In Barack Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention, he explained, “we’re not done perfecting our union or living up to our founding creed.” He explained that “turning against each other makes us turn away from the rest of the world.”

The partisan divide is brutal, as decisions by supposedly one body transform into empty negotiations. We are fighting with ourselves and the divided consequences will continually be ignored until we acknowledge it as its own issue.

On average, Americans estimate that 20 percent of the federal budget goes to foreign aid when it’s realistically less than 1 percent. We are urgently feeling the effects of our inaction with over 800 cases of Zika infection found in the continental United States.

Beyond the humanitarian imperative, the United States has a strategic interest in collaborating with developing nations. The Borgen Project builds awareness of the economic and national security reasons for strong U.S. leadership in strengthening global health.

Mary Friedman

Colorado Springs