What It Would Take to Feed the World's Hungry

That's according to James T. Morris, executive director of the United Nations World Food Program, writing in today's Washington Post.

Of course, I'm a Christian and I believe that it's important for individuals to give to the relief of others in response to the grace and blessings we receive through Jesus Christ. So, I urge people to make donations to organizations like Catholic Relief Services and Lutheran World Relief, the two preeminent private relief groups in the world.

But one question it seems to me that US citizens ought to ask, quite apart from issues of faith or altruism is this: Is it in the long-term foreign and security interests of the United States for our federal budget to include more money for world hunger relief? Certainly, other governments should belly up to the bar.

And it would hardly break the budget--which, as a Republican myself, I think is scandalously overbloated with pork right now: Our government spends less than 1% of the total budget on foreign aid. But every penny effectively spent in that way contributes to the United States' well-being. The Marshall Plan helped secure a safe, secure, and prosperous Europe which has become a strong American partner, in spite of occasional disagreements, and a vibrant market for US goods and services.

As always, I could be wrong about this, but it seems to me worth thinking about.