Food Aid: 770 million worth

Bush calls for approval of $770 million in food aid

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush urged Congress Thursday to approve $770 million to help alleviate dramatically escalating food prices that threaten widespread hunger and increasing social unrest around the world.

In a surprise midafternoon appearance at the White House, Bush announced he is asking lawmakers to approve the additional funds for global food aid and development programs. The money — to be directed primarily at needy African nations — is being included in a broader $70 billion Iraq war funding measure for 2009 that the White House sent to Capitol Hill on Thursday.

Yes, this is exactly what I want to be spending my tax dollars on right now. Don't get me wrong, I'm not pro-poverty, I'm not saying individuals shouldn't donate to charities to achieve this goal. I just think it's ridiculous that our federal government is in that business. Anybody disagree?