Should we cut foreign aid?

Although I'm long overdue for a more personal post, especially concerning my recent trip to Haiti, I just read an excellent blog, which needs "reblogging" and comment. American and Australian governments are making cuts to foreign aid, and a recent poll suggests that more than 70% of Americans like the idea, despite the fact that it makes up a mere 1% of the budget. Now, I understand a percieved conflict of interest in my comments on this issue, but I don't believe Americans actually want to cut funding to foreign aid, they're just deluded as deatiled in this article from The Economist) as to how much of an effect it will have on their economy and the alternative, they are told, is to raise taxes.

Owen Barder writes:
"The idea that “charity begins at home” clearly resonates with many people. In part the phrase expresses the idea that we have stronger social ties and obligations to people who live in our neighbourhood than we do to people on the other side of the world. But few people really believe, on reflection, that we should pay no heed to people dying of hunger or for lack of medical facilities just because they are far away. Perhaps “charity begins at home” resonates for another reason: we can observe at first hand whether the effort we make to help our family and neighbours is actually working, whereas with foreign aid we can’t, and we have a sneaking suspicion that this means that it isn’t." As I agree with him in entirety, read the full article and share your comments.