U.S. Government Aid

* Two articles appeared on consecutive days that I found very ironic. One dealt with our relationship with Jordan (Aug. 24) and the other with earthquake repair funds (Aug. 25).

While federal funds to assist earthquake-ravaged Los Angeles (and in particular the San Fernando Valley) will fall short by $200 million, the President, in a magnanimous gesture, will ask Congress to “write off” Jordan’s $700 million debt to the United States. As I recall, several years ago, President Bush also “forgave” Egypt’s $7 billion debt to America. To add insult to injury, on the following day (Aug. 26), a national TV news report said the U.S. will pull out of Somalia but will continue to provide $50 million per year in aid money.

For a nation with such a huge deficit, the government is very generous with our people’s hard-earned money. While we “write off” or “forgive” other nations’ debts to us, the Small Business Administration here in L.A. is turning down hundreds of loan requests by our own people, who have suffered tremendous earthquake damage, because they may not have the financial ability to repay the loan.

Perhaps we should all declare ourselves citizens of a foreign country and in that way we can be assured of obtaining free aid money from the U.S. government.

SOL BURG

West Hills