. The issue is the broken system that allows undocumented people to slip through the cracks, often receiving services more quickly than U.S. citizens. According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), the U.S. spends an estimated $132 billion a year on services for undocumented immigrants, while many Americans struggle with basic needs like healthcare and education (FAIR, 2021).
It’s like a dad who promises to fix the leaky roof but never gets around to it. While the system is overloaded with people trying to come into the country, U.S. citizens sometimes feel like they’re stuck in line, waiting for the help they’ve been promised. For example, healthcare remains a pressing issue for many citizens, with millions uninsured or underinsured, while there are programs aimed at providing healthcare to undocumented immigrants (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2020).
Foreign Aid: Dad’s Got a Favorite Child?
Let’s shift to foreign aid. The U.S. government spends billions of dollars every year helping other countries, sending money to build schools, provide clean water, and help in times of disaster. According to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. allocated about $35 billion for foreign aid in 2021 (USAID, 2022). That sounds generous, but let’s not forget Flint, Michigan, where residents went without clean drinking water for years. Meanwhile, schools across America are underfunded, with old textbooks and crumbling walls.
It’s like Dad paying for his cousin’s college tuition while his own kids are wearing last year’s hand-me-downs. This frustration is shared by many Americans who feel like their tax dollars are being sent overseas while they struggle with day-to-day needs. Some believe that before the U.S. helps other countries, it should first fix problems at home, like poverty, education, and infrastructure (McBride, 2022).
Is America a Deadbeat Dad?
Is the American government really a deadbeat dad? It depends on how you look at it. On one hand, America’s immigration system is overwhelmed, and foreign aid is necessary to maintain global stability and keep relationships with other countries strong. On the other hand, there’s a growing sense that the government needs to take better care of its own citizens before extending help elsewhere. According to a Gallup poll, nearly 57% of Americans believe the government spends too much on foreign aid and too little on domestic issues (Gallup, 2021).
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Angela Stanton-King’s comparison of the American government to a deadbeat dad may seem extreme, it brings up valid concerns. Many U.S. citizens feel left out as the government appears to prioritize undocumented immigrants and foreign aid over the needs of its own people. Maybe it’s time for America to balance its role as the “cool dad” of the world and start showing more care for the people under its own roof.
References
Camarota, S. A. (2017). The High Cost of Resettling Middle Eastern Refugees. Center for Immigration Studies. Retrieved from https://cis.org/Report/High-Cost-Resettling-Middle-Eastern-Refugees FAIR. (2021). The Fiscal Burden of Illegal Immigration on U.S. Taxpayers. Federation for American Immigration Reform. Retrieved from https://www.fairus.org/issue/publications-resources/fiscal-burden-illegal-immigration-united-states-taxpayers-2021 Gallup. (2021). Americans’ Views of Foreign Aid. Gallup. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/poll/157961/americans-views-foreign-aid.aspx Jordan, M. (2021). How the U.S. Immigration System Works. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/23/us/immigration-us-policy.html Kaiser Family Foundation. (2020). Key Facts About the Uninsured Population. KFF. Retrieved from https://www.kff.org/uninsured/issue-brief/key-facts-about-the-uninsured-population/ McBride, J. (2022). How Does the U.S. Spend Its Foreign Aid? Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved from https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/how-does-us-spend-its-foreign-aid USAID. (2022). U.S. Foreign Aid by Country. U.S. Agency for International Development. Retrieved from https://www.usaid.gov/results-and-data/foreign-aid Get Outlook for iOS
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