Bill Gates Annual Letter 2013

Is it any less? They are suffering beyond anything most Americans can conceive of. Should we strive to raise average grade testing 5 more points in an American inner city - or give some kind of education to a poor 3rd-worlder?

Our problems (if you're reading this site on a computer I include you) are 1st-world problems. Its easy to piss on somebody else making a real effort, sitting in a stuffed chair and snarfing cheetohs.

I suppose it's a matter of whether governments have the means to improve the lives of their citizens. The US certainly has the means to improve the welfare of its citizens if they spent less money on overseas wars.

Most African(and developing) countries are still reeling from the effect of with civil wars and centuries of European colonization. Whilst many Americans do suffer from misery and living way below the poverty line, at least they're not dying from famines en masse. So in this sense, yes. I would say it is nobler to help them than Americans.

What is the basis for helping Americans over others? I think having the biggest impact you can is the "noble" thing to do.