A recent edition of The Augusta Chronicle ran an article stating that the Democrats joined President Bush on one of his initiatives: to double U.S. aid to poor countries in Africa in the fight against AIDS. Democrats instead tripled it to $48 billion over five years. Mr. Bush went along.

Question: With the U.S. government running up all-time records in spending deficits this next year, doesn't that make the United States a poor country also? Divide $48 billion by five years -- that's $9.6 billion per year the U.S. taxpayers will be made to send to other parts of the world for AIDS, while in the United States the number of HIV infections has been underestimated.

While trying to save the rest of the world, our own people are suffering daily. First get our own house in order. Then, if there is anything left over, by all means help our global neighbors.

If the U.S. government can't seem to find funds to balance the budget -- and save our own programs from going broke, such as Social Security -- then quit trying to save the world. Instead, save America.