Abstract

The Paradox of Foreign Aid

The article presents information on the U.S. policies related to foreign aid. The legislation, originally known as the "Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act" Public Law 480 of 1954, has been rechristened "Food for Freedom." The President and many members of Congress claim that the bill will help make developing countries self-sufficient in food production. The paradox is that while encouraging agricultural growth on the part of the developing nations, The U.S. plans to increase their own shipments of food; increased agricultural aid can only mean increased agricultural dependency. President Lyndon Baines Johnson proposes to lead the war on hunger by making the poor countries pay the United States more than they had before for the food they desperately need.