This can lead to a lack of concentration in school due to your appearance and depression if the child does not feel as "acceptable" or normal as other children. (RelayHealth) We still do it We don't know the exact cause of cleft lip like we do with many birth defects and other disorders. That's why the government needs to fund only a small portion of money to help further research and study on this disease. Once researchers and scientists can find the cause, there is the possibility of a cure, but like many things it cannot be done without money. ("Operation Smile FAQ") The United States government spends unnecessary amounts of money on things like Defense, which we are not only in debt, but we are not spending money to fund treatments for defects and diseases like cleft lip. (“What does the government spend its money on?”) The only thing the government does to try to help people learn about cleft lip is to occasionally give money for research and put commercials in magazines and on television , which he still does. It's not really helpful. And even after that, most organizations pay for the children affected by this. ("Operation Smile