Here you go Finklestein...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4091528.stm
when non-governmental generosity is included, the US moves up the list - not to the top, but way above the bottom.
Private aid
Americans will tell you that they are generous but in different ways.
 President Bush is not alone in wanting a role for private charity |
According to Carol Adelman, who was one of the top officials in the American aid effort, the measure used by many in the global community to gauge a country's generosity only counts government foreign aid "and the United States has for many centuries given a lot of private aid overseas".
She calculates that US businesses give $2.8bn every year; American charities give $6.6bn; the country's colleges give scholarships to foreign students worth $1.3bn.
And this last way of helping, runs the argument, is particularly effective on the old premise that the best way to cure hunger is not to give food, but to teach people how to grow it.
It's Dr Adelman's contention, moreover, that this aid is much more effective than government aid which may get skimmed by bureaucrats.
Open door policy
On top of that, America does not exhibit the xenophobia evident throughout much of the rest of the developed world.
| America is these communities - people on every street corner who are writing cheques, giving millions and millions of dollars Rev Herb Lusk |
In Europe the door to the poor is locked; in America, it's true the door is guarded but it is open to many more people, particularly from Latin America.
And this means that huge sums are remitted to poor countries by immigrants to the United States, and this too is effective because it's direct people-to-people aid
"It's going directly to them to start up businesses, buy medicines, build clinics, build schools, buy food", says Dr Adelman.
Churches also give generously. It's true that they donate bibles and religious instruction - but also medicines and agricultural advice which have no theology.
Church aid
Talk to the Rev Herb Lusk of the Greater Exodus Baptist Church in Philadelphia who has launched a campaign to help Aids victims in Africa, a campaign endorsed by President Bush who called Herb Lusk a "social entrepreneur who can make things happen".
"You can't look at America and look at what the State Department gives and say that's how much America gives," Rev Lusk told the BBC.
| The US is increasingly engaged in African reform efforts |
"America is these communities - people on every street corner who are writing cheques, who are giving millions and millions of dollars".
Herb Lusk is not pastor to a people overflowing with money yet they dig deep.
"My church gives 10% of its income to Africa. The problem is a problem that has to be solved not by governments but by people - people giving to people."
Americans do not give like other people do.
They don't assume the government knows best and leave generosity to politicians and officials.
Speaking of aid to Africa, You may find this article interesting too:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/30/AR2006123000941.html
President Bush is not alone in wanting a role for private charity
America is these communities - people on every street corner who are writing cheques, giving millions and millions of dollars
Rev Herb Lusk
The US is increasingly engaged in African reform efforts